Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08BAGHDAD3498, IRAQI TRADE MINISTER DISCUSSES GRAIN IMPORT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BAGHDAD3498.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BAGHDAD3498 2008-11-04 13:21 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Baghdad
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGB #3498/01 3091321
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041321Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0213
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003498 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA-I ECON 
USDA/FAS/OCRA FOR LSHATZ, AALLEN, CMCKINNEL 
USDA/FAS/OGA FOR MSHEAN, MHOUSE 
USDA/FAS/OFSO FOR RVERDONK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI TRADE MINISTER DISCUSSES GRAIN IMPORT 
SITUATION 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) FAS and FCS Attaches met October 27 with Minister of 
Trade Dr. Abdul-Falah Hassan Al-Sudani and other MoT 
officials to discuss the Iraqi grain import situation, 
planned GOI renovations at the port of Umm Qasr, and the 
Public Distribution System (PDS), the GOI's subsidized food 
distribution program.  Given substantial declines in 
commodity prices and freight rates, MoT was encouraged to 
tender for their intermediate import needs now.  The MoT 
expects to issue tenders in November provided funding is 
available.  With renovations slated for Umm Qasr to begin in 
thirty to forty five days, the next tenders will likely 
include freight specifications for on-board discharge 
capability for break bulk grain shipments.  MoT notes it is 
prepared to assist in any Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) 
tendering, discharging and transportation for feed barley 
imports, provided the MoA comes up with the cash to do so. 
End Summary. 
 
Wheat Import Situation Stable 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Minister Al-Sudani and Director General of Grain 
Board of Iraq (GBI) Mr. Muthanna Jabar described for us on 
October 27 a variety of ongoing MoT market activities.  The 
GBI's current strategy with respect to wheat is to import 
lower-priced Romanian and Russian grain and blend it with 
higher quality U.S., Canadian, and Australian product to 
produce flour with the desired protein (gluten) 
characteristics needed for Iraqi bread products.  This 
approach is likely to continue, as the MoT seeks ways to 
control costs for Iraq's leading agricultural import, 
estimated at 3.7 million tons in 2008/09 (July-June basis). 
 
Cash on the Barrelhead for Barley and MoT Seed Stocks 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
3. (SBU) The Ministry of Trade and the GBI noted that they 
are prepared to provide assistance for the MoA's plan to 
import 200,000 tons of feed barley, provided that MoA pays. 
This assistance would likely include the 
tendering/discharging/local transportation of the grain, 
again dependent on MoA funding. (Note: MOA has reported 
separately that they lack funding as of yet for doing this. 
End note.) 
 
4. (SBU) As for distribution of wheat seed from MOT stores of 
milling wheat, again MoA will have to pay for the product. 
In addition, the MoT stocks are described by the Minister as 
not the best product for a seed distribution program, because 
the milling wheat has not been properly cleaned for seed use. 
 Similar to the case for planned barley importation, MoA 
reportedly has been slow to transfer funds to MoT to purchase 
the wheat seed.  Distribution of MoT-owned barley for seed 
use faces the same situation as wheat seed.  The Minister 
questioned whether the GoI should be distributing barley from 
MOT stocks at all, since it's not really seed quality.  The 
Minister did confirm that wheat bran from GOI-owned flour 
mills is supposed to be sold at subsidized prices to 
livestock producers for feed, but didn't provide any details 
regarding price levels. 
 
PDS and The Web of Subsidies 
---------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Minister Al-Sudani also discussed subsidies, 
including the MoT-operated PDS monthly food distribution 
scheme. The Minister said that the GOI has to "get out of the 
business of subsidizing everything."  The challenge, 
according to the Minister, is to pursue PDS modification 
while avoiding the political backlash that could result. 
During a separate meeting with EMIN, Al-Sudani said that the 
ministry had made some progress in moving toward PDS reform 
due in part to the improving security situation, and that 
they were exploring different ways of effecting further 
reform, to include -- over the long term -- monetization of 
benefits.  The different options posed different challenges, 
he said, stating that monetization, for example, would 
require significant enhancements in the banking system.  He 
opined that Iraq will take its "first step" toward indirect 
support in "early or mid-2009."  (Comment:  This would appear 
to be a highly ambitious timeline.  End comment.) 
 
Grain Handling at Umm Qasr Slated for Renovation 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
6. (SBU) According to GBI and the Minister, Umm Qasr's grain 
discharge facilities, specifically the "vaccuvator" system 
used to pull grain from bulk holds, will be renovated in the 
near future.  The refit is expected to begin in 30-45 days, 
and will take an estimated 3 months to complete.  During that 
time, discharge rates will decline by 50 percent at the one 
berth where the upgrade will occur, necessitating the 
inclusion in shipping contracts for self-discharge capability 
(shipboard cranes with grabs) for grain vessels destined for 
Umm Qasr.  According to the GBI, the renovation will increase 
daily discharge rates to 8,000 to 10,000 metric tons at the 
improved berth.  Current actual rates for break bulk grain 
appear to average in the 3,800 metric ton range per berth, 
with frequent notes in vessel discharge reports of work 
stoppages due to equipment breakdown.  We have scheduled 
follow-up meetings with GBI to further discuss the renovation 
and its impact on shipping and the local market in the near 
term. 
CROCKER