25MAY07 IRAQI EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTE MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001774

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2017
TAGS: ECON IZ PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: 25MAY07 IRAQI EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTE MEETING


Classified By: Ambassador Carney per 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On May 25 Deputy Prime Minister Zoubai
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. The meeting
format has changed to create more focused discussions that
result in positive actions and decisions. Topics included
the status of solar street lighting in Baghdad; discussion of
appointing a civilian spokesman for FAQ; an update on
compensation payments for IDPs; and a review of progress
rebuilding Mutannabi Street. End Summary.


2. (C) In the PM's absence, DPM Zoubai chaired a reworked
I-ESC that focused on four issues for decision and limited
attendance to those with a role in the agenda items and
Coalition partners. DPM Zoubai opened the meeting noting
that American Democrats and Republicans have agreed, a clear
reference to the Supplemental, and that Iraqis need to read
between the lines very carefully, that time is very critical
with a need for results so that sacrifices can be turned into
results rather than wasted.


3. (C) National Security Advisor, Mowaffuk Rubaie, detailed
changes to the meeting structure, observing that the meeting
is not just for complaint and opinion, but rather to focus on
the goal of support for the Commander of FAQ. (Comment:
Previous meetings offered opportunities for each
sub-committee (security, political, economic, services,
popular mobilization, and media) chairman to discuss
accomplishments over the last week and highlight areas that
need improvement. This "open ended" agenda deteriorated into
an unstructured set of discussions without the development of
specific action items. End Comment). Dr. Mowaffuk suggested
two primary changes to enhance the overall effectiveness of
the I-ESC: limit attendance to only the principal individuals
necessary to make decisions; and limit discussion to only 2-3
primary topics, and ensure that decisions are made in the
meeting to bring problems to resolution.


4. (C) Extensive discussion of solar street lighting
included recognition of a pilot MNF-I program and focus on
the Minister of Electricity's announcement he has contracted
for 5,000 solar lights due for delivery between September and
October. The Head of Baghdad's Provincial Council and the
Governor of Baghdad noted the possibility of the City's
contracting to have solar street lamps made. DPM Zoubai
announced the decision that the Baghdad governorate would
assist the Ministry of Electricity to supply solar street
lighting to the capital.


5. (C) Attendees agreed on the need to name a civilian
spokesman to work together with Brigadier Qassim, the
military spokesman for FAQ. DPM Zoubai recalled the goal is
to show what matters is not simply security, but also goods
and services. Ahmed Chalabi nominated a Professor Tassin
(about whom we currently know nothing more). We understand
that Dr. Mowaffuk's chief I-ESC staffer, Ali Abdel A'ziz
Merzah, a Sadrist who has worked closely with the US in the
past, has also put his name in play. DPM Zoubai called for
three names to be presented to the I-ESC at the next meeting
for decision. He noted the need to have someone "far from
politics so that the Iraqi street accepts him."


6. (C) Dr. Mowaffuk took the next agenda item, asking the
Governor of Baghdad if he has received money from the
Ministry of Finance to fund the PM's promised one million
dinars for those displaced families that have returned to
Baghdad. The Governor of Baghdad said that after
considerable contact effort, the Finance Ministry promised
the money would be in his account on 27 May. Extensive
discussion over the process of determining who is displaced
and how to organize payment included note that a Committee
has existed for the past month, delayed due to bureaucracy.
The Governor declared with some asperity that mechanisms are
not the problem; delay in releasing the funds is the issue.
The National Security Advisor concluded that the need is to
follow-up with the Finance Minister himself if money is not
in the Governorate's account on 27 May.


7. (C) Although neither DPM Barham Salih, the Culture
Minister nor the Minister of Housing and Construction were
present, DPM Zoubai opened discussion of rehabilitation of
bomb-damaged Mutannabi St. DPM Zoubai indicated that three
designs are currently being reviewed and a final design is
expected to be selected next week. The Baghdad Commander,
General Abboud, noted the need to take security aspects into
account. A Barham Salih staffer explained in detail the
process of design, engagement of stakeholders, including
security, and essentially displayed a sufficient command of
the matter to still debate. DPM Zoubai agreed to convene a
meeting in his office next week to discuss funding for this

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project and ensure that the appropriate amounts are
available. Construction is expected to begin by early July.


8. (C) Suggested topics for next week included follow-up on
the award for returned families; some resistance to Ahmed
Chalabi's vague suggestion to talk about the displaced;
naming a civilian spokesman; looking into fuel and power
issues, including a ration card for fuels. Comment: Much
more focused than previous sessions, this meeting begins an
effort to track decisions more regularly. We expect further
refinements to make this new institution more effective.
CROCKER