IRFFI DONORS FIELD TRIP FAILS TO DELIVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001615 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/3/2018 TAGS: PGOV EFIN EAID PREL IZ SUBJECT: IRFFI DONORS FIELD TRIP FAILS TO DELIVER Classified By: Acting CETI Minister Todd Schwartz for reasons 1.4(b) an d (d) ¶1. (SBU) The International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) held a donors field trip conference, hosted by the Italian-led REO Hillah Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT),at the Dhi Qar Mittica Training Center on the Talil Airbase in An Nasiriyah Province May 18-19. Attending the conference were representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, Denmark, Japan, Italy, the United Nations, the United States, and IRFFI. According to IRFFI Co-Chair Ambassador Gianludovico de Martino, the conference was designed to demonstrate to major IRFFI donors the good work that IRFFI is accomplishing in Iraq through the World Bank and the United Nations. No World Bank representative was present. ¶2. (C) Opportunities to interact with Iraqis was limited to welcome speeches by Dhi Qar Governor Aziz Alwan, Provincial Council Chairman Ihsan At-Taei, and Iraqi Army 10th Division Commander Major General Habib. Following these speeches, at the request of the United Nations presenters and European Commission Ambassador to Iraq Ilke Uusitalo, the Iraqis present at the conference were asked to leave. Italian REO Hillah PRT Leader Anna Proust was so "outraged and embarrassed" at the unexpected removal of the more than 75 Iraqi dignitaries and notables she had invited to the conference that she too left the conference. She told Econoff that the UN representatives asked the Iraqis to leave was that they were worried the Iraqis would contradict their presentations of accomplishments. (Note: United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Deputy Coordinator Guy Siri later told Econoff that Ambassador Uusitalo requested the Iraqis leave the meetings due to the "hard questioning" the EC was receiving from European Parliamentarian Paulo Casaca. End note.) ¶3. (C) UNICEF Coordinator Sareer Ara, UN-Habitat Program Manager Sudiipto Mukarjee, UN National Project Manager Darbaz Fadhil, WHO Basra Coordinator Samson Samuel, and UNAMI's Siri all made presentations on their organizations' efforts in Dhi Qar Province and other areas in Iraq. Siri also made a presentation prepared by the World Bank. The UN organizations, except for UNAMI, were criticized by European Parliamentarian Casaca and Embassy of Japan Minister Counselor Kansuke Nagaoka for not establishing an official presence in Baghdad. UN-Habitat's Mukarjee noted the problems the UN has had recruiting staff to work in Iraq due to security and other hardship issues. ¶4. (C) European Parliamentarian Casaca was also sharply critical of the conference planners for not incorporating any site visits to projects that have been funded by the EC. IRFFI's de Martino noted the logistical issues involved in planning security for a delegation of more than 20 people with differing personal security details and requirements. He offered to arrange site visits to IRFFI projects for a smaller delegation in conjunction with the upcoming IRFFI Donors Conference on July 5 in Baghdad. CROCKER