Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD4015
2008-12-23 09:15:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

(C) PRT SALAH AD DIN: BAYJI OIL REFINERY DG

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3251
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #4015 3580915
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 230915Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0993
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 004015 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS IZ
SUBJECT: (C) PRT SALAH AD DIN: BAYJI OIL REFINERY DG
OBEIDI THREATENS RESIGNATION

REF: BAGHDAD3166

Classified By: ECON Mike Dodman, reasons 1.4(b,d)

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 004015

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS IZ
SUBJECT: (C) PRT SALAH AD DIN: BAYJI OIL REFINERY DG
OBEIDI THREATENS RESIGNATION

REF: BAGHDAD3166

Classified By: ECON Mike Dodman, reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (U) This is a PRT Salah ad Din reporting cable.


2. (C) Bayji Oil Refinery (BOR) Director General Ali Obeidi
informed JSS BOR officers on December 18 that he had
submitted a letter resigning his position to the Ministry of
Oil (MOO) and requesting that he be reassigned to a technical
or advisory role at another location. In a subsequent
meeting with JSS officers on December 20, Obeidi explained
that he is tired of the responsibility and weary of the
frequent threats to his personal safety that come with
running the BOR. Obeidi offered no timeline for when he
planned to leave his job, but said he is awaiting Minister
Husayn al-Shahristani's response. In the meantime, he plans
to remain in place.


3. (S/NF) COMMENT: Obeidi has been under intense personal
strain and constant threat for several years as a result of
his leadership of one of Iraq's most important strategic
assets. According to the JSS officers and civilian personnel
who work at the BOR, Obeidi appears sincere in his intent to
resign. If Obeidi does indeed depart the BOR, we will need
to work closely with Iraqi authorities to ensure the
continuity of the systems and processes he has put in place
to improve the integrity of distribution at the plant
(reftel). END COMMENT.
CROCKER