Chalabi's Provision of Services Committee - March 18

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000875 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL IZ REL UK SUBJECT: Chalabi's Provision of Services Committee - March 18 ¶1. SUMMARY: Dr. Chalabi's March 18 Provision of Services Committee meeting focused primarily on potable water theft around Baghdad, with Dr. Chalabi stressing the importance of prosecuting those responsible. Additional discussion centered on problems with ground transportation in the country, and resultant long term trade prospects for Iraq. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works (MMPW),Ministry of Trade (MoT),Ministry of Transportation (MoTrans),the Baghdad Water Authority (BWA) - a division of the Amanat, Baghdad Provincial Council, and US Embassy staff, including ITAO Water. END SUMMARY. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pre-Meeting Topic: Overtime for Doctors Approved - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. Prior to execution of the meeting's agenda, Dr. Chalabi noted that funding was approved for doctors' overtime. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Importance of NGO's Gives Way to Trade Discussion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. Dr. Chalabi began the meeting by citing a recent online Red Crescent report claiming that Iraq is one of the worst in the (Islamic) world on health issues, particularly on the issue of potable water. Dr. Chalabi used this repot to underscore not only the importance of NGO's within Iraq, but also to highlight the existence of outside analyses regarding Iraq's potable water problems. ¶4. While the majority of the meeting pertained to potable water issues, a significant amount of time was devoted to ground transportation, relating specifically to trade. After Dr. Chalabi noted that Iraq "is the worst in the world when it comes to contracting issues," a representative from the MoT began by noting that the vast majority (90%) of grain and sugar imports arrive via the sea, due to problems with Iraq's ground transportation infrastructure (i.e. roads, support, etc.). Such a heavy reliance on sea traffic is problematic due to a number of factors including poor onload/offload capacity at Umm Qasr port, corruption issues, as well as damage to ships from the existent wreckage in the port area. As a result, the Government of Iraq (GoI) has had to pay numerous fines to shipping companies and contractors, which could be partially alleviated by an increase in road transportation of goods. ¶5. A representative from MoT summarized the various inadequacies of Iraq's ground transportation infrastructure. According to him, Iraq has the necessary trucks to support better transportation of goods; however the country's roads are not in adequate condition to support heavy traffic. As a result, international corporations have begun raising prices on ground shipments, similar to the situation at the ports. Dr. Chalabi noted that the GoI needs to allocate additional money to improve and maintain Iraqi roadways. ¶6. While the topic of ground transportation was secondary to that of potable water, continued emphasis on the delivery of water via tankers, fuel trucks, and now trade issues, adequate maintenance of Iraqi roadways seems likely to resurface. ¶7. The MoT representative made additional mention of shipment delays for trucks coming from Basra, which he attributed to issues with the Ministries of Interior, Defense, and the Police. A brief discussion ensued as to whether the trucks possessed the proper documentation, as well as corruption issues with reviewing truck contents. As such, the MoT representative requested that Dr. Chalabi draft a memo to have the trucks released. Dr. Chalabi then directed the BOC to designate a staff officer from the Ministry of Defense who could ensure passage of the trucks. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Potable Water: Availability and Violations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. Discussion on potable water distribution began with Dr. Chalabi outlining the seriousness of water scarcity in Baghdad, particularly in the Sha'ab area. Various solutions were discussed including the use of the Karkh Water Treatment Plant for additional water, as well as the procurement of trucks (Note: A BWA representative cited a survey indicating a need for up to 60 tanker trucks. End Note). Brief discussion focused on leasing trucks for this purpose, which gave way to an outline of the greater inefficiencies within the water distribution network. ¶9. The focus on water "violations," which generally involved civilian taps on water distribution lines, seemed to dominate the remainder of the meeting. Dr. Chalabi noted that 50% (no citation provided) of water is lost due to such "violations." These "violations" involve a person with technical knowledge of water distribution placing a pipe on an air valve, thus creating a bypass on the line. In doing so, local sheikhs and farmers are able to siphon potable water for their lands and local communities. BAGHDAD 00000875 002 OF 002 ¶10. Dr. Chalabi stressed the importance of prosecuting those responsible for these taps. He then directed the BWA to attain military assistance from the BOC to further assist in this endeavor. Dr. Chalabi emphasized that these individuals must be detained and channeled through the judicial system so that future offenders might be deterred. ¶11. Dr. Falahi, among others, noted that while enforcing the rule of law in this case is important, inevitably farmers need to preserve their livelihoods, hence the reason for the Amanat's inaction in prosecuting these individuals to this point. Further discussion on this will ensue at the Committee's upcoming site survey of the pipelines. ¶12. While the table seemed to agree on the need for combating theft of potable water, it was unclear as to who would take responsibility for enforcement. Several officials acknowledged a lack of trust in the police, preferring instead that that responsibility be entrusted to the Iraqi Army: "The Army will protect infrastructure, and not fight wars!" Brief mention was made of using the Army Corps of Engineers to patrol distribution lines in search of violators, as USACE engineers represent a neutral party in this case (i.e. not Iraqi Army or Police). ¶13. In addition to theft by local citizens, the MMPW representative indicated that water facilities which previously served communities south of Baghdad have since been taken over by U.S. forces. Dr. Allen and BG Milano will both provide updates on the status of this issue, as well as ongoing projects to potentially alleviate scarcity issues, next week. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Formal Signature on Overtime - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶14. Prior to the meeting's conclusion, Dr. Chalabi signed the memo in support of overtime payment for doctors, after separate approvals were issued by the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance. Crocker