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By Executive Order on May 9, 2007, the President created The Iraq Transition Assistance Office (ITAO) as the successor organization to the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO). The purpose of the ITAO is to perform the specific project of supporting executive departments and agencies in concluding remaining large infrastructure projects expeditiously in Iraq, to facilitate Iraq's transition to self-sufficiency, and to maintain an effective diplomatic presence in Iraq.
The ITAO coordinates and oversees all U.S. Government non-security related assistance for the Chief of Mission. The organization has fiduciary oversight over the approximately $3.0 billion remaining in the Iraq Reconstruction and Relief Fund (IRRF). The ITAO also ensures that U.S. Government assistance programs across all agencies are closely linked to the Mission strategy and are delivering desired results. Finally, the ITAO employs senior consultants assigned to essential services ministries with ongoing reconstruction projects who will oversee the successful completion of projects in their respective sectors.
Mark Tokola arrived in Baghdad at the beginning of May to assume his responsibilities as the Director of ITAO. Most recently, he was the Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in London. Mr. Tokola was the Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, from 1997 to 1999.
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