US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4979

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004979 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2015 
TAGS: EFIN, PREL, KU 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED:  WORLD BANK ON-SITE PRESENCE 
IN IRAQ 
 
REF: STATE 215616 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor Stephen Carrig for reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
(C)  On December 3, Econcouns and Econoff met with Americas 
Department Director Ambassador Khalid Al-Babtain and his 
deputy, Mohammad Shamlan, to deliver the demarche relating to 
the proposal to establish World Bank (WB) offices in the 
International Zone (IZ) in Baghdad (Reftel).  Econcouns 
congratulated Al-Babtain on the GOK's election as an 
Executive Director of the WB.  Econcouns then stated that the 
U.S. is seeking GOK support for these new offices, as they 
will become increasingly important in support of WB programs 
after the new Iraqi government is elected in December 2005. 
In response to Al-Babtain's question about why the WB needed 
offices in Baghdad, especially since it regionalizes its 
offices in many parts of the world, Econcouns replied that 
offices in the IZ would be crucial to support WB programs 
ongoing in Iraq and to provide policy advice to the Iraqi 
Government.  Al-Babtain stated that he will relay the request 
for support and will respond later with more information. 
LEBARON