PRT KIRKUK: COUNCILS CONVOCATION II -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 000695 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI ECON IZ SUBJECT: PRT KIRKUK: COUNCILS CONVOCATION II - THE KURDISH SESSION REF: BAGHDAD 600 BAGHDAD 00000695 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Kirkuk reporting cable. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: Rizgar Ali, Chairman of the Kirkuk Provincial Council (PC),convened a second information sharing session on February 24 with the primarily Kurdish and Turkman district and sub-district councils to discuss council operations, roles and responsibilities. Rizgar focused his introductory remarks on an emerging conflict with the Ministry of Oil (MoO) involving the transfer of two oil drilling rigs from the Northern Oil Company (NOC) to the Southern Oil Company (SOC). He complained about the lack of clear instructions from the Ministries of Finance (MOF) and Planning and Cooperative Development (MOPDC) on how to execute projects, which he feels undermines the PC's ability to provide adequate project oversight. Rizgar also called for the GoI to conduct a new census due to outdated population data. During 2008, Rizgar said he will initiate a project to provide Internet connectivity to the local councils (LCs). He also called for all LCs to create committees corresponding to the PC's to coordinate projects vertically. He further intends to reestablish an informal system to function like district-based representation between the PC and district constituents. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) Rizgar Ali, Chairman of the Kirkuk PC, convened the second of two information sharing sessions on February 24 with the predominantly Kurdish and Turkman districts and sub-districts (reftel),to discuss the roles and responsibilities of councils. Rizgar also spoke on the possible impact that implementation of the Provincial Powers Law (PPL) will have on budgeting and finance processes, funding sources, capital projects issues, and coordination between different levels of government and with the national line ministries. ¶4. (SBU) During his introductory remarks, Rizgar shared his views on the developing situation with a Ministry of Oil (MoO) mandated reassignment of two of the country's nine oil drilling platforms from the Northern Oil Company (NOC) area to the Southern Oil Company (SOC) area. Rizgar feels this pending move will only serve to exacerbate Kirkuki perceptions of GoI favoritism toward the Shi'a south. He used the example of the GoI's resistance to building a refinery in Kirkuk to bolster his point, opining that the MoO's overall design is to ensure that the Northern provinces cannot be both large-scale producers and refiners. Rizgar complained that the MoO still maintains absolute control of hiring for the NOC and accused it of employing people from other provinces to work in Kirkuk before considering the existing qualified workforce that resides in Kirkuk. ¶5. (SBU) Rizgar stated that during a recent conversation with the Commander of the 4th Iraqi Army Brigade, the Commander informed him that, contrary to previous information, the Brigade would play no role in the redeployment of the drilling platforms. Discussing the possibility of Coalition Forces (CF) involvement in such a move, Rizgar stated that relations between CF and the PRT would be severely damaged. He did not specify with whom such relations would suffer. (Comment: Rizgar seems to suggest that military assistance will be necessary for the redeployment of the drilling platforms to guard against any armed resistance. End Comment.) ¶6. (SBU) Rizgar reported that the Minister of Oil had recently made more than one "secret" trip to Kirkuk using CF transportation, and that, "doing so was a mistake." Rizgar also noted that although Kirkuk produces high quality crude oil, in return the Province receives low quality refined products, suggesting further evidence of Baghdad-based bias against Kirkuk. ¶7. (SBU) Rizgar also raised the Article 140 issue and the presence of Wafideen NOC employees, who are principally Shi'a Arabs who Saddam moved into Kirkuk province as part of his resettlement program. He accused the MoO of neglecting to facilitate their resettlement. Rizgar concluded that the "SOC's budget is larger than NOC's," and that he didn't understand the need to redeploy the drills. (Comment: It was unclear whether Rizgar was speaking as the PC Chairman or as a senior provincial PUK official and between which parties CF involvement would harm relations. End Comment.) ¶8. (U) While discussing council funding sources, Rizgar said without clear instructions from the MoPDC and MOF on how to execute projects, there was confusion about how or when the PC should become involved in the budget execution phase. Rizgar explained that part of the confusion stems from the rejection of "Bremer's Law," (CPA 71) and the absence of a legal basis for PC action. Without clear instructions, he warned that the PC would "pull back" from the project process. Rizgar cited as an example that the PC had hired 40 project engineers in 2007 who are still without work assignments because of existing confusion about budget execution. ¶9. (SBU) A heated exchange erupted between several local council members when Rizgar raised the PC's population-based method for BAGHDAD 00000695 002.2 OF 004 allocation of project funds. One Yaychi sub-district council member argued that the forced emigration of the Saddam-era led to inaccurate population counts. According to Rizgar, in Sargaran sub-district there are no registered public distribution system ration cards, so using PDS as a population source would deny any funding. Sargaran sub-district residents temporarily residing in Kirkuk City have re-registered there for the ease in receiving their rations but maintain their residency in Sargaran sub-district. UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS PROG 03/09/2008 PRT:HKEEGAN PRT:BEMCFARLAND PRT:APDELOREY POL:MDALE POL AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD SECSTATE WASHDC ROUTINE INFO IRAQ COLLECTIVE SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI ECON IZ SUBJECT: PRT KIRKUK: COUNCILS CONVOCATION II - THE KURDISH SESSION REF: BAGHDAD 600 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Kirkuk reporting cable. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: Rizgar Ali, Chairman of the Kirkuk Provincial Council (PC),convened a second information sharing session on February 24 with the primarily Kurdish and Turkman district and sub-district councils to discuss council operations, roles and responsibilities. Rizgar focused his introductory remarks on an emerging conflict with the Ministry of Oil (MoO) involving the transfer of two oil drilling rigs from the Northern Oil Company (NOC) to the Southern Oil Company (SOC). He complained about the lack of clear instructions from the Ministries of Finance (MOF) and Planning and Cooperative Development (MOPDC) on how to execute projects, which he feels undermines the PC's ability to provide adequate project oversight. Rizgar also called for the GoI to conduct a new census due to outdated population data. During 2008, Rizgar said he will initiate a project to provide Internet connectivity to the local councils (LCs). He also called for all LCs to create committees corresponding to the PC's to coordinate projects vertically. He further intends to reestablish an informal system to function like district-based representation between the PC and district constituents. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) Rizgar Ali, Chairman of the Kirkuk PC, convened the second of two information sharing sessions on February 24 with the predominantly Kurdish and Turkman districts and sub-districts (reftel),to discuss the roles and responsibilities of councils. Rizgar also spoke on the possible impact that implementation of the Provincial Powers Law (PPL) will have on budgeting and finance processes, funding sources, capital projects issues, and coordination between different levels of government and with the national line ministries. ¶4. (SBU) During his introductory remarks, Rizgar shared his views on the developing situation with a Ministry of Oil (MoO) mandated reassignment of two of the country's nine oil drilling platforms from the Northern Oil Company (NOC) area to the Southern Oil Company (SOC) area. Rizgar feels this pending move will only serve to exacerbate Kirkuki perceptions of GoI favoritism toward the Shi'a south. He used the example of the GoI's resistance to building a refinery in Kirkuk to bolster his point, opining that the MoO's overall design is to ensure that the Northern provinces cannot be both large-scale producers and refiners. Rizgar complained that the MoO still maintains absolute control of hiring for the NOC and accused it of employing people from other provinces to work in Kirkuk before considering the existing qualified workforce that resides in Kirkuk. ¶5. (SBU) Rizgar stated that during a recent conversation with the Commander of the 4th Iraqi Army Brigade, the Commander informed him that, contrary to previous information, the Brigade would play no role in the redeployment of the drilling platforms. Discussing the possibility of Coalition Forces (CF) involvement in such a move, Rizgar stated that relations between CF and the PRT would be severely damaged. He did not specify with whom such relations would suffer. (Comment: Rizgar seems to suggest that military assistance will be necessary for the redeployment of the drilling platforms to guard against any armed resistance. End Comment.) ¶6. (SBU) Rizgar reported that the Minister of Oil had recently made more than one "secret" trip to Kirkuk using CF transportation, and BAGHDAD 00000695 003.2 OF 004 that, "doing so was a mistake." Rizgar also noted that although Kirkuk produces high quality crude oil, in return the Province receives low quality refined products, suggesting further evidence of Baghdad-based bias against Kirkuk. ¶7. (SBU) Rizgar also raised the Article 140 issue and the presence of Wafideen NOC employees, who are principally Shi'a Arabs who Saddam moved into Kirkuk province as part of his resettlement program. He accused the MoO of neglecting to facilitate their resettlement. Rizgar concluded that the "SOC's budget is larger than NOC's," and that he didn't understand the need to redeploy the drills. (Comment: It was unclear whether Rizgar was speaking as the PC Chairman or as a senior provincial PUK official and between which parties CF involvement would harm relations. End Comment.) ¶8. (U) While discussing council funding sources, Rizgar said without clear instructions from the MoPDC and MOF on how to execute projects, there was confusion about how or when the PC should become involved in the budget execution phase. Rizgar explained that part of the confusion stems from the rejection of "Bremer's Law," (CPA 71) and the absence of a legal basis for PC action. Without clear instructions, he warned that the PC would "pull back" from the project process. Rizgar cited as an example that the PC had hired 40 project engineers in 2007 who are still without work assignments because of existing confusion about budget execution. ¶9. (SBU) A heated exchange erupted between several local council members when Rizgar raised the PC's population-based method for allocation of project funds. One Yaychi sub-district council member argued that the forced emigration of the Saddam-era led to inaccurate population counts. According to Rizgar, in Sargaran sub-district there are no registered public distribution system ration cards, so using PDS as a population source would deny any funding. Sargaran sub-district residents temporarily residing in Kirkuk City have re-registered there for the ease in receiving their rations but maintain their residency in Sargaran sub-district. Rizgar stated that the GoI needs a new census but that the PDS was the only reasonable source of data for the near future and that, "adjustments would have to be made." ¶10. (U) To improve communications between councils and their constituents, levels of government and line ministry local offices, Rizgar committed to establishing legislative Internet connectivity. He authorized each council to hire two staff members to administer and maintain a communications system, including an Internet/email system. He also told the councils that they would need scanners and computers so they could transmit documents more quickly rather than relying on couriers who are regularly associated with multi-day delays. ¶11. (U) Rizgar said that all district and sub-district councils should have the same committee coverage as the PC, offering that LCs could have committees covering multiple topics. The committees should send representatives to PC committee meetings and the councils themselves should have representatives attending PC sessions. These representatives should report back to their respective committees and councils as part of their meeting agenda items. ¶12. (U) Rizgar's comments on councils' budget preparations prompted a discussion on how four councils were four months behind in receiving cash deliveries to support their monthly budget allocations. Rizgar explained that until the council passes a FY 2008 budget, all councils will be two months behind on their budget allocations and promised to investigate the FY 2007 missing transfers. Several council leaders requested that Rizgar visit their councils to hear their concerns, to which Rizgar agreed, and promised to visit these councils in the near future. ¶13. (SBU) The budget discussion also included discussions on non-capital fixed assets. According to Rizgar, Coalition Forces have provided vehicles to local councils, but they hadn't been titled to the councils, and would require that the councils reregister them. Rizgar also said councils need to report all fixed assets in future resource requests. ¶14. (SBU) A Dibis council member noted that several CF vehicles were inoperative and the Council had no means to maintain these vehicles. He explained that the staff shared the costs of operating a CF-purchased bus so they could get to work. ¶15. (SBU) During the open discussion segment, the sole Arab bloc PC member present, Mohammed Kadeer, responded to an LC member's point about Ministry of Education (MoE) lack of assistance stating that the local MoE office hired "over 700" teachers last year for the outlying districts but that few if any were actually teaching there. ¶16. (U) Rizgar argued that communication plans should include re-establishing district-based council representation. He pledged BAGHDAD 00000695 004.3 OF 004 he would implement this type of system and designate PC members to represent the various districts. Rizgar also emphasized the importance of open meetings and the use of the media to broadcast councils' messages. He felt that much of the public's frustration with local government was based on the public's ignorance of councils' activities. ¶17. (SBU) Comment: The Kurdish and Turkman district councils attended this second convocation, following one Rizgar held for the primarily Arab districts. His message was consistent between the two with the exception of the Ministry of Oil lecture. Given his primarily Kurdish audience and the sensitivity of the oil-drill issue, it is tempting to attribute more significance to it than it might deserve - it was a breaking story in the local media. Nevertheless, Rizgar did take skillful advantage of the media coverage to get his prepared message out. Regarding budget execution, without a continuing resolution process, not passing the budget causes difficulties in government operations. A growing wave of public dissatisfaction with the Turkman DG of Education is becoming a rallying point for the Turkman bloc's ongoing boycott of the PC. The Turkman bloc recently added a demand to "cease harassment of the Education DG" as a condition of ending the PC boycott. End Comment. CROCKER