IRAQ: SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO EDUCATIONAL AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000909

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR R STAFF - KARYN POSNER-MULLEN
NEA/PPD FOR ALBERTO FERNANDEZ AND ROBIN SMITH
ECA/P FOR DONNA IVES
ECA/PE/V/G/N FOR CHRISTOPHER MCSHANE
ECA/A/E/NEA/SA FOR JOHN SEDLINS
AMMAN FOR ISU - RICHARD BOOHAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017
TAGS: SCUL APER IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ: SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO EDUCATIONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXCHANGES

REF: A. STATE 1071

B. STATE 4817

C. STATE 16383

D. BAGHDAD 0304

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard per 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The introduction of new passport
requirements for Iraqis, coupled with continuing staffing
problems within the Cultural Affairs Office, seriously
threaten the viability of Embassy Baghdad's educational and
professional exchanges. CAO Baghdad continues to pursue a
variety of creative solutions to sustain its exchange
programs, and it requests the Department's support in these
efforts. End Summary.

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The "G" Passport Scramble
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2. (SBU) While CAO Baghdad understands the rationale behind
the recent decision on the part of U.S. authorities to impose
new passport requirements for Iraqi travelers (ref A and B),
the implementation of this policy has been disruptive to
post's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
Baghdad's IVLP is one of the largest in the world, and the
new rules mandating only Iraqi "G" or "H" passports for
travel to the U.S. meant that participants with older "S"
series passports had to first apply for new passports and
then re-apply for their J-1 visas. More damaging, however,
than the postponement of programs has been the reluctance of
many program participants to travel into Baghdad to apply for
new passports, and to travel back into the International Zone
for a second visa interview. In some cases, program
participants are flatly refusing to come into the city
because of continuing violence. Entry into and out of the
International Zone can also cause concern for some program
participants for fear of
their association with the Embassy being identified.


3. (C) When the new passport rules were published, CAO met
with Consul General to discuss their impact on program
participants. CAO was informed that according to Iraqi
authorities the new Iraqi passports could only be obtained
through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Baghdad, and that
none of Iraq's overseas missions are currently issuing the
new "G" series passport. Subsequent discussions with program
participants revealed that some Iraqis are able to obtain
passports via contacts in regional passport offices. CAO has
been informed by program participants that persons wanting
passports are obliged to pay bribes to passport officials
ranging between USD 500 and 1500 per passport. (Comment: CAO
feels that the fact that legitimate travelers are now forced
to use bribes in order to get passports from GOI officials
raises serious questions about the integrity of the "G"
series passport and other official Iraqi travel documents.
End Comment.)

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Critical Staff Shortages
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4. (SBU) Embassy Baghdad's Cultural Affairs Office (CAO)
faces a critical shortage of staff to support its
programming. In particular, CAO is concerned about the
continued viability of the International Visitor Leadership
Program (IVLP) in Iraq unless additional human resources can
be found to support the program. Over the past six months,
the Cultural Affairs Office has lost on average one Iraqi
staff member per month. CAO has three Iraqi LES left to run
its International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP),one of
the largest in the world. No LES are left to assist in the
running of the Fulbright program, also one of the largest in
world. Replacing lost staff is extremely difficult, as CAO
has encountered few qualified applicants are willing to risk
their personal safety by entering and leaving the
International Zone each day and being associated with the
U.S. Embassy. Currently, housing for LES is only provided on
a temporary, case-by-case basis. Baghdad PAS, which includes
CAO and the Press Office, has found it extremely difficult to
recruit third country nationals (TCNs),including Jordanians,
to accept positions in Baghdad.


5. (SBU) With the advent of the Iraqi Refugee Program (ref
C),CAO anticipates that its three remaining staff will apply
and qualify to become refugees based upon their respective
vulnerabilities as associates of the USG. We anticipate that
the three remaining Iraqi staff currently working on the IVLP
will be gone within months. These three staff members
represent CAO Baghdad's last remaining institutional memory,
and their departure would be a major setback for cultural
exchanges in Iraq.

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A Way Forward
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6. (SBU) PAS appreciates HR Baghdad's continuing support and
flexibility in helping us bridge staffing gaps within the
section. However, PAS does not believe that continued
recruitment of Iraqi LES is a productive solution in the
current operating environment. HR Baghdad has coordinated
with ISU Amman to try recruiting in neighboring countries
(beyond Jordan).


7. (SBU) Post is also seeking assistance from other missions
to help staff Baghdad. Experienced LES from other Embassies,
already capable of running educational and cultural
exchanges, could arrive here fully prepared to support
ongoing efforts. Per reftel D, HR Baghdad has requested
NEA's assistance in sending out a worldwide recruitment cable
to LES at other missions, encouraging them to come to Iraq on
a TDY basis for 6-12 months. The cable includes a
recommended Iraq Recognition Support package for LES TDYs.
While the program is being fine-tuned, post has successfully
recruited one LES from another mission, who will arrive
shortly to begin a six month TDY. CAO requests the
Department's continuing assistance in helping to recruit LES
TDY support from other missions, and in working with CAO to
find creative solutions that will sustain its important work
in Iraq.


8. (SBU) PAS also plans to move ahead on several fronts in
order to supplement its reduced staff and to replace lost
Iraqi LES. CAO is actively seeking Bilingual-Bicultural
Advisors (BBAs) to assist in the operation of the IVLP and
Fulbright programs, as well as with cultural programming and
English teaching initiatives. BBAs have proven an effective
solution for other Embassy offices, and CAO already has two
BBAs working on Cultural Heritage and Youth and Sports
initiatives, respectively. CAO also hopes to hire former
Iraqi exchange program alumni on grants for defined projects,
including assisting with Post's book program. We request that
the Department emphasize the importance of the LES TDY
program outlined in reftel D, and other "out of the box"
strategies that will allow the Section to sustain itself.
SPECKHARD