BABIL OFFICIALS TELL DAS GODEC THEY LIKE PRT AND PRDC BUT

UNCLAS HILLAH 000017 SIPDIS SIPDIS BAGHDAD FOR NCT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IZ SUBJECT: BABIL OFFICIALS TELL DAS GODEC THEY LIKE PRT AND PRDC BUT RECONSTRUCTION TOO SLOW SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION ¶1. (U) This is a Babil PRT cable. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Robert Godec met with Babil province officials to discuss the Babil Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and the Iraqi-run Provincial Reconstruction Development Committee (PRDC). The discussion was cordial but the Provincial Council Chairman stressed the need to show tangible results in reconstruction sooner rather than later. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) During a visit to Regional Embassy Office (REO) Al Hillah on February 4, DAS Godec met with senior members of the Babil PRT and the Iraqi representatives of the PRDC. PRT members briefed him on the PRT's structure, interaction with the local government, their direction, goals, and needs. PRDC members - Deputy Governor Hasoon Ali Hasoon, Provincial Council Chairman (PCC) Muhammed Ali Hussein, and Hillah Mayor Imad Lefta Merdan Al-Bayati - met with DAS Godec to discuss the interaction between the PRT and the PRDC. ¶4. (SBU) The PCC characterized the PRT-PRDC relationship as a full partnership. He said he appreciated the cooperation between the U.S. members of the PRT and the Iraqi representatives of the PRDC in all phases of reconstruction projects, and praised the Americans for their generosity in supporting Iraqi reconstruction. However, the PCC did note some problems with the quality of past projects and cooperation with other coalition partners. While discussing the PRT, the Deputy Governor explained that there is impatience with reconstruction projects among the Iraqi public. He stated that he felt like "all we do is wait." The Deputy Governor also noted that with the provincial elections approaching, local officials cannot show any tangible results in reconstruction. The PCC and the Hillah Mayor echoed the Deputy Governor's comments. ¶5. (SBU) After the PCC and Deputy Governor complained that the quality of some projects would reflect badly on the U.S. and the U.S.-Iraqi partnership, DAS Godec noted that the PRDC is a mechanism for bringing Iraqi influence to bear on the quality of work done in these projects. The Iraqis commented on the poor quality of the Polish and El Salvadoran projects. Specifically, the PCC, Deputy Governor, and the Mayor noted seven water projects that, although recently completed, did not function. Although no details of the problems were offered, the PRT will follow up with the PRDC on this. (NOTE: For at least six months the Coalition Forces staff in Babil has been pressing Iraqi officials to make project site visits to address some of their concerns over quality, but the officials have yet to do so. END NOTE.) ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the meeting was cordial, the message from Iraqi officials was that Iraqis are impatient with the slow pace of reconstruction. The Deputy Governor's comment -- which the PCC and Hillah Mayor reaffirmed -- that provincial officials cannot demonstrate progress on reconstruction come election time indicates the importance officials and voters place on the issue. There also appeared to be a subtle but noticeable change in the relative roles of the Deputy Governor and the Provincial Council Chairman in the meeting. In the past the Deputy Governor would have taken a prominent role in the discussions. During this meeting, the Provincial Council Chairman took the lead, calling on the Deputy Governor to speak only after he was finished. In doing so, he referred to him as "a citizen of Babil Province," not as the Deputy Governor. This would not have happened six months ago and may reflect the growing stature and assertiveness of Provincial Council members relative to the Governor and Deputy Governor. END COMMENT. ANDERSON FONTENEAU