About CPA South

About CPA South The Coalition established the CPA to work with the Iraqi people to reconstruct and administer Iraq, and to begin the process of establishing a representative government for Iraq. The CPA’s regional structure is based on Iraq’s 18 provinces. CPA Governorate Teams in each province act as a focal point for reconstruction work, liaison with local governance bodies and the implementation of CPA policy. CPA South comprises the four southernmost provinces (or governorates) of Iraq, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Maysan and Thi Qar. Their capitals are, respectively, Basra, Samawah, Al Amarah and Nasiriyah. CPA South’s area of operations is the same as that of Multinational Division (South East). The area of responsibility is approximately 440 km wide by 418 km from North to South, covering some 150,000 square kilometres. It has around 1,000 kilometres of international borders with Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The area covers about a quarter of Iraq. The particular features of the area include Iraq’s 58km of coastline (with the Shatt Al Arab waterway), the ports of Umm Qasr and Az Zubayr, the Marsh Arab area east of Nasiriyah and large areas of desert comprising much of Al Muthanna. The main routes of entry into the area are by road from Kuwait, by air into Basrah International Airport and by sea into Umm Qasr. The south is not only Iraq’s gateway to the Gulf, it also is home to much of the country’s historic industrial base, including iron and steel-making, papermaking, and fertiliser production, as well as the producer of most of Iraq’s current export revenue through its extensive oilfields. The south is also a strongly agricultural area, especially in the production of tomatoes and dates, the latter highly prized for domestic consumption and as an export crop. Ninety percent of the population of the area is thought to be Shia Arab. There is a mixed Sunni Arab and Shia Arab population in Al Muthanna, and small communities of Christians in Basra, and Mandaeans in Basra, Nasiriyah and Al Amarah. Patrick Nixon, as Regional Co-ordinator for southern Iraq from February 2004, is head of CPA South, and responsible for co-ordinating the Coalition’s political, military and reconstruction efforts in the region. Each of the four provinces of southern Iraq has a Governorate Co-ordinator, supported by various civilian and allocated military staff to provide expertise and advice in the Governorate Teams. The Governorate Co-ordinators are: Al Basrah: Henry Hogger; Al Muthanna: Jim Soriano; Maysan: Molly Phee; Thi Qar: Barbara Contini. CPA South’s work is broken down into different sectors, the principal ones being: · Interior: Fire and Emergency, Border Guards, Customs, Immigration · Ministries: Agriculture, Central Bank, Education, Finance, Health, Housing and Reconstruction, Irrigation, Labour, Planning, Power, Oil and LPG, Telecommunications and IT, Trade and Industry, Transport, Water and Sanitation, Youth and Sport · Political Affairs: Environment, Gender issues, Human Rights, Political progress, Civic Education, Civil Society, Democracy Development · Press and Public Affairs · Public Service: Justice, Police, Prisons · Reconstruction: FEST, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees, Military contractor liaison, RIG · Regions: Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Maysan, Thi Qar Civil Administration and Civil Society Essential Services Trade, Industry and Commerce Press and Public Affairs enquiries For all other enquiries regarding activities within CPA South and the four southern provinces of Iraq, in the first instance please contact ppastaff@cpa-iq.org CPA SOUTH Director, Press and Public Affairs: Dominic d’Angelo Tel: 00 965 911 7754 • 00 88 216 211 58216• 00 1 781 276 5666 Email: dominic.dangelo@cpa-iq.org Press and Public Affairs Co-ordinator: Paola Della Casa Tel: 00 965 918 9848 • 00 88 216 503 00620 Email: paola.dellacasa@cpa-iq.org Press and Public Affairs Officer: Clare Baxter Tel: 00 965 918 0638 • 00 1 781 276 3019 Email: clare.baxter@cpa-iq.org