NEA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY BUTLER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000699 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: POL ECON EAID AMGT IZ SUBJECT: NEA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY BUTLER MEETS WITH KURDISH OFFICIALS IN IRAQ This is an Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Reconstruction Team cable. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) During his first visit to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, NEA DAS Butler held separate meetings on February 16 with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Director of the Office of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa Bakir and Minister of Planning and Development Othman Shwani. ¶2. (SBU) Both Bakir and Shwani emphasized the need to strengthen the economy and requested U.S. help in reforming the banking and finance systems. Both emphasized Kurdish friendship for the United States, but complained that the Kurdistan Region is not receiving its fair share of U.S. assistance. Butler emphasized the need for an economic environment in the Kurdistan Region that is business friendly. END SUMMARY. -------------- PRODUCTIVE VISIT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Lawrence Butler had a productive February 15-16 visit to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. He toured the present Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) compound in Ayn Kawa and the planned RRT site at Camp Zaytun of the Korean army. He also met with KRG Director of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa Bakir, KRG Minister of Planning and Development Othman Shwani, RRT staff members, RRT team leader Park Kyu-Ock, and Zaytun Division Commander Hwang Jung-Sung. (The RRT in the Kurdistan Region is a joint Korean-American team.) ¶4. (SBU) This cable reports on the meetings with Director of Foreign Relations Bakir (a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party) and Minister of Planning and Development Shwani (a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan). ¶5. (SBU) In addition to Butler, these meetings were attended by James Yellin, U.S. Regional Coordinator for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region; John Stonham, Deputy to the Regional Coordinator; Anne Patterson, USAID Representative for Northern Iraq; Philip Kosnett, Political Advisor to the Commander, Multinational Corps-Iraq; Major Jung Hee-Hyoung, IRMO National Coordination Team; and Bryan Payne, NEA-I. -------------- -- BAKIR - KRG COMMITTED TO BUILDING A NEW SOCIETY -------------- -- ¶6. (SBU) After thanking Director of Foreign Relations Bakir for taking the time to meet with him, Butler praised the progress being made by the KRG, noting that the seeds of a thriving economy and political system were being planted in the Kurdistan Region. ¶7. (SBU) Bakir warmly welcomed Butler and observed that the United States and the Kurds of Iraq have always been friends. Bakir stated that the thriving economy in Kurdistan can be directly attributed to United States support since the 1991 establishment of the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. But we must be realistic, Bakir stated. Saddam ruled for 35 years, and it will take time for the Kurdistan Region to recover from his legacy. -------------- --- BAKIR - USG RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE NOT ENOUGH -------------- --- ¶8. (SBU) Bakir said the focus of the KRG is on rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening the economy. The KRG, Bakir added, does not want Kurds saying it was better under Saddam, but with only two to three hours of electricity a day in some parts of the region it is understandable why some people might feel this way. Bakir continued that most Iraqis do not understand why the United States, the most powerful country in the world, has been unable to provide the Iraqis with the infrastructure for basic services such as electricity. ¶9. (SBU) Butler replied that the U.S. will continue to work hard to help the Kurdistan Region, but that the focus of our assistance will be capacity building. He also noted that decentralizing Iraqi infrastructure--particularly the electricity and water sectors--would prove vital in solving many infrastructure problems. ¶10. (SBU) Bakir agreed, but complained that the KRG had not received its fair share of USG reconstruction assistance. BAGHDAD 00000699 002 OF 003 -------------- -------------- BAKIR - KRG WISHES FOR GOOD RELATIONS WITH TURKEY -------------- -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Butler said that the possible inclusion of Turkey into the European Union would result in the Kurdish Region having a European neighbor on its border. ¶12. (SBU) Bakir agreed, stating that the KRG wants good relations with Turkey and has reservations about doing business with Syria and Iran. Kurds owe Turkey a debt of gratitude, added Bakir, since during the Anfal campaign Turkey opened its borders to Kurdish refugees. -------------- - KRG BUTLER - MAKE KURDISTAN BUSINESS FRIENDLY -------------- - ¶13. (SBU) Butler emphasized the need for an economic environment in the Kurdistan Region that is business friendly, and noted that the region could become the business gateway to the rest of Iraq. ¶14. (SBU) Bakir said that Iran has expressed interest in setting up an investment bank in Erbil, but that the KRG would prefer big western banks such as CitiGroup, Barclays or HSBC. Butler replied that in order for this to occur a strong regulatory system must first be put into place. Bakir replied that KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has asked for assistance in establishing a banking regulatory system. Butler noted that USAID is already providing assistance in this area. -------------- - BAKIR - WE WISH TO BE A BEACON FOR ALL OF IRAQ -------------- -- ¶15. (SBU) Yellin closed the meeting by thanking the KRG for its recent offer to help find property for a U.S. facility in the Kurdistan Region. ¶16. (SBU) Bakir responded that while the relationship between the U.S. and the Kurds has had ups and downs, it is built upon friendship. Bakir said he had met with President Bush on two occasions, and both times had left with the conviction that the U.S. would never abandon the Kurdish people. We wish to be a beacon for all of Iraq, stated Bakir, and if you continue to work with us this is what you will see. -------------- SHWANI - PRIVATE SECTOR MUST LEAD -------------- ¶17. (SBU) Following the meeting with Bakir, Butler called on Minister of Planning and Development Shwani. After opening amenities, Butler noted that the RRT would continue to coordinate USG assistance programs with Shwani. (Note: The KRG has tasked Shwani with coordinating foreign assistance programs.) ¶18. (SBU) Thanking Butler for his support, Shwani noted that both Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Regional Coordinator Yellin had agreed that the USG would coordinate its assistance programs in the KRG with his office. ¶19. (SBU) Shwani said that the private sector must lead the development of the Kurdistan Region, and that the KRG must establish a legal framework that promotes the private sector and foreign investment. Butler replied that USAID is helping the KRG design an Economic Development Plan. -------------- SHWANI - BANKING SECTOR IS WEAK -------------- ¶20. (SBU) Shwani said that both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole have weak banking and financial sectors. Because of a lack of confidence in the banking system, he added, individuals and companies in the region have traditionally operated on a cash basis. ¶21. (SBU) Yellin replied that USAID is providing technical assistance for banking and financial reform. Shwani said this assistance is appreciated and is needed to put the banking and financial sectors on a modern footing. -------------- INVESTMENT BOARD - MEMBERS ALL FROM KRG -------------- ¶22. (SBU) Yellin said that it is a cause of concern that all the BAGHDAD 00000699 003 OF 003 members of the Investment Board of the Kurdistan Region are from the KRG. Foreign companies may well fear, Yellin continued, that such a board would favor investors associated with the dominant political parties. ¶23. (SBU) Shwani acknowledged that the private sector should be represented on the board and claimed that not all its members are from the KRG. He said that six are from the KRG and two from the private sector. (Later the same day, an aide to Shwani phoned the RRT and acknowledged that all the board members are KRG officials.)