VZCZCXRO3387
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0399/01 0470557
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160557Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1732
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000399 
 
AIDAC 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/I, E AND EEB; PLEASE ALSO PASS TO USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV ETRD ECON ENRG PREL IZ
SUBJECT: INITIAL MEETING OF ECONOMIC AND ENERGY JOINT 
COORDINATION COMMITTEE 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 00297 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (SBU) The first meeting of the Economic and Energy Joint 
Coordination Committee (JCC) met under the Strategic 
Framework Agreement on February 12.  Five working groups were 
launched on the financial sector; oil and gas; trade and 
investment; electricity (new plants and investment); and 
industry and private sector development.  Working groups 
co-chairs were introduced and instructed by Deputy Prime 
Minister Barham Salih and EMIN Wall, Coordinator for Economic 
Transition in Iraq, to develop work plans with near-term 
goals and report to the JCC by its next planned meeting in 
late March.  Salih commented that the JCC would be a valuable 
tool in helping Iraq develop its private sector, better 
provide essential services to its people, and fulfill its 
international commitments. EMIN underscored the importance of 
tying JCC goals to supporting Iraq,s effort to implement the 
International Compact with Iraq and the National Development 
Strategy, working closely with international organizations. 
End summary. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Economic and Energy JCC Launched 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The first meeting of the Economic and Energy Joint 
Coordination Committee (JCC) under the Strategic Framework 
Agreement (SFA) was launched on February 12, 2009.  Deputy 
Prime Minister (DPM) Barham Salih and Coordinator for 
Economic Transition in Iraq (CETI) Ambassador Marc Wall held 
an initial meeting to initiate the five Working Groups, which 
will implement SFA goals at the technical level.  Salih 
commented that the JCC would be a valuable tool in helping 
Iraq develop its private sector, better provide essential 
services to its people, and fulfill its international 
commitments. In a sign of strong GOI support for the 
initiative, Iraqi Cabinet members, the Minister of Finance 
and the Governor of the Central Bank, also attended.  DPM 
Salih and EMIN introduced U.S. and Iraqi Working Group 
co-chairs, and gave instructions to: 
 
-- meet at least monthly; 
-- develop work plans and early deliverables (next six 
months); 
-- keep minutes of meetings and report back to the JCC by the 
next planned meeting in late March. 
 
------------------- 
Five Working Groups 
------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The five working groups under the Economic and 
Energy JCC are: 
 
-- Public Financial Management and Financial Issues: U.S. 
Co-Chair Treasury Attache James Wallar; GOI Co-Chairs Dr. 
Sihan Al Shabibi, Central Bank of Iraq in coordination with 
Dr. Aziz Jaffar, Advisor to the Ministry of Finance. 
 
-- Oil and Gas Working Group: U.S. Co-Chair Ed Parks, 
Department of Energy.  GOI Co-Chair: Thamir Ghadhban, 
Chairman of the Prime Minister,s Advisory Board in 
coordination with Mr. Hassan Al-Rufeiye, Director General, 
Ministry of Oil. 
 
-- Trade and Investment Working Group: U.S. Co-Chair Economic 
Counselor Michael Dodman; GOI Co-Chair Dr. Abdulhadi 
Al-Himiri, Advisor to Ministry of Trade in coordination with 
Mr. Salar Mohammed Amin, Deputy Head of the National 
Investment Commission. 
 
-- Electricity Sector (Investment and New Facilities):  U.S. 
Co-Chair ITAO Terence Barnich; GOI Co-Chair Mr. Salam Qazzaz, 
Deputy Minister of Electricity in coordination with Mr. Salar 
Mohammed Amin, Deputy Head of the National Investment 
Commission. 
 
-- Industry and Private Sector Development: U.S. Co-Chair 
QUSAID Director Chris Crowley; GOI Co-Chair Mr. Sami Al-Araji, 
Advisor, Ministry of Industry, in coordination with Dr. Faiq 
 
BAGHDAD 00000399  002 OF 002 
 
 
Abdulrasool, Advisor to Minister of Planning. 
 
--------------------------- 
DEC, ICI and Business Forum 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Both Deputy Prime Ministers are keen to engage with 
the new U.S. administration.  DPM Issawi previously expressed 
interest in leading a delegation of Ministers to meet with 
U.S. counterparts (reftel).  DPM Barham Salih noted again on 
February 12 his strong interest in having a Dialogue on 
Economic Cooperation (DEC).  He proposed the timeline of 
April in Washington D.C., possibly around the time of the 
World Bank/International Monetary Fund spring meetings.  EMIN 
noted that it was unlikely that the new administration would 
have all of its sub-Cabinet appointments in place by then. 
EMIN added we would do our best to schedule it as soon as 
feasible.  Salih responded that he would await a proposed 
timeframe from the USG side.  Salih also suggested a senior 
U.S. business delegation visit to Baghdad, tied to the DEC, 
to which EMIN responded positively.  Salih also proposed that 
the GOI host the next International Compact for Iraq 
Ministerial in Baghdad in May. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) EMIN underscored the importance of tying JCC goals 
to supporting Iraq,s efforts to implement the International 
Compact with Iraq and the National Development Strategy, 
working closely with international organizations like the 
World Bank and IMF in private sector development.  EMIN also 
called for timely passage in the Council of Representatives 
on three pending laws affecting economic engagement: the 
bilateral assistance agreement, the OPIC Investment Incentive 
Agreement and the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. 
 
 
BUTENIS