Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI1876
2003-04-19 12:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
DEMARCHING THE ARAB MULTILATERAL AID
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:29:16 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM April 19, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1876 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: EAID, PREL, PGOV Captions: None Subject: DEMARCHING THE ARAB MULTILATERAL AID AGENCIES Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 01876 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON:TEWILLIAMS CLEARED: NONE VZCZCADI609 OO RUEHC RUEHEE DE RUEHAD #1876 1091250 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191250Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9490 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001876
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/13
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV IZ KU TC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHING THE ARAB MULTILATERAL AID
AGENCIES
REF: A) STATE 100455, B) KUWAIT 1468
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001876
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/13
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV IZ KU TC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHING THE ARAB MULTILATERAL AID
AGENCIES
REF: A) STATE 100455, B) KUWAIT 1468
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY DCM RICHARD A. ALBRIGHT FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B,D).
2. (C) ECONCHIEF RAISED REF A DEMARCHE APRIL 19
WITH FINANCE MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY KHALID AL-
BUSTANI. AL-BUSTANI SAID THAT THE UAE WOULD BE
FAVORABLY DISPOSED TOWARDS CONSIDERATION OF WAYS
IN WHICH THE ARAB FUND FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT (AFESD) COULD ENGAGE POSTIVELY WITH
IRAQ. THAT SAID, HE NOTED THAT THE UAE AS HOST OF
THE UPCOMING BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING -- AND AS
AN ONLY MODEST CONTRIBUTOR TO AFESD -- WOULD NOT
BE PREPARED TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THIS
ISSUE. HOWEVER, AS LONG AS AFSED DG ABDULLATIF
AL-HAMAD WAS FULLY ON BOARD, THE UAEG OFFICIAL
PREDICTED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE WELL IN HAND.
3. (C) AL-BUSTANI NOTED THAT THE APRIL 22-23
GATHERING IN ABU DHABI WOULD BE BROADER THAN JUST
THE AFESD SESSION. THE ARAB MONETARY FUND BOARD
WOULD ALSO BE MEETING, AS WOULD A NUMBER OF
SMALLER ARAB MULTILATERAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS,
SUCH AS THE ARAB AUTHORITY FOR AGRICULTURAL
DEVELOPMENT AND THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR
INVESTMENT PROTECTION. IF THE USG'S INTEREST IS
IN SEEKING IRAQ'S REHABILITATION, WE WOULD BE WELL
ADVISED TO CAST OUR NET MORE BROADLY THAN JUST
AFESD, THE EMIRATI REMARKED.
4. (C) COMMENT: AL-BUSTANI'S OBSERVATION
STRIKES US AS ON TARGET. WE WOULD NOTE THAT THE
ARAB MONETARY FUND -- WHICH IS ACTUALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING THE APRIL 22-23
MEETINGS -- IS CURRENTLY OWED MORE THAN 369
MILLION USD BY IRAQ (189 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL, THE
REST IN INTEREST). IRAQ HAS MADE NO PAYMENTS TO
THE AMF IN MORE THAN A DECADE, THE NUMBER TWO
OFFICIAL TOLD ECONOFF IN LATE 2002. POST
THEREFORE SUGGESTS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE AFESD-
SPECIFIC POINTS OUTLINED IN REF. A, CONSIDERATION
BE GIVEN TO BROADENING THE DEMARCHE TO ASK THAT
ALL THE RELEVANT ARAB FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
MEETING IN ABU DHABI LATER THIS MONTH TAKE THE
NECESSARY STEPS TO ENGAGE POSITIVELY WITH IRAQ AND
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE PROCESS OF
RECONSTRUCTION.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/13
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV IZ KU TC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHING THE ARAB MULTILATERAL AID
AGENCIES
REF: A) STATE 100455, B) KUWAIT 1468
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY DCM RICHARD A. ALBRIGHT FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B,D).
2. (C) ECONCHIEF RAISED REF A DEMARCHE APRIL 19
WITH FINANCE MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY KHALID AL-
BUSTANI. AL-BUSTANI SAID THAT THE UAE WOULD BE
FAVORABLY DISPOSED TOWARDS CONSIDERATION OF WAYS
IN WHICH THE ARAB FUND FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT (AFESD) COULD ENGAGE POSTIVELY WITH
IRAQ. THAT SAID, HE NOTED THAT THE UAE AS HOST OF
THE UPCOMING BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING -- AND AS
AN ONLY MODEST CONTRIBUTOR TO AFESD -- WOULD NOT
BE PREPARED TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THIS
ISSUE. HOWEVER, AS LONG AS AFSED DG ABDULLATIF
AL-HAMAD WAS FULLY ON BOARD, THE UAEG OFFICIAL
PREDICTED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE WELL IN HAND.
3. (C) AL-BUSTANI NOTED THAT THE APRIL 22-23
GATHERING IN ABU DHABI WOULD BE BROADER THAN JUST
THE AFESD SESSION. THE ARAB MONETARY FUND BOARD
WOULD ALSO BE MEETING, AS WOULD A NUMBER OF
SMALLER ARAB MULTILATERAL LENDING INSTITUTIONS,
SUCH AS THE ARAB AUTHORITY FOR AGRICULTURAL
DEVELOPMENT AND THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR
INVESTMENT PROTECTION. IF THE USG'S INTEREST IS
IN SEEKING IRAQ'S REHABILITATION, WE WOULD BE WELL
ADVISED TO CAST OUR NET MORE BROADLY THAN JUST
AFESD, THE EMIRATI REMARKED.
4. (C) COMMENT: AL-BUSTANI'S OBSERVATION
STRIKES US AS ON TARGET. WE WOULD NOTE THAT THE
ARAB MONETARY FUND -- WHICH IS ACTUALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING THE APRIL 22-23
MEETINGS -- IS CURRENTLY OWED MORE THAN 369
MILLION USD BY IRAQ (189 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL, THE
REST IN INTEREST). IRAQ HAS MADE NO PAYMENTS TO
THE AMF IN MORE THAN A DECADE, THE NUMBER TWO
OFFICIAL TOLD ECONOFF IN LATE 2002. POST
THEREFORE SUGGESTS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE AFESD-
SPECIFIC POINTS OUTLINED IN REF. A, CONSIDERATION
BE GIVEN TO BROADENING THE DEMARCHE TO ASK THAT
ALL THE RELEVANT ARAB FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
MEETING IN ABU DHABI LATER THIS MONTH TAKE THE
NECESSARY STEPS TO ENGAGE POSITIVELY WITH IRAQ AND
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE PROCESS OF
RECONSTRUCTION.
WAHBA