VZCZCXRO3083
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMOS #0052/01 1421612
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221612Z MAY 06
FM REO MOSUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0485
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0075
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0058
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0062
RUEHMOS/REO MOSUL 0504

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSUL 000052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  5/22/2016 
TAGS: PREL PINS PINT PGOV PHUM IZ MARR
SUBJECT: NINEWA PRT: MOSUL UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN WORKING 
WITH THE USG, BUT FEARFUL OF TERRORISTS 
 
MOSUL 00000052  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Jerome P. Hohman, IPAO, Provincial Reconstruction 
Team Ninewa, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (b), (d) 
 
 
 
------------------- 
SUMMARY AND COMMENT 
------------------- 
 
¶1.  (C) Dean of the University of Mosul Medical School, Dr. 
Nazar Qibi, says he is interested in working with PRT Ninewa on 
projects to benefit the people of the province, but is terrified 
that any association with the USG or Coalition Forces (CF) might 
lead to injury or death for himself and his family.  He believes 
that anti-U.S. informants are closely watching University 
faculty and students and that any overt contact with CF will be 
reported.  Qibi says he will work with the PRT through email and 
will meet, if necessary, only outside Ninewa.  Such stipulations 
seriously hamper PRT efforts to work with the university, but we 
are seeking solutions to collaborate while being mindful of any 
security ramifications to the university and its staff.  End 
Summary and Comment. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) PolOff met with Dr. Nazar Qibi, Dean of the Ninewa 
College of Medicine at the University of Mosul, and his 
colleague, Dr. Fouad Kasim Mohammad, Dean of the College of 
Veterinary Medicine, at a conference of university officials at 
the University of Salahaddin in Irbil on May 21.  Also in 
attendance were representatives from the Universities of Dohuk, 
Kirkuk, Koya, Salahaddin and Sulaymaniya as well as 
representatives from the University of Hawaii, USAID (Irbil), 
Kirkuk PRT and the office of the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq. 
 
------------------------------------- 
TENUOUS SECURITY SITUATION AT MOSUL-U 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Members of northern Iraq universities and USG reps met 
on May 21 to explore ways the various universities might 
collaborate on research projects of joint interest.  Ninewa PRT 
USAID representative facilitated the meeting and invited PolOff 
to attend as a way to initiate access to representatives of the 
University of Mosul.  Over the past few months, the PRT has made 
repeated efforts to meet with and obtain the cooperation of 
various faculties of the University of Mosul to seek assistance 
in development and reconstruction efforts in the province. 
While University of Mosul officials present at the meeting 
expressed an interest in helping improve conditions in Ninewa, 
they have steadfastly refused to meet with the PRT in Mosul or 
to be seen cooperating in any way with Americans.  Mosul 
University personnel have informed PRT representatives of 
significantly increased levels of violence and threats of 
violence against faculty and their families if they are 
suspected of helping the "occupiers."  Indeed, Dr. Qibi and Dr. 
Mohammed both expressed concern about the number of photographs 
taken at the Irbil conference by the University of Salahaddin, 
fearing the photos might show them with American civilian and 
military personnel and put them at risk once they return to 
Mosul. 
 
¶4.  (C) Qibi, who was educated in the U.K., spoke at length with 
PolOff about the increasing number of medical doctors migrating 
from Ninewa due to growing threats of violence against them and 
their families (septel).  He informed PolOff that a number of 
doctors had been killed recently in the Mosul area and that many 
more had immigrated with their families to Jordan, Kuwait, 
Europe or America for safety.  Qibi was particularly disturbed 
that the migrating doctors were leaders in their fields of 
specialization and, as a result, the quality of medical care 
available in Ninewa was declining. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Notwithstanding the risks, both Qibi and Mohammed agreed 
to open communications with the PRT via email.  They say they 
want to look for ways to work with the PRT to make their 
expertise and that of their University of Mosul colleagues 
available to assist in joint efforts to improve the economic and 
living conditions in Ninewa.  They claim they are willing to 
consider further meetings but only outside of Ninewa.  The PRT, 
and the REO before that, has been working with the University of 
Mosul for some time, albeit unsuccessfully because of the 
security situation on campus.  We hope that this engagement will 
 
MOSUL 00000052  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
be the first step towards a more fruitful collaboration. 
GRANT