Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD3228
2009-12-15 12:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
IRAQ LICENSING OF BANK MELLI BRANCHES
how-toVZCZCXRO6413 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO DE RUEHGB #3228 3491215 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151215Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5747 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003228
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR T
DEPT FOR ISN/CPI FOR KEVIN MCGEEHAN
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2029
TAGS: GM IR IZ KNNP MNUC XF XG XT ZP ZR
SUBJECT: IRAQ LICENSING OF BANK MELLI BRANCHES
REF: STATE 115821
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Ford for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d).
(C) DCM Ford delivered reftel talking points and non-paper
regarding Bank Melli to PM Chief of Staff Tariq Abdullah on
December 10. The DCM emphasized that the GOI could prevent
the establishment of new branches of Bank Melli outside of
Baghdad by simply allowing three previously issued licenses
to expire at the end of the year. Tariq was generally
noncommittal to our demarche points, but appeared ready to
consider allowing the licenses to expire, remarking "maybe we
could do that.8 The DCM offered to arrange an Embassy
presentation on Bank Melli, and will follow up on this issue
in future meetings with Abdullah.
Hill
HILL