Minute gray to private secretary baghdad reopening of the mission

PS/Baroness Symons Mr Ricketts Mr Charlton Heads: Press office, SSU , Press Office Mr Collecott To: Mr Chaplin PS/PUS Private Secretary BAGHDAD: REOPENING OF THE MISSION 1. Further to my submission of 11 April (attached) we are now in the final stage of planning for reopening of Embassy in Baghdad (under the provisional title of "The British Office") 2. The 24 April military reconaissance of our building went well, and the building has been declared safe. We have settled on a spot for the Container Embassy within the compound. The staff, the container Embassy and the four armoured vehicles are in Kuwait. 1 Para are in Baghdad to guard the compound perimeter. The RMP close protection team will arrive in Kuwait on 2 May, and unless there is an adverse security report in the interval the convoy will leave Kuwait on 3 May under arrangements made by 1 Division. They will arrive in Baghdad late on Sunday or early on Monday. Press arrangements 3. The opening of the first British diplomatic presence in Baghdad for more than 12 years offers an excellent opportunity for positive news coverage. It will allow us to demonstrate our commitment to engaging with the emerging political leaders and re- establishing bilateral links, tell a good story about the difficult work diplomats do in uncertain circumstances and show off our containerised embassy for the first time. We Page 1 240 DECLASSIFED - Christopher Segar should give a doorstep/photo op for British and Arab media on arrival in Baghdad on 4 May, with the assistance of Charles Heatly (seconded to ORHA Baghdad). 5. Villepin has said this morning that staff have arrived in Baghdad to reopen the French Embassy. We have no confirmation of this . I have recommended to Press Office that to minimise the risk of "race for Baghdad" stories, they should if this is raised with them simply that any arrangements the French have made are a matter for them. JCR Gray Page 2 DECLASSFED