The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

972.  Cabinet Office officials invited Ministers to agree that the UK’s key tasks for

2008/2009 should be:

“• training and mentoring the Iraqi Army’s 14 Division, until it is capable of

independent operations with minimal Coalition support – expected in about

April 2009;

• supporting provincial elections, due by the end of 2008; and

• supporting economic development in Basra, based on Michael Wareing’s outline

Economic Development Strategy.” 572

973.  Officials also invited Ministers to agree that the UK should continue to press for

passage of the Hydrocarbons Law.

974.  Officials assessed that Basra’s economy was gaining momentum. Since the

No.10 reception on 28 April, foreign investors had begun to pursue projects with a

potential value of US$4.3bn. The UK had helped Basra Provincial Council to secure

US$400m from central Government for the current year. However, the UK was still

being criticised for not doing enough and local politics was slowing economic progress,

including on the Basra Development Fund and BIPA. The UK needed a focused effort

to deliver and demonstrate UK achievements by early 2009, based on the Economic

Development Strategy being developed by Mr Wareing and the BDC.

975.  At the meeting, Mr Alexander reported on Mr Wareing’s draft Economic

Development Strategy.573 Mr Wareing was optimistic: four major companies were already

examining investment opportunities in Basra.

976.  Concluding the discussion, Mr Brown welcomed the opportunity that his 22 July

statement would provide to set out UK policy publicly. The UK’s key goals for the year

ahead should be to:

• push for early provincial elections;

• hand over Basra Airport by the end of 2008;

• produce an economic plan shortly; and

• complete training of 14 Division by the end of May 2009.

977.  Mr Brown met Prime Minister Maliki in Iraq on 19 July.574 Prime Minister Maliki

gave an upbeat account of progress: IDPs were returning to their homes, children

were returning to school, 650 doctors had returned from abroad and many university

professors were returning to work. There were improvements in the economy,

infrastructure and oil production and factories were working again.

572  Paper Cabinet Office, 11 July 2008, ‘Iraq’.

573  Minutes, 15 July 2008, NSID(OD) meeting.

574  Letter Fletcher to Hickey, 19 July 2008, ‘Prime Minister’s Meeting with Prime Minister Maliki, 19 July’.

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