10.3 |
Reconstruction: oil, commercial interests, debt relief, asylum and
stabilisation policy
542.
The objective
of the energy component was to:
“… ensure
security of Iraq’s oil supply and long-term increase in oil output
through
political
lobbying on hydrocarbons legislation and national energy policy and
regional
support.”
543.
The paper
invited Ministers to agree that Mr David Miliband, the Foreign
Secretary,
should
circulate detailed proposals on the UK’s future relations with
Iraq, for agreement
in
writing.
544.
Summing up the
discussion, Mr Brown said that it was important to make
progress
on the
Hydrocarbons Law.309
545.
NSID(OD)
agreed that sign-off for the UK’s long-term strategy for Iraq would
be
sought out
of committee.310
546.
Mr Miliband’s
Private Secretary circulated a draft strategy for “UK policy
towards
and
relations with Iraq following military drawdown” on 13 January
2009.311
547.
The draft
strategy stated that the UK had a strategic national interest in a
strong,
stable and
non-hostile Iraq, which:
“…
contributes positively to stable world energy markets by maximising
its potential
as a
producer and exporter of oil and gas; and increased EU energy
security through
developing
new supply routes.”
548.
The strategy
identified a number of essential factors for establishing a strong
and
stable
Iraq, including:
“… a
functioning economy. In the medium term [that] will be driven by
hydrocarbon
production
and export, which in turn requires agreement on a Hydrocarbons
Law
articulating
the governance and development of the energy sector.”
549.
The UK’s aim
in the energy sector should be to:
“ … help
Iraq to maximise [its] potential, and hence its contribution to
global oil
markets and
EU energy security. This will involve a combination of political
lobbying
on Iraqi
legislation, policy dialogue and education, capacity building in
central
government
ministries (including through a specific skills initiative), and
working
alongside
foreign investors who can inject capital and skills into the wider
Iraqi
energy
sector.”
309
Minutes, 9
December 2008, NSID(OD) meeting.
310
Minutes, 9
December 2008, NSID(OD) meeting.
311
Letter
Hickey to Catsaras, 13 January 2009, ‘Iraq:
Strategy’ attaching
Paper, [undated] ‘Iraq: a Review
of
Strategy’.
455