Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MOSUL52
2006-05-22 16:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
REO Mosul
Cable title:
NINEWA PRT: MOSUL UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN WORKING
how-toVZCZCXRO3083 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHMOS #0052/01 1421612 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221612Z MAY 06 FM REO MOSUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0485 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0075 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0058 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0062 RUEHMOS/REO MOSUL 0504
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSUL 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PINT PGOV PHUM IZ MARR
SUBJECT: NINEWA PRT: MOSUL UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN WORKING
WITH THE USG, BUT FEARFUL OF TERRORISTS
MOSUL 00000052 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Jerome P. Hohman, IPAO, Provincial Reconstruction
Team Ninewa, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
-------------------
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
-------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSUL 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PINT PGOV PHUM IZ MARR
SUBJECT: NINEWA PRT: MOSUL UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN WORKING
WITH THE USG, BUT FEARFUL OF TERRORISTS
MOSUL 00000052 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Jerome P. Hohman, IPAO, Provincial Reconstruction
Team Ninewa, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
--------------
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------
1. (C) Dean of the University of Mosul Medical School, Dr.
Nazar Qibi, says he is interested in working with PRT Ninewa on
projects to benefit the people of the province, but is terrified
that any association with the USG or Coalition Forces (CF) might
lead to injury or death for himself and his family. He believes
that anti-U.S. informants are closely watching University
faculty and students and that any overt contact with CF will be
reported. Qibi says he will work with the PRT through email and
will meet, if necessary, only outside Ninewa. Such stipulations
seriously hamper PRT efforts to work with the university, but we
are seeking solutions to collaborate while being mindful of any
security ramifications to the university and its staff. End
Summary and Comment.
2. (SBU) PolOff met with Dr. Nazar Qibi, Dean of the Ninewa
College of Medicine at the University of Mosul, and his
colleague, Dr. Fouad Kasim Mohammad, Dean of the College of
Veterinary Medicine, at a conference of university officials at
the University of Salahaddin in Irbil on May 21. Also in
attendance were representatives from the Universities of Dohuk,
Kirkuk, Koya, Salahaddin and Sulaymaniya as well as
representatives from the University of Hawaii, USAID (Irbil),
Kirkuk PRT and the office of the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq.
--------------
TENUOUS SECURITY SITUATION AT MOSUL-U
--------------
3. (C) Members of northern Iraq universities and USG reps met
on May 21 to explore ways the various universities might
collaborate on research projects of joint interest. Ninewa PRT
USAID representative facilitated the meeting and invited PolOff
to attend as a way to initiate access to representatives of the
University of Mosul. Over the past few months, the PRT has made
repeated efforts to meet with and obtain the cooperation of
various faculties of the University of Mosul to seek assistance
in development and reconstruction efforts in the province.
While University of Mosul officials present at the meeting
expressed an interest in helping improve conditions in Ninewa,
they have steadfastly refused to meet with the PRT in Mosul or
to be seen cooperating in any way with Americans. Mosul
University personnel have informed PRT representatives of
significantly increased levels of violence and threats of
violence against faculty and their families if they are
suspected of helping the "occupiers." Indeed, Dr. Qibi and Dr.
Mohammed both expressed concern about the number of photographs
taken at the Irbil conference by the University of Salahaddin,
fearing the photos might show them with American civilian and
military personnel and put them at risk once they return to
Mosul.
4. (C) Qibi, who was educated in the U.K., spoke at length with
PolOff about the increasing number of medical doctors migrating
from Ninewa due to growing threats of violence against them and
their families (septel). He informed PolOff that a number of
doctors had been killed recently in the Mosul area and that many
more had immigrated with their families to Jordan, Kuwait,
Europe or America for safety. Qibi was particularly disturbed
that the migrating doctors were leaders in their fields of
specialization and, as a result, the quality of medical care
available in Ninewa was declining.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Notwithstanding the risks, both Qibi and Mohammed agreed
to open communications with the PRT via email. They say they
want to look for ways to work with the PRT to make their
expertise and that of their University of Mosul colleagues
available to assist in joint efforts to improve the economic and
living conditions in Ninewa. They claim they are willing to
consider further meetings but only outside of Ninewa. The PRT,
and the REO before that, has been working with the University of
Mosul for some time, albeit unsuccessfully because of the
security situation on campus. We hope that this engagement will
MOSUL 00000052 002.2 OF 002
be the first step towards a more fruitful collaboration.
GRANT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PINT PGOV PHUM IZ MARR
SUBJECT: NINEWA PRT: MOSUL UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN WORKING
WITH THE USG, BUT FEARFUL OF TERRORISTS
MOSUL 00000052 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Jerome P. Hohman, IPAO, Provincial Reconstruction
Team Ninewa, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
--------------
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------
1. (C) Dean of the University of Mosul Medical School, Dr.
Nazar Qibi, says he is interested in working with PRT Ninewa on
projects to benefit the people of the province, but is terrified
that any association with the USG or Coalition Forces (CF) might
lead to injury or death for himself and his family. He believes
that anti-U.S. informants are closely watching University
faculty and students and that any overt contact with CF will be
reported. Qibi says he will work with the PRT through email and
will meet, if necessary, only outside Ninewa. Such stipulations
seriously hamper PRT efforts to work with the university, but we
are seeking solutions to collaborate while being mindful of any
security ramifications to the university and its staff. End
Summary and Comment.
2. (SBU) PolOff met with Dr. Nazar Qibi, Dean of the Ninewa
College of Medicine at the University of Mosul, and his
colleague, Dr. Fouad Kasim Mohammad, Dean of the College of
Veterinary Medicine, at a conference of university officials at
the University of Salahaddin in Irbil on May 21. Also in
attendance were representatives from the Universities of Dohuk,
Kirkuk, Koya, Salahaddin and Sulaymaniya as well as
representatives from the University of Hawaii, USAID (Irbil),
Kirkuk PRT and the office of the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq.
--------------
TENUOUS SECURITY SITUATION AT MOSUL-U
--------------
3. (C) Members of northern Iraq universities and USG reps met
on May 21 to explore ways the various universities might
collaborate on research projects of joint interest. Ninewa PRT
USAID representative facilitated the meeting and invited PolOff
to attend as a way to initiate access to representatives of the
University of Mosul. Over the past few months, the PRT has made
repeated efforts to meet with and obtain the cooperation of
various faculties of the University of Mosul to seek assistance
in development and reconstruction efforts in the province.
While University of Mosul officials present at the meeting
expressed an interest in helping improve conditions in Ninewa,
they have steadfastly refused to meet with the PRT in Mosul or
to be seen cooperating in any way with Americans. Mosul
University personnel have informed PRT representatives of
significantly increased levels of violence and threats of
violence against faculty and their families if they are
suspected of helping the "occupiers." Indeed, Dr. Qibi and Dr.
Mohammed both expressed concern about the number of photographs
taken at the Irbil conference by the University of Salahaddin,
fearing the photos might show them with American civilian and
military personnel and put them at risk once they return to
Mosul.
4. (C) Qibi, who was educated in the U.K., spoke at length with
PolOff about the increasing number of medical doctors migrating
from Ninewa due to growing threats of violence against them and
their families (septel). He informed PolOff that a number of
doctors had been killed recently in the Mosul area and that many
more had immigrated with their families to Jordan, Kuwait,
Europe or America for safety. Qibi was particularly disturbed
that the migrating doctors were leaders in their fields of
specialization and, as a result, the quality of medical care
available in Ninewa was declining.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Notwithstanding the risks, both Qibi and Mohammed agreed
to open communications with the PRT via email. They say they
want to look for ways to work with the PRT to make their
expertise and that of their University of Mosul colleagues
available to assist in joint efforts to improve the economic and
living conditions in Ninewa. They claim they are willing to
consider further meetings but only outside of Ninewa. The PRT,
and the REO before that, has been working with the University of
Mosul for some time, albeit unsuccessfully because of the
security situation on campus. We hope that this engagement will
MOSUL 00000052 002.2 OF 002
be the first step towards a more fruitful collaboration.
GRANT