10.2 |
Reconstruction: July 2004 to July 2009
30.
Based on those
objectives and risks, the two “reconstruction and
development”
priorities
were:
•
To bridge
funding shortfalls over the summer, when CPA and Development
Fund
for Iraq
(DFI) projects ended, by implementing DFID and MOD job
creation
and
infrastructure programmes. The UK had to maintain pressure on the
US to
spend its
money in the South, quickly.
•
To press
the UN and the World Bank to send key staff back to
Iraq.
31.
The paper
identified monthly milestones on the political process,
reconstruction,
and SSR
tracks between July 2004 and January 2005.
32.
At the DOP
meeting, chaired by Mr Blair, Ministers reported
that:
•
Progress
was being made on reconstruction. Electricity production was at
its
highest
level so far (at 5,500 megawatts), the UK was providing expert
advice
to the IIG,
notably to Prime Minister Allawi’s office, and DFID and the MOD
had
funds in
place to mitigate a possible funding gap over the
summer.
•
Implementation
of the main infrastructure contracts was slow.12
33.
DOP agreed the
priorities set out in the paper, and commissioned DFID
to
produce a
note on infrastructure issues which Mr Blair might use in
discussions with
President
Bush.
34.
The FCO paper
was not the integrated strategy that Ministers had requested
on
1 July.
35.
The DFID note
that was subsequently sent to No.10 welcomed the
anticipated
arrival of
the PCO Regional Co-ordinator in Basra, and continued: “But
PCO
[Co-ordinator]
will need a team to support him. Little sign of Supplemental
[IRRF2]
contractors
on the ground. Needs impetus.”13
36.
President Bush
and Mr Blair spoke by video conference on 22 July.
Mr Blair’s
briefing
for the discussion, which had been produced by Mr Antony
Phillipson, Mr Blair’s
Private
Secretary, recalled that Mr Blair had told DOP that he would
speak to President
Bush about
the pace of reconstruction spending.14
Since then,
Sir Nigel Sheinwald,
Mr Blair’s
Foreign Policy Adviser, had discussed the issue with Dr Condoleezza
Rice,
the US
National Security Advisor. Mr Phillipson suggested that
Mr Blair “might just
mention” UK
concerns about the situation in the South.
12
Minutes, 15
July 2004, DOP meeting.
13
Letter
Malik to Quarrey, July 2004, [untitled].
14
Minute
Phillipson to Prime Minister, 22 July 2004, ‘VTC with President
Bush, 22 July’.
203