MAY 11 IRAQ EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 001680

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM IZ
SUBJECT: MAY 11 IRAQ EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

REF: BAGHDAD 01582

Classified By: Timothy M. Carney, Coordinator for Economic Transition i
n Iraq for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: On May 18 Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki
chaired the weekly Iraq-Executive Steering Committee (I-ESC)
meeting to discuss progress of supporting committees and
their achievements over the last week in implementing Fardh
Al-Qanoon (FAQ) initiatives and requirements. This week's
meeting focused on detainee issues and procedures, stages of
completion of Services Committee related requirements, a
report of progress from the Popular Mobilization Committee,
and an update from the Media Committee on actions completed
over the last week. The Economic and Political Committees
were not represented by their respective leadership, and
their issues were consequently not discussed in detail. End
Summary.

--------------
I-ESC Pre-Meeting
--------------


2. (C) Prior to the I-ESC, the National Security Advisor,
Dr. Mouffawk Al Rubaie hosted a pre-meeting with MNF-I, USM-I
and the Baghdad Operations Commander (BOC),General Abboud,
to review important topics to be discussed during the I-ESC.
At this pre-meeting, Coalition/US officials provided three
primary recommendations for the NSA to consider. First, the
Media Committee should appoint a civilian GoI spokesperson to
focus on effectively promoting the non-kinetic aspects of
FAQ. Second, the NSA should continue to reinforce the
importance of budget execution and use the I-ESC as another
way of measuring progress in this area. Third, the GoI
should actively consider and decide on a near-term and
longer-term solution to providing fuel to Mussaib and Qudus
to optimize the short-term generation of electricity in
Baghdad. Dr. Rubaie was receptive to all three
recommendations and is committed to determining ways to move
forward.

--------------
Detainee Issues:
--------------


3. (C) The PM launched the I-ESC session with the head of
the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Medhat. He provided a
detailed update on detainee issues as a follow up to last
week's I-ESC (reftel). Several members of the I-ESC voiced
the overall concern that the current process is characterized
by delays, inadequate procedures, overcrowding, and a lack of
transparency that degrades confidence of the Iraqi people.
During the meeting, the Minister of Human Rights indicated
her ministry led a committee that surveyed prisons and found
that many cases were being delayed an excessive amount of
time. Judge Medhat said that the Judiciary has promised to
address the detainee situation in line with FAQ. Judge
Medhat highlighted the current process for completing
investigations as well as new procedures that are being
implemented to expedite the process including the first ever
implementation of five mobile court systems that travel to
detainees instead of vice versa. At the conclusion of his
discussion and presentation, Judge Medhat provided the
following recommendations:

-- Inform investigative offices that they need to receive
cases from the five criminal courts and complete processing
to prevent delays.
-- Increase the number of investigators to complete
investigations.
-- Increase the qualifications and training of investigators.
-- Reinforce the need of detention centers to present
detainees to courts on the required days.
-- Establish a high-level committee to coordinate
investigative procedures and remove hindrances. This
committee would include the Judicial Council and the
ministries of Defense, Interior, Justice, and Human Rights.

--------------
Economic Committee:
--------------


4. (C) DPM Barham Salih was not present for the I-ESC
meeting. However, one of his colleagues distributed an
update on 2007 budget execution provided by the Ministry of
Planning, Development, and Coordination.

--------------
Security and Services Committees:
--------------


5. (C) General Abboud, BOC Commander, indicated that
services continue in most areas of Baghdad and the Amanat is

BAGHDAD 00001680 002 OF 003


supporting and cooperating. Activities within Baghdad
include securing markets, refurbishing schools, improving
sewer and water, and pursuing electricity projects.


6. (C) General Abboud urged activation of the currently
contemplated program to provide displaced families with one
million dinars as they return to their homes. The Governor
of Baghdad said that he has discussed this program with the
Minister of Finance who has agreed to provide the required
funding. The Governor replied that they have the mechanisms
in place to disburse the funds to displaced families, but
that the MoF has not yet released the funds into his account.
General Abboud indicated the mechanisms required to receive
funds are complex and lengthy. He indicated he is aware of
3,000 families that should be compensated immediately and
avoid the "red tape" of the current process.


7. (C) DPM Zoubai provided an update on several services
related requirements. He mentioned that the services
committee is working on removing concrete barriers erected by
political parties, but that they would like assistance from
MNF-I on providing security to the Amanat to do so. He
mentioned that there has been improvement in the area of
opening gas stations, but that the primary problem in this
area is access to fuel. He also reinforced the need to
improve drinking water in Al Madaain.


8. (C) DPM Zoubai also provided a detailed update on
progress related to the reconstruction of Sarafiya bridge and
Mutanabi Street that have both been damaged due to recent
attacks. Zoubai indicated the Sarafiya bridge reconstruction
is proceeding well and that it should be completed in six
months. Additionally, MNF-I is assisting with putting up a
temporary pontoon bridge to ease the flow of traffic during
reconstruction. Regarding Mutanabi Street, Zoubai also
indicated progress with this reconstruction project. During
the discussion, the Mayor of Baghdad indicated the Mutanabi
project was proceeding too slowly. He voiced disagreement as
to whether or not the new street should have a covered roof.
He believes it should not have a roof, which would be more in
keeping with historical tradition. He cited lack of an
Executive Authority for the project as contributing to delay.
Decisions need to be made quickly in order for the project
to be completed within the goal of 60 days.


9. (C) The Mayor of Baghdad said that he has recently
completed 88 projects in the areas of lighting, water and
electricity.


10. (C) The Ministry of Health, represented by Dr. Adel
discussed the recent fire in MoH pharmaceutical warehouses
due to mortar attacks and the plan to transport medicines to
other warehouses as an initial solution. He stressed the
need to work with General Abboud and others to obtain the
necessary amount of trucks and related security to facilitate
this movement. He also indicated a need to work with MoD to
determine a longer term solution to protecting MoH facilities.

--------------
Popular Mobilization Committee:
--------------


11. (C) Dr. Ahmed Chalibi, head of the Popular Mobilization
Committee, focused on displaced families and reinforced the
need to solve the detainee problem. Regarding displaced
families, Dr. Chalibi indicated that efforts to return these
individuals should focus on the areas, which include Haifa
Street, Hurriyah, and one other neighborhood. Dr. Chalibi
also indicated he is currently planning a conference of
supportive popular mobilization committees and includes all
Baghdad mulhallas. He expects approximately 800 participants
and requested support from the NSA and other ministry
officials.

--------------
Media Committee:
--------------


12. (C) Yaseen Majeed, head of the Media Committee, gave a
brief overview of recent media activities. Majeed indicated
that there have been three recent significant events
including the bombings in Irbil, violence in other provinces,
and recent attacks into the green zone. He voiced
frustration that over the last week, there was "nothing to
give the media." Comment: It is widely regarded that the
Media Committee is ineffective in accomplishing its goals and
objectives. Yaseen Majeed provides a high level overview,
but there is rarely substance to his actions or activities.
Post and MNF-I continue to look for ways to improve this
committee. End Comment.

--------------
PM Comments:

BAGHDAD 00001680 003 OF 003


--------------

13 (C) During the meeting, the PM made a few comments
related to the overall situation in Iraq. The PM discussed
the complexity of the current situation from a political,
economic, and organizational standpoint. He indicated "our
soldiers are not ready for this type of operation." He
reinforced the need to talk about hope and realizes the GoI
is not going to be able to solve all issues. Specific to
human rights, he said that Iraq is in an emergency situation,
mentioned "we are not going to be able to do it 100%," and
noted "obstacles" in health, electricity and oil that must be
addressed.
CROCKER