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9.2  |  23 May 2003 to June 2004
there were 14 leaders of political parties, three women (a result of the Kurdish
parties failing to put forward strong female candidates), and two from Basra;
membership of the GC was agreed by consensus; and
it declared itself to be a representative group of the Iraqi people and the
Governing Council of the interim administration called for under resolution 1483.
231.  In relation to Security Sector Reform (addressed in detail in Section 12.1) the
Annotated Agenda said that:
“CPA plans are to develop policies in conjunction with emerging Iraqi authorities,
to ensure that the major decisions on the size, shape and structure have full
Iraqi involvement.”
232.  Cabinet Office officials also explained that the newly-formed Basra Province
Interim Council was not connected to the GC. A link would need to be established so
that funding could move south from Baghdad.
233.  Sir John Sawers told the Inquiry that the CPA denied itself the authority to appoint
any ministers who were not nominated by the GC.111 In the ‘Authorities’ document, the
GC alone was given power to appoint, oversee and dismiss interim ministers, as well as
appointing international representatives of Iraq, such as Ambassadors. Although the GC
would appoint the Finance Minister, the budget for 2004 would be drawn up “with the
CPA, and with the involvement of representatives of the IMF, World Bank and UNDP”.
234.  Sir John also told the Inquiry that the GC itself agreed that it represented the ethnic
composition of the country, and had the correct ethnic balance between Arabs and
Kurds, representatives of all the major cities and provinces of the country; and a balance
between Islamists and non-Islamists.112 According to Sir John, the majority of members
had lived in Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
235.  The Cabinet Office Annotated Agenda for 17 July also informed members of the
AHMGIR that:
“The CPA Strategic Plan has been finalised and circulated internally within the
CPA. At present there are no plans to publish it. Although not perfect, it meets our
basic requirements. Next steps: CPA staff will use the Strategic Plan to inform
further work in planning and prioritisation of the CPA’s work. A revised, detailed
implementation plan is due by 22 July. UK secondees in CPA will continue to try to
shape this to ensure that it is coherent and commits the CPA to an ambitious but
realistic timetable.”113
236.  Cabinet Office officials described the CPA’s decision to create 18 CPA teams to
match the 18 Governorate offices in the Iraqi administrative structure.
111 Public hearing, 10 December 2009, page 93.
112  Public hearing, 10 December 2009, page 94.
113 Annotated Agenda, 17 July 2003, Ad Hoc Group on Iraq Rehabilitation meeting.
245
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