DIWANIYAH PRT: GOVERNOR REACHES OUT TO PRT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000353

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: DIWANIYAH PRT: GOVERNOR REACHES OUT TO PRT

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Greg D'Elia for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)

This is a Diwaniyah PRT reporting cable.


1. (C) Summary: During a January 30 meeting with PRToffs,
Diwaniyah Governor Al-Khudari stressed that he wants to
improve cooperation between his government, coalition forces
and the PRT and would like to see more private, particularly
U.S., investment in the province. He focused on the needs of
his province and his views on economic revival and
reconstruction. End Summary


2. (C) On January 30, PRT Team Leader (as well as former PRT
Leader who was along to make introductions) and PRToffs
traveled to Diwaniyah for the MND CS change-of-command
ceremony for newly arrived Major-General Andrej Malinowski.
The next day, we met with Al-Khudari, the Governor of
Qadisiyah.

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A Question of Honor
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3. (C) The meeting began with the Governor visibly upset
that the event could not take place in his office, as
originally agreed. Comment: The Governor would not allow a
security sweep of the government building in Diwaniyah, but
agreed to meet in MND CS Headquarters conference room at Camp
Echo. As the host, the Governor said that he could not allow
U.S. security to sweep the government building; &It,s about
dignity and respect.8 End Comment.


4. (C) The Governor, who has not enjoyed a warm relationship
with coalition forces, welcomed Major-General Andrej
Malinowski, the new MND CS commander. Although previously
there had been &some difficulties,8 the Governor emphasized
to Malinowski that he wants a good relationship and wishes to
cooperate with coalition forces. He added that he also
invites Polish companies to invest in Diwaniyah and mentioned
that he would soon visit the Polish Ambassador in Baghdad.


5. (C) Al-Khudari extended again an invitation for
Ambassador Crocker to visit Diwaniyah and stressed that he is
willing to visit the Ambassador in Baghdad.

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Focus on Economic Development
--------------


6. (C) The Governor also invited U.S. companies to invest in
Diwaniyah. He said that Diwaniyah suffers from electricity
outages, a lack of water stations, substandard housing, and
fuel shortages. &We need assistance with these projects.8


7. (C) Al-Khudari recognizes that small projects alone will
not allow Diwaniyah to prosper. U.S. and GOI aid alone is
not enough to help Diwaniyah recover but rather private
foreign company investment is required.


8. (C) Comment: Despite the rocky beginning, the meeting,
which included the PRDC chief and three members of his
engineering team, is evidence that the Governor is reaching
out and wants to be able to show that he is trying to develop
Diwaniyah,s economy. He appears to genuinely want more
cooperation and will make the necessary concessions in order
to host future meetings at the Governorate. Consistent with
his emphasis on cooperation, he did not mention the tribally
organized Agricultural Union,s distribution of seeds and
fertilizer, which he considers illegal under Iraqi law and a
potential power base for his political opponents in the
province. End Comment.
BUTENIS