IRAQI EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, AUGUST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002911 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2017 TAGS: PGOV ECON MOPS IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, AUGUST 24 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary. On August 24, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki chaired the Baghdad Security Plan (Fardh al Qanoon ) FAQ) Executive Steering Committee (I-ESC) of the Government of Iraq (GoI). The previous two weekly I-ESC meetings had been canceled due to religious celebration and absentee officials, respectively. The meeting featured a wide-ranging discussion of Baghdad's electricity and fuel situation. The Minister of Oil confirmed that State Oil Marketing Organization has finally made the $2.4 m payment of overdue transportation charges to settle the 2006 fuel dispute with Kuwait. PM Maliki instructed the Baghdad Operations Command to support Civilian Spokesman Sheekly and MNF-I offered coalition assistance to the GoI in the replacement of the Sarafiyah Bridge in Central Baghdad. -------------- Electricity & Fuel -------------- ¶2. (C) The Minister of Electricity (MoE) stated that average national electricity production improved to 4850 MW last week, but that the overall situation for the country remains hampered by an inability to repair transmission lines due to "on-going security operations" and to obtain enough fuel to run power plants. The MoE also cited Provincial authorities' refusals to comply with the national electricity distribution plan, singling out Ninewa and Irbil in the North. Basra is similarly problematic in refusing to send electricity to Baghdad, and militia members have kidnapped the Basrah Director of Distribution Control and formed their own distribution committee. ¶3. (C) DCG Rollo commented that the MoE cannot wait to have "perfect security" before endeavoring to repair transmission lines and that more repair teams should be hired, so that if one team will not take a job, another would be available. The MoE retorted that his teams are, in fact, willing to work in unsecured environments but are being kept out by MNF-I and ISF operations. However, the MoE also said that if the oft-mentioned Tower 57 is to be repaired, restoring the principal Musayib to Baghdad transmission line that has been inoperable for several months, insurgent snipers must first be removed from the area. ¶4. (C) Commenting on the general discussion of the oil product supply situation in Baghdad, the Minister of Oil stated the Kuwait 2006 fuel supply problem had been solved and he noted that the fundamental problem is a lack of distribution, in part due to pipeline interdictions and in part due to a refusal of GoI entities to come to refineries and "pick-up" fuel products. The Minister of Oil also welcomed a potential proposal from the BPC to have Baghdad Province and Baghdad Municipality appointed as responsible for fuel product distribution, stating that this would "reduce our workload." The BPC suggested that they hold future discussions on the issue. ¶5. (C) EMIN Ries stated that he had been working with the MoO and the MoE to resolve the commercial dispute with Kuwait and confirmed the MoO's comments that the $2.4 m payment to settle 2006 demurrage charges has been made. Amb Ries also noted that Kuwait and Iraq share the same interests and that a contractual solution can be found to help ensure regular and timely delivery of Kuwait diesel to the Musayib plant. ¶6. (C) The MoE stated that the acquisition and distribution of $250 solar water heaters to Baghdad's residents could save 1000 MW. Purchasing the solar heaters would require $60 m in government financing. DPM Salih instructed the MoE to submit a proposal on the issue to the Council of Ministers. -------------- Vacant Government Buildings -------------- ¶7. (C) Building upon MNF-I's effort to work with the GoI to prioritize the refurbishment of unused government buildings at previous meetings, the I-ESC again returned to the subject. Deputy Secretary of the Council of Ministers (ComSec) Dr. Farhad expressed frustration at individual ministry's non-responsiveness to the ComSec's efforts to coordinate follow-up of the status of buildings on the priority list and stated that new ministerial budget appropriations need to be made for the issue. Baghdad Provincial Council (BPC) Chairman Mueen al-Khademy offered to make refurbishment of the Provincial Council building a model for other ministries to follow. PM Maliki urged increased coordination on the issue and suggested that the International Zone should be expanded to include several BAGHDAD 00002911 002 OF 002 ministerial buildings just outside its current border. -------------- FaQ Media -------------- ¶8. (C) After hearing an update from I-ESC Media Committee Head Yaseen Majeed, NSA Dr. Rubaie and PM Maliki criticized the current GoI media campaign as insufficient to win the "psychological war versus Al Qaeda." PM Maliki instructed the reticent Majeed to include FaQ Civilian Spokesman Dr. Sheekly on the Media Committee and asked General Aboud of the Baghdad Operations Command to provide Dr. Sheekly vehicles and support. (Note: Emb Baghdad and MNF-I view Majeed as incompetent, have been very active in attempting obtain increased GoI support and legitimacy for Sheekly, a more media-savvy Sunni, and view the PM's endorsement and acquiescence of support by Aboud as a positive development. End Note) -------------- Sarafiyah Bridge -------------- ¶9. (C) During an update on the status of the effort to rebuild the main Sarafiyah Bridge in Baghdad, the MoE and the Minister of Industry roundly criticized the absent Minister of Housing & Construction for delays in the rebuild effort. (Note. The replacement Sarafiyah pontoon bridge was opened by the GoI on schedule in early July. The rebuild has been stalled by the assassination of the project,s lead Iraqi engineer and by complications in dismantling and lifting the remnants of the destroyed bridge from the river bottom. MoCH has requested technical and security assistance. End Note). Deputy Commanding General Rollo (UK) stated that MNF-I has offered to fund and assist in the removal of the damaged structure, which will take 2 months. The Minister of Industry promised the PM that he would deliver a completed bridge within 3 to 4 months of the area being cleared. DPM Salih proposed a follow-up meeting on September 26th to discuss the issue with the relevant parties, to include MNF-I and Embassy attendance. CROCKER