PRT TEAM LEADERS CONFERENCE: FOCUSING EFFORTS POST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000386 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NEA/I FOR WWEEMS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON AMGT EAID EAGR SOCI IZ SUBJECT: PRT TEAM LEADERS CONFERENCE: FOCUSING EFFORTS POST PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS ¶1. (U) Summary. On February 9-10, Embassy Baghdad Office of Provincial Affairs (OPA) hosted its quarterly Team Leaders Conference of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). Addressing the post-provincial elections theme, Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the next 18 months will be pivotal to Iraq's democratic development and encouraged team leaders to expand their efforts to integrate anti-corruption activities into their work. The United Nations Secretary General's (UNSYG) Special Representative for Iraq, Staffan De Mistura praised the strong relationship between UN Assistance Mission Iraq (UNAMI) and the PRTs, and described shifting UN priorities in country. Other panelists discussed challenges to post-elections challenges to governance in Iraq, the Provincial Powers Law, Security Agreement implementation, capacity building and economic development. Thirty of the thirty-one PRTs, embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams (ePRTs) and Regional Embassy Offices (REOs) participated, including those teams lead by the British and Italians. End Summary. -------------- ELECTORAL CHANGE IRAQIS CAN BELIEVE IN -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Crocker said that while successful provincial elections were a major milestone in Iraq's democratic development, the next 12 to 18 months will be critical for both the USG and international community to help the Iraqis develop functional governmental structures. During this time, Iraq will witness the formation of provincial councils, the selection of governors, regional elections in the Kurdistan Regional Government, and possibly local and national elections. All of this will occur as coalition military force levels will fall and U.S. civilian presence will peak. He asked team leaders to reassess their activities, and focus on those that maximize and sustain their impact during this crucial period, utilizing PRT resources and international organizations such as UNAMI. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador said Secretary Clinton is focused on Iraq and wants U.S. efforts to build on the success of the provincial elections. He noted her personal interest in this conference, in provincial capacity development and team leader suggestions for the way forward, and her commitment to fighting for the resources team leaders require to do their jobs. ¶4. (SBU) Finally, the Ambassador urge team leaders to increase their efforts to integrate anticorruption activities into PRT local governance training and asked them to work with the Embassy's Anti-Corruption Coordination Office. Voters in the recent provincial elections complained of incompetence and corruption and are widely expected to have voted out numerous incumbents, thus providing a window of opportunity for PRTs to make a meaningful impact in this area. -------------- FOCUSED ENGAGEMENT IS KEY FOR UN IN IRAQ -------------- ¶5. (U) Reiterating the Ambassador's message of reassessment and refocusing of international efforts in Iraq, UNSYG Special Representative for Iraq Staffan de Mistura praised the Embassy's relationship with the UN and called for a stronger partnership. De Mistura recalled his initial suspicion and distrust of the PRT program, but admitted he had been incorrect. PRT team leaders had managed their presence well, and provided the UN with the ability to extend its own efforts. He described the Embassy and the PRTs as "instrumental" to the success of the recent provincial elections, Q"instrumental" to the success of the recent provincial elections, and expressed his hope the PRT program would continue. ¶6. (U) Looking ahead, de Mistura noted that UNSYG Ban Ki Moon's view of Iraq was not emotionally clouded by the 2003 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, leading him to push for a more proactive UN agenda. However, de Mistura said the international community now views Iraq as a wealthy country and is more interested in providing ideas in lieu of money. As a result, the UN plans to coordinate capacity building in part by recruiting advisors to help Iraq wisely spend its own money and teach newly-elected provincial officials how to identify crucial projects and effectively lobby Baghdad for funds. De Mistura also noted a continued UN interest in the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). He concluded with a prediction that the UN mission in Iraq would likely downsize, given the country's continued stability and normalization. -------------- CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS -------------- ¶7. (U) During a discussion of governance challenges in the post-election environment, panelists predicted that the status of Kirkuk, the return of IDPs, and legislative priorities would present ongoing challenges at both the national and provincial levels. The final results of the provincial elections and yet undetermined composition of provincial councils would influence national election BAGHDAD 00000386 002 OF 002 outcomes, and progress on national-level legislation. All panelists highlighted the critical opportunity to promote anti-corruption - and good governance - initiatives with incoming provincial council members, new governors, and GOI Directors-General at the provincial level. ¶8. (U) The Embassy's Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Deputy Director said the implementation of the Provincial Powers Law (PPL) could potentially exacerbate tensions between provincial governments and the Government of Iraq (GOI) on three main issues: security, legislation and taxation, due to its complexity and latitude of interpretation. The provincial governments are limited in experience, professional staff, and organizational structure to exert their new authorities under the PPL. The Deputy Chief-of-Party for USAID's Local Governance Program III (LGP III), presented that group's plan to train and support provincial government leaders in implementing the PPL. (Note: LGP III is a USAID project currently planned to be implemented in 11 of 18 Iraqi provinces. End Note.) Acting POLCOUNS encouraged team leaders to continue reporting on developments in political coalition formation as the recently elected provincial council members are seated. ¶9. (U) Multinational Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) Deputy Commanding General, Major General Paul Lefebvre, said the transition from UN Security Council Resolution 1790 to the new Security Agreement has been successful and affirmed the military's commitment to support for PRT efforts to build civil capacity in Iraq. The road ahead is clear for all USG actors to maintain unity-of-effort and command as they help the GOI maintain security and build capacity. According to Multinational Force-Iraq (MNF-I) Director of Operations, Major General Guy Swan, the U.S. military mission has not drastically changed under the new security agreement, but operating conditions are different. There are now joint committees for U.S. military leaders, embassy officials, and Iraqi counterparts to resolve outstanding issues. ¶10. (U) The Director of the Iraq Transition Assistance Office (ITAO) described that office's main programs and funding situation. Team leaders agreed the Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC) project implementer, the Gulf Region Division of the Army Corps of Engineers, is sufficiently screening all new proposals, but they are concerned about the decreasing funding levels available to the PRTs. ¶11. (U) Discussing Iraq's economic development, panelists described a challenging economic environment, in which unemployment, inadequate legal protection and regulation, and GOI overdependence on petroleum revenues are major impediments. EMIN and Coordinator for Economic Transition in Iraq Ambassador Marc Wall said the dire U.S. economic situation was putting pressure on U.S. foreign assistance funding. We have shifted our focus to capacity development programs. The Iraqis now must take the lead on economic reform, private sector development and sustainment. A UN Senior Economist blamed the GOI's subsidy of state-linked businesses for hindering private sector development and predicted that a lack of jobs could lead to a brain drain of young Iraqis. The MNC-I Economic Chief said, due to demographics, the GOI needed to create 250,000 jobs per year just to maintain the current unacceptably high level of unemployment (18 percent). USAID's Mission Director described assistance programs covering business development, community stabilization and agriculture, but added that USAID is Qcommunity stabilization and agriculture, but added that USAID is currently undergoing an internal strategic review to reassess its programs and priorities. The USDA Agricultural Advisor said that while agriculture is growing due in part to U.S.-sponsored programs, it is not a panacea for unemployment. He expressed uncertainty about USDA continuing to deploy agricultural advisors on PRTs. ¶12. (U) Other presentations and workshops focused on internal planning and assessments, management and logistics, and leadership and Equal Employment Opportunity training. OPA's next Team Leaders Conference is planned for May. CROCKER