Team discusses food networks in Diyala

BAQUBAH, Iraq, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A reconstruction team met with provincial leaders in Iraq's eastern Diyala province to discuss improving the networks of food distribution.

The Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team brought the provincial leaders together with the Iraqi trade minister for the first time, Multi-National Division-North said Wednesday.

"This meeting allowed the managers of various sectors -- for example, the manager of the grain silo, the manager of the sales mall, the managers of the warehouses -- to find out where their common problems are and to address them," said the head of the PRT, John Jones.

The Iraqi army recently re-opened a key thoroughfare linking Baghdad to the Diyala capital, Baqubah, which allowed for increased food distribution there.

The U.S. military hosted several conferences called "United and Strong" aimed at coordinating the concerns of provincial leaders to communicate more effectively to the central government of Iraq.

The Iraqi ministers in Diyala discussed ways of opening up the lines of communication between provincial councils and governmental offices in Baghdad.

The PRTs employ a Provincial Development Strategy to train and link provincial directors to the government of Iraq.

The strategy also directs provincial leaders in developing a transparent budget strategy. This in turn pressures the government of Iraq to pass key economic and developmental laws.