FINANCE MINISTER THANKS PRESIDENT FOR IMMUNITIES EXTENSION

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 001367 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PREL EFIN IZ UN SUBJECT: FINANCE MINISTER THANKS PRESIDENT FOR IMMUNITIES EXTENSION REF: STATE 50829 ¶1. In response to reftel demarche and the USG decision to renew the Executive Order that protects official Iraqi assets, Finance Minister Jabr sent a letter to President Obama thanking him for this action. The verbatim text of the letter is given below. ¶2. Begin text: Republic of Iraq Minister of Finance Minister Bureau Memo no: M.K 924 Date: May 21 2009 Honorable President of United States of America Respectful president Barak Obama Best Greetings Allow me, honorable president, to express my appreciation, thankfulness and admiration for your wise decision to extend the presidential decision order to protect Iraqi funds, which was set to expire on May 22, 2009, for an additional year. Honorable president, your positive decision will result in providing peace and stability for the federal democratic Iraqi territory, to which the U.S. government and people have provided complete support. This will lead to protecting Iraqi money to direct these funds for reconstruction, providing essential services, raising the living conditions, and providing for the welfare of the Iraqi people. Accept our respect for your esteemed office. Engineer Baqer Jaber Al Zubaydi Minister of Finance May/2009 End text. HILL