LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM DR. SAMI AL-ARAJI,

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003039 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO S/ES-CR AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC EINV PREL IZ SUBJECT: LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM DR. SAMI AL-ARAJI, CHAIRMAN, IRAQ NATIONAL INVESTMENT COMMISSION ¶1. Post has received a diplomatic note from the GOI dated 4 November 2009 forwarding a letter to the Secretary from Dr. Sami Al-Araji, Chairman, Iraq National Investment Commission. Text of the Diplomatic Note and Letter follow: ¶2. Begin Text of Diplomatic Note Republic of Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs North, South America & Caribbean Sea Department No: 05/1/36810 Date: 4 November 2009 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad and has the honor to enclose the letter from Dr. Sami Al-Araji, Chairman of the Iraqi National Investment Commission - No: M.R.S/2672 dated 29 October 2009 - to Her Excellency Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State. The Ministry would be grateful if the U.S. Embassy can deliver the above mentioned letter to its proper destination. The Ministry avails itself of the opportunity to express the Embassy of the United States of America its highest appreciation and respect. (Signed) (Stamped) Ministry of Foreign Affairs North, South America & Caribbean Sea Department Embassy of the United States of America/Baghdad End Text of Diplomatic Note ¶3. Text of the Letter follows: The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State of the United States of America United States Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Dear Madam Secretary, On behalf of the Iraq National Investment Commission (NIC) and the business community of Iraq, I would like to thank you for joining us at last week's U.S. - Iraq Business and Investment Conference in Washington, D.C., for your address to the many participants, and for your manifest support for our mission. I appreciate in particular your very positive focus on Iraq's potential across the board. I feel that your emphasis set exactly the right tone and perspective for the audience and for the moment. Our progress in establishing a stable environment for investment has been very broad, as you pointed out. Our way forward is also quite clear, and your encouragement was telling and on target. Your message rang very true: With the necessary work proceeding on all these fronts, Iraq is truly open for business and full of opportunities. We are at a crossroads in our journey to an Iraq that is a peaceful and productive member of the community of nations. Please allow me as well to express to you personally my thanks for your support for the priorities and opportunities that we discussed at the conference. It is very heartening to know of your personal interest in what we plan and hope to do in both the near and longer term, especially the housing project. Undersecretary Hormats phoned me and relayed your support for us to realize this project, and I am grateful for it. Please accept my warmest regards, Very truly yours, Dr. Sami Al-Araji, Chairman Iraqi National Investment Commission End Text of Letter HILL