Peter Collecott
To:
BASRA OFFICES
This saga is now turning into something of a joke. If we are to realise our objective of
-
setting up an office in Basta IPU needs to grip the issue and break a vicious circle that has
developed
2.
The idea of a visit by Estate Group experts was prompted by the claim BASRAH
OFFICE ESU VISITof UK personnel in CPA (South) that they did not have the resources to
identify possible new premises for the proposed Consul-General. CPA (South) thus asked for
a visit by Estate Group. CPA (South) then said they did not even have the resources to
provide the visitors with the necessary logistic support.
We have (today) now approached the military. They are prepared to provide support
for perhaps one day. But they insist that the visitors identify, in advance, where they need to
go and whom they need to talk to. This is required in order for the military to recce, in
and
advance, the areas that the visitors propose to visit. But clearly
(the EG visitors) will have no idea, on arrival, where they should go or who they should talk
to. And in the absence of assistance from CPA (South) over this, the military would be
unwilling to render support since they will not have had the opportunity of an advance recce.
We are, in short, going round in circles. I appreciate that our people in CPA (South) have
is not being as helpful
many other priorities. But I also suspect that
: If IPU want
an office in Basra IPU will need to lean on our people to be more helpful.
and
will travel
In the meantime I have agreed with IPU that
to Basra this afternoon. They will spend tomorrow in initial discussions with British military
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Head, Estate Strategy Unit
)
has confirmed that the military would probably
PS. Since drafting the above
be prepared to look after
for 2/3 days. This is helpful and might provide
time for the military to do an advance recce before showing the visitors agreed premises.
And in any subsequent visit we might be able to use a private security company. But our
efforts to establish this office will remain critically dependent on a Brit in CPA (South) being
able to give this subject attention.
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