Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD1806
2007-05-30 16:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

IRAQ COMPACT: DPM BARHAM SALIH APPROVES

Tags:  ECON EAID EFIN IZ 
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VZCZCXRO0293
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #1806 1501654
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301654Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1473
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001806 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: ECON EAID EFIN IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ COMPACT: DPM BARHAM SALIH APPROVES
SECRETARIAT FRAMEWORK


SIPDIS

Classified By: Economic Minister-Counselor Daniel Weygandt for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001806

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: ECON EAID EFIN IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ COMPACT: DPM BARHAM SALIH APPROVES
SECRETARIAT FRAMEWORK


SIPDIS

Classified By: Economic Minister-Counselor Daniel Weygandt for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) According to Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Barham
Salih,s office, the DPM has approved a UN-drafted framework
for establishing a Secretariat to govern implementation of
the International Compact with Iraq (ICI). DPM Chief of
Staff Ahmed Salman, joined by UN and World Bank
representatives, briefed econoffs and representatives from
the UK, Italy, Japan and the EC May 27 on details of the
plan, which was praised in most comments by attendees. Under
the framework, Barham will serve as co-chair along with the
UN, and the Secretariat will be staffed with Iraqi civil
servants and international consultants. The Secretariat will
report to the Council of Ministers. Ahmed Salman will serve
as the Secretariat Director, although the entity would also
hire a Chief Administrator, also probably from an
international consultancy, to help with day-to-day
administrative issues.


2. (SBU) Barham is expected to formally announce the
formation of the Secretariat in Baghdad in the next few days.
The DPM has also sent letters to all ministers seeking their
commitment to the Secretariat and the sectoral working groups
(SWGs) that will support the Secretariat,s decision-making.
The EC reported they are committed to providing funding for
the Secretariat, pending final confirmation from Brussels of
the 2.5M euros that will fund the entity for the first year.


3. (SBU) Contacts at the World Bank in Baghdad also report
that they have begun work on the first progress report to
track GOI efforts in fulfilling the Joint Monitoring Matrix
(JMM) of the ICI. They expect to submit their report to the
Compact Secretariat in mid-July. They are also open to input
from the USG and other missions in Baghdad.


4. (C) In private, Ahmed Salman dismissed concerns that a
parallel process to develop a new secretariat for IRFFI,
spearheaded by Minister of Planning Ali Baban, would
interfere with the establishment of the ICI Secretariat. He
added that DPM Salih was also not concerned.


5. (C) COMMENT. Ahmed Salman is widely considered to be a
capable, savvy technocrat and speaks excellent English;
having him at the center of the day-to-day work to implement
the ICI bodes very well for the success of the process.
Attaching the Secretariat to the Council of Ministers,
instead of the office of an individual minister or the Prime
Minisiter, should reduce opportunities for politicization of
the new organization, which was seen as a concern as the
Minister of Planning has increased the ministry's role in the
governance of IRFFI. The framework as approved by the DPM
provides a solid foundation for the Secretariat, although
commitment to the process from key ministers will be
essential in ensuring the new entity has the mandate it needs
to effectively implement the ICI. To support the Bank,s
efforts to report on ICI progress, post is prepared to
provide the Bank with candid assessments, as appropriate, of
GOI progress on the JMM. END COMMENT.
CROCKER