Cablegate: Investment Conference Generates Positive Media Coverage In

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DE RUEHGB #2849/01 2961351
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231351Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5206

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TAGS: EINVECON KPAO PREL IZ
SUBJECT: INVESTMENT CONFERENCE GENERATES POSITIVE MEDIA COVERAGE IN
IRAQ

1. SUMMARY: The U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference
(USBIC) in Washington was headline news throughout the week of
October 19 in Iraq. Arabic-language papers, Radio Sawa and
television channels Al-Iraqiya, Al-Hurra, and Al-Sharqiya devoted
lead coverage to the Prime Minister's visit to Washington, his
meetings with President Obama, Secretary Clinton and other
officials, and the conference itself. Post helped set the positive
tone and manage expectations through advance publicity, including
interviews and backgrounders by Mission officers with Iraqi and
Western media outlets, press releases, and an October 7 joint press
conference with Coordinator for Assistance Transition Patricia
Haslach and Dr. Sami al-Araji, Chairman of the Iraqi National
Investment Commission. End summary.

2. COVERAGE IN ADVANCE OF THE CONFERENCE

TV: Al-Hurra and Al-Hurriya satellite stations both reported on the
October 7 joint press conference with Dr. Sami al-Araji, Chairman of
the Iraqi National Investment Commission, and Coordinator for
Assistance Transition Patricia Haslach, to discuss the USBIC with
the Iraqi press and Baghdad-based Western Media. Al-Hurra carried
comments from Dr. Sami al-Araji Iraqi National Investment Authority,
Rule of Law Coalition MP Sami Al-Askari, Minister of Planning Ali
Baban and economist Bassem Jamil. MP Al-Askari hailed the
conference as "a large and important investment event that can push
the investment process in Iraq forward." Jamil noted the need for
Iraq's investment law to be amended "as Iraq's oil wealth alone
cannot attract investors."

PRINT: Haslach was interviewed in government-run daily As-Sabah on
challenges and opportunities in the Iraqi economy. She stressed
said the economy is improving but still needs to develop
administrative structures and undergo institutional reforms to
create the conditions to attract investors.
RADIO: Radio Sawa and Radio Iraq Hurr both reported on the October 7
press conference. The Iraqi commercial attache in Washington, Hassan
al-Shuan Hassan, was interviewed on Sawa and noted the 12 economic
sectors that the USBIC would focus on.

EDITORIAL: In a commentary in independent daily Az-Zaman entitled
"The Solution is in Washington," editor Hadi Chelo predicted that
the USBIC would "reflect Iraq's turn towards the United States
economically in the absence of interest shown by European and Arab
countries...So should we expect to be swarmed by major American
companies in different sectors? This is not so farfetched given
Washington's need of new investment sites and that there is nowhere
like Iraq to realize this potential."

3. COVERAGE OF OPENING DAY AND MALIKI-OBAMA MEETING

TV and RADIO: On October 20, Al-Sharqiya, Al-Iraqiya, Al-Sumariya,
Al-Hurriya, and Al-Hurra all reported on Secretary Clinton's meeting
with PM Nuri al-Maliki and their joint press conference. On October
21, most TV and radio outlets focused on President Obama's comments
after his meeting with PM Maliki. U.S. Embassy Spokesperson was
quoted on Al-Iraqiya describing how the U.S. and Iraq were entering
a new phase in their bilateral relations, through cooperation under
the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA).

PRINT: Most Baghdad-based newspapers headlined PM Maliki's opening
of the conference and his meetings with President Obama and Vice
President Biden. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (Iraq edition) reported in depth
on Secretary Clinton's opening address.

EDITORIAL: The daily Al-Bayan ran an October 22 editorial entitled
"Maliki's Visit to America: Purpose and Objectives by Ali Hussein
Addahloki who wrote: "When Maliki went to the U.S. with a bundle of
Qinvestment opportunities for American companies in hand, he was
showing his preference for the best."
4. WESTERN MEDIA COVERAGE

The run-up to the conference, and the USBIC itself, were covered
widely by Western media, particularly by the Wall Street Journal,
New York Times, Reuters, and AFP. In Baghdad, interviews with
Haslach and backgrounders with other Mission officials resulted in
articles by Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Los
Angeles Times. Other key outlets including CNN, Fox News, AFP, AP
and Time Magazine, attended the October 7 joint press conference in
Baghdad. Western Media coverage focused on the steps that Iraq
needs to take in order successfully to attract U.S. investment,
including improving its regulatory framework and investment climate,
and becoming a signatory to international arbitration agreements.

5. COMMENT: The advance publicity arranged in Baghdad helped place
the USBIC within the context of the SFA and a U.S.-Iraqi economic
relationship that is becoming deeper and more multi-faceted. Our
strategy also helped manage initially unrealistic local expectations
over defining the success of the conference simply by the number of
contracts signed. As a result, local media remained largely
satisfied and focused more on the broader and more long-term goals
that the USBIC achieved, which was to introduce Iraqi businesses to
potential U.S. and international partners, have GOI officials and

businesses hear directly from the private sector about their
concerns and interests, create long-lasting networks and to showcase
Iraqi business opportunities in diverse sectors.

Ford

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