This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
301354Z May 03
UNCLAS ROME 002408
SIPDIS
FROM AMBASSADOR HALL FOR AMBASSADORS BREMER, RAPHEL AND
KENNEDY
NEA PASS TO ORHA FOR AMBASSADORS BREMER, RAPHEL AND
KENNEDY
NICOSIA FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS
STATE FOR U/S LARSON, U/S GROSSMAN, IO A/S HOLMES, PRM
A/S DEWEY, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, SA/INS, IO/EDA S. WINNICK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND
LPANASUK
USAID FOR AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL,
D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS
JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID EAGR IZ WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: WFP PURCHASE OF IRAQI WHEAT
1. IMMEDIATELY UPON MY RETURN TO POST, I SPOKE WITH
WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS ON
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2003 CONCERNING WFP'S PURCHASE OF IRAQI
WHEAT. I EMPHASIZED THAT VERY RAPID ACTION IS CRITICAL.
THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD IS ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ
RIGHT NOW AND SPEED, COORDINATION AND EFFECTIVENESS ARE
REQUIRED.
2. JIM MORRIS TOLD ME THAT WFP HAS JUST FINALIZED A USD
152 MILLION COMMITMENT TO BUY THE WHEAT. THEY BELIEVE --
AND I SHARE THEIR VIEW -- THAT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS
PROJECT STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THAT IS VERY QUICK
TURNAROUND. THE PURCHASE PRICE OF USD 105/METRIC TON WAS
JUST FINALIZED ON MAY 22. THEY ARE GRATEFUL THAT THEY
WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH IN SO LITTLE TIME.
3. THEY UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE
NEED FOR WFP TO DEMONSTRATE ONCE AGAIN THAT THEY ARE UP
TO THE JOB. TWENTY PERCENT OF THEIR PROFESSIONL STAFF
IS DEVOTED TO IRAQ AND IS IN THE REGION,IN ADDITION TO
SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT HEADQUARTERS GIVEN THEIR
EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE IN AVERTNG WIDESPREAD
STARVATION IN AFGHANISTAN, AND THEI WORK SO FAR IN
PROVIDING FOOD AID TO MILLIONS OF IRAQIS, OUR
EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT UNREASONABLE.
4. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS ARE
OPEN BETWEEN THE FIELD AND ROME; THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
SATISFY WFP'S REQUESTS OF US FOR ASSISTANCE; THAT IN-
COUNTRY CAPABILITY -- IN PARTICULAR, OUR MISSION'S
SENIOR HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR, REGINA DAVIS, CURRENTLY
ON THE USAID DART TEAM IN IRAQ -- IS FULLY UTILIZED; AND
THAT THE DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS INHERENT WITH AN OPERATION
OF THIS SIZE DO NOT BECOME MAJOR ISSUES. HALL
NNNN
2003ROME02408 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED