COR COMMITTEE HOSTS ECONOMIC REFORM WORKSHOP

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002368 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2017 TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD PGOV IZ SUBJECT: COR COMMITTEE HOSTS ECONOMIC REFORM WORKSHOP Classified By: Economic Minister-Counselor Daniel Weygandt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Council of Representatives Member Amirah Al Baldawi reviewed the status of the hydrocarbon law, accession to the WTO and the Economic Committee's workshop on economic reform in a meeting with emboffs on July 15. Dr. Al Baldawi (UIA, independent) also discussed the efforts to organize and assist political independents in the provinces, and stated her support for the group of four. End Summary. -------------- Economic Reform -------------- ¶2. (C) Dr. Al Baldawi said that the economic committee has not reviewed the framework hydrocarbon law, and noted that people are very suspicious about the law and its ramifications. She said that no definitive nominee for the Chair of the Investment Commission has been named by the Prime Minister's Office, noting that the deteriorating security situation has made implementing the investment law seem like a low priority, even though it was important to move forward. EconOff asked if Dr. Al Baldawi had been briefed on the May WTO Working Party meetings in Geneva. She responded that there was not a good relationship between the Minister of Trade and the Council of Representatives, and said there had been no briefing. "This WTO progress is important," Dr. Al Baldawi said, "and I will request that the CoR be given a briefing." EconOff also encouraged Dr. Al Baldawi to look into the issue of paying the World Customs Organization (WCO) dues in order to rejoin the WCO as a full member. ¶3. (C) Dr. Al Baldawi said that the CoR Economic Committee would hold an economic reform workshop on July 17. The Committee has invited fifteen representatives of government ministries and the private sector to discuss economic reform, including issues such as privatization, the Public Distribution System, local wages and employment, and regional economic activities. The goal of the workshop, Dr. Al Baldwai said, is to develop an integrated plan for economic reform in Iraq. The workshop will be also be covered by the media. -------------- Independents and the Group of Four -------------- ¶4. (C) Dr. Al Baldawi said that she, as an independent in the Shi'a coalition, supported the efforts of ISCI, Dawa, PUK, and KDP to form a front to energize government and parliamentary performance. While Sunni participation would be preferable, she continued, she and many Shi'a independents believed that such a front was necessary to break the current stagnation. She echoed statements leading Shi'a CoR members have made about CoR Speaker Mashhadani, noting that his return without a clear guarantee of when he will leave was unacceptable. Dr. Al Baldawi said that Shi'a coalition independents were organizing themselves to participate in upcoming provincial elections, building on the network of independents put forward in the lists for the most recent parliamentary elections. The independents had drawn up "internal rules of order," she said, and hoped not to out-compete the established parties but to establish a strong foothold on the councils so that their voices would be important. Turning to the provincial powers law, PolOff noted that the Embassy urged two changes from a technical standpoint, namely special consideration for the status of Baghdad and clear definition of how provincial security officials are appointed. Dr. Al Baldawi said she agreed with these concerns. CROCKER