SECOND MEETING OF SERVICES AND INFORMATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 001856

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EINV ETRD IZ PREL
SUBJECT: SECOND MEETING OF SERVICES AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY JOINT COORDINATION COMMITTEE MEETING

REF: A. BAGHDAD 00427

B. BAGHDAD 00297

C. BAGHDAD 00399

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) Deputy Prime Minister Rafi Al Eissawi and EMIN Marc
Wall convened the second meeting of the Strategic Framework
Agreement (SFA) Services and Information Technology Joint
Coordination Committee (JCC) on July 6, 2009. Both sides
highlighted the continued significance of the SFA as the
foundation of a strong bilateral relationship and the
positive impact the Services and Information Technology JCC
is having on the lives of Iraqi citizens. Notably, Eissawi
was adamant that the Iraqi co-chairs of the six
implementation working groups (WGs) remain focused on
identifying priorities, developing practical plans to achieve
those priorities, supporting the USG,s efforts to build
capacity within ministries and among professionals in various
fields, and providing recommendations to overcome any
challenges facing their WGs.

--------------
OVERVIEW: SFA STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT
--------------


2. (SBU) On July 6, 2009, EMIN Ambassador Marc Wall and
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Rafi Al Eissawi hosted the second
meeting of the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) Services
and Information Technology Joint Coordination Committee
(JCC). Iraqi media was present throughout. They received
presentations from each of the six implementation working
groups (WGs) ) electricity and essential services;
agriculture and water; transportation; health; environment;
and communications and information technology ) on their
activities since the last JCC meeting on March 28.


3. (SBU) In his opening remarks, Eissawi expressed
appreciation for Wall,s strong support and enthusiasm for
the Services and Information Technology JCC and welcomed
Ambassador Patricia Haslach as the in-coming JCC co-chair.
He noted that while the U.S. military is disengaging from
Iraq, the USG and Government of Iraq (GoI) are focusing on
&re-engagement on the strategic side8 through cooperation,
coordination, and a strong relationship based on the SFA ) a
message that Vice President Joseph Biden reinforced on his
recent visit to Iraq and that Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki
will emphasize during his upcoming trip to Washington.
Eissawi underscored the importance of focusing on civilian
efforts with the Iraqi ministries in light of the U.S.
military withdrawal.


4. (SBU) Wall stated that nothing symbolizes the U.S.-Iraqi
relationship better than the SFA, which provides a solid
foundation for all non-military efforts in Iraq. He added
that activities under the SFA ) and as a result of the
Services and Information Technology JCC efforts in particular
) touch Iraqi lives directly. Wall noted that the Prime
Minister will likely highlight these achievements during his
upcoming Washington trip and that Iraqi business leaders will
build upon these accomplishments when they visit the United
States this fall. He emphasized the continued importance of
creating an environment hospitable to private investment for
developing a robust, diverse national economy.


5. (SBU) Before turning to Iraqi WG co-chairs for progress
reports, Eissawi requested that each official: focus on
priorities and &plans to achieve priorities;8 identify
challenges facing his or her group; and provide
recommendations to address those challenges. He repeated
this request several times throughout the meeting, making it
clear that he wants to maintain the JCC,s momentum, leverage
U.S. assistance to develop ministerial capacity, and focus on
QU.S. assistance to develop ministerial capacity, and focus on
future deliverables that can continue to impact positively
the lives of Iraqi people.

--------------
ELECTRICITY AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES
--------------


6. (SBU) Reporting on the work of the Electricity and
Essential Services WG, Ministry of Municipalities and Public
Works Deputy Minister Ayad Ibrahim Alsafy highlighted the
group,s focus on developing technologies for clean water and
electricity production, as well as obtaining new technologies
to treat sewer water and waste. He characterized sewage
treatment as &catastrophic,8 noting that only 10 percent of
the urban population has access to clean water and that there
are no factories for recycling or solid waste management.

BAGHDAD 00001856 002 OF 003


U.S. co-chair Ms. Eva-Marie Wohn outlined the U.S. support to
this WG, including establishing a legal and regulatory
environment hospitable to private investment and developing
an &electricity master plan8 that looks out at both 3- and
10-year frames. Also, she noted the importance of passing
and implementing the draft electricity law. On the topic of
investments in electricity, DPM Eissawi recognized the
current situation with General Electric and Siemens and said
that the Government of Iraq is working these issues to get
financing for these two projects.

--------------
HEALTH
--------------


7. (SBU) Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Issam Namiq Abdulla
reported that the Health WG has focused attention on
technical abilities, basic services, ambulatory care, and
communications, including a number of programs at the
workforce level in key areas. Issam mentioned quality
assurance for training in hospital administration, financial
administration, and nursing, and U.S. co-chair Dr. Lawrence

J. Furman noted that Iraqis are receiving laboratory and
epidemiological training in Iraq and clinic/hospital
management training at two facilities in the United States.
Furman said that developing ¢ers of excellence8 in Iraq
-- whether at existing or new facilities -- would help to
attract Iraqi medical personnel, including those who have
left the country, to Iraq. The WG will also focus on
securing basic utilities and services that will enable
facilities to operate on a sustained basis; for example,
medical facilities should not rely on generators as their
sole source of power. Eissawi thanked the WG co-chairs for
identifying needs and asked them to develop a plan &with
practical steps8 to address those challenges.

--------------
ENVIRONMENT
--------------


8. (SBU) Deputy Minister of Environment Dr. Kamal H. Latif
emphasized the need for training, as well as improved
laboratory testing and information-sharing, and stressed the
importance of evaluating the current environmental situation
(including infrastructure requirements),developing a
national strategy with priorities and a plan, and drafting
and implementing legislation. U.S. co-chair Ms. Ruth Hall
reinforced these points by outlining agreed areas of
cooperation: field sampling; strategic planning; laboratory
analytical capabilities; commercial and environmental
legislation, regulations and policies; and bilateral
exchanges. She highlighted that 25 Iraqis received training
in ground and surface water monitoring and that remote
sensing water equipment is ready for transfer to the GOI. A
bilateral work plan was agreed on June 23, 2009 with
Environment Minister Narmin Othman.

--------------
TRANSPORTATION
--------------


9. (SBU) The Transportation Working Group is the only group
of the JCC that has been unable to convene to date. The
report on the Transportation WG,s activities, as provided by
Advisor to the Transportation Minister Mr. Ismat Amr Jieyad,
focused on a range of issues, including drinking water, power
generation, and a duty-free area within Baghdad International
Airport. Eissawi expressed concern that these projects were
going on prior to the SFA. He noted that during his recent
trip to Washington, he met with the U.S. Secretary of
Transportation and understood that the U.S. Government is
ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to support
transportation projects. U.S. co-chair Mr. David Decarme
noted that they should receive a copy of the MOU soon and
that the WG could use it as a framework for specific
projects. He also noted that transportation projects are
Qprojects. He also noted that transportation projects are
particularly capital-intensive; creating an inviting climate
for private investment is key. Again, Eissawi asked that the
WG present recent accomplishment, identify challenges, and
provide recommendations at the next JCC meeting.

--------------
AGRICULTURE AND WATER
--------------


10. (SBU) The Agriculture and Water WG co-chair,s top
priority is improving capabilities as Iraqi farmers are
&very much behind8, particularly in many highly technical
methods and inputs. While the United States has reduced many
burdens, he would like an easing of the Test of English as a
Foreign Language requirement, asking for a broad program of


***********************
* Missing Section 003 *
***********************