US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS3003

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EB, NEA, AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2009 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, IZ, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: IRAQ:  EC MEETING WITH A/S WAYNE 
 
 
Classified By: USEU POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C) In a July 8 meeting in Brussels, EB A/S Wayne 
discussed next steps on Iraq with Fenando Valenzuela, Deputy 
Director General for External Relations at the Commission. 
Valenzuela was accompanied by Patrick Laurent, Head of Gulf 
Countries and Barcelona process, Richard Wright, the EC's new 
Transatlantic guru, and Wright's Deputy, Americas desk head 
Gunnar Wiegand.  A/S Wayne thanked Valenzuela for the EC's 
cooperation from the start on Iraq's reconstruction, noted 
the positive discussion on Iraq at the recent U.S.-EU summit, 
and said the U.S. was looking ahead to the mid-October 
donors' summit in Tokyo.  As the security situation 
stabilizes, A/S Wayne noted, the U.S. hopes to see the EC 
move back to Iraq.  Laurent noted the EC has just established 
an "Iraq coordination cell" in Amman.  Laurent added that 
member states "want the EC in Iraq tomorrow," but Valenzuela 
said the Commission would be "prudent" due to continuing 
security concerns.  The EC wants to see what security steps 
the Interim Government (IIG) takes and what the UN decides 
regarding its presence in Iraq. 
 
Election Support 
------------- 
2.  (C)  Valenzuela asked how the U.S. sees Iraq's ability to 
build a technically competent bureaucracy; A/S Wayne 
responded that officials with recent experience in the West 
are few, and there is a great need for short term training, 
and advisors to build up expertise in the IIG.  Wayne also 
briefed on the status of election support, noting that the 
UN, which has the lead in organizing electoral assistance, is 
still working on a cost estimate.  Laurent said the EU has 
already committed 50 million Euros for election support 
through the UN trust fund, and is considering other options, 
from donating additional funds to more "direct" involvement 
through member states.  The balance, he said, was between 
having visibility in-country, and "getting shot."  Valenzuela 
told A/S Wayne that he thought France and Germany were "more 
forthcoming" on Iraq at a recent EU Political Directors 
meeting, but that neither country was expected to rush in and 
provide assistance; rather they will wait and see how the 
security situation evolves. 
 
Security Remains #1 Issue for EC 
----------------------- 
3.  (C)  Laurent said one concern is that political observers 
predict that the security situation in Iraq will get worse 
before it gets better.  He said he was impressed by how well 
the UN and World Bank had been able to work from Amman by 
"remote control;" Valenzuela wondered what UNSYG Annan's 
thoughts were on when the UN might go back in Iraq.  Laurent 
said the attack on the UN headquarters had left a strong 
impression that soft targets are really under a threat; the 
opposition is intelligent and has a strategy.  A/S Wayne 
responded that, with the transfer of sovereignty, Iraqis are 
now in charge of their country.  This should make it harder 
for the opposition to recruit new members and, at the same 
time, make it easier for the IIG to fill government 
positions. In response to a question from Wayne, Laurent said 
the EC has now disbursed all of its previous pledge to the 
UN/World Bank trust funds, adding that the EC will remain 
vigilant with pressure on the fund managers to disburse funds 
and begin projects in coordination with the Iraqis. 
 
MCKINLEY