Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO1197
2003-07-09 10:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

Maldives: Let Us Not Take This Friend For

Tags:  PREL ECON ETRD MV 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001197 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/13
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD MV
SUBJECT: Maldives: Let Us Not Take This Friend For
Granted

Refs: A) STATE 184643, B) EMB/DESK FAX, JULY 2, 2003

(U) Classified by Donald A. Camp, Charge d'Affaires.
Reasons 1.5 (b, d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001197

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/13
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: Let Us Not Take This Friend For
Granted

Refs: A) STATE 184643, B) EMB/DESK FAX, JULY 2, 2003

(U) Classified by Donald A. Camp, Charge d'Affaires.
Reasons 1.5 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Government of the Republic of
MALDIVES has made only one substantive request of us
this past year -- to defer until later this year a
decision on whether to graduate the MALDIVES from LDC
status. Embassy strongly believes meeting this modest
request will go a long way towards reassuring the
MALDIVES that their recent helpfulness to us (Article 98
signature, support for the war on terrorism) is not
unrequited. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The GoRM has requested that the USG again
support the Maldivian effort to be retained on the LDC
list during the upcoming 2003 Substantive Session of the
Economic and Social Council.


3. (C) Embassy believes that, in addition to the valid
economic vulnerability arguments, the Department should
consider closely the overall U.S.-GoRM relationship as
it decides how to respond to this request. The GoRM
does not ask us for much and this is clearly a critical
issue for them.


4. (C) Though we enjoy a high level of ongoing
cooperation on many levels, Department should consider
especially these specific examples:

-- The MALDIVES was one of the first countries in the
world to agree to an Article 98 agreement, when they
were told it was an important USG priority.

-- The MALDIVES has always supported the U.S. in its
counter-terrorism efforts, not always an easy task for a
member of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

-- The MALDIVES maintains an excellent military-to-
military relationship with the U.S.

-- The MALDIVES, astride 1000 miles of Indian Ocean air
and sea lanes, and just north of the U.S. base at Diego
Garcia, was quick to offer the U.S. unlimited overflight
rights after 9/11.

-- The Maldivian Monetary Authority (Central Bank)
responds quickly and thoroughly to all messages from us
on controlling terrorist financing.

-- The U.S. is committed to improving our ties to
moderate Islamic states. The MALDIVES is a prime
example of such a nation, in a volatile region.


5. (C) COMMENT: The MALDIVES is a nation whose
assistance we may need in the future and whose help we
have had in the past. Political considerations, as well
as economic, are important to developing our position on
this issue. Embassy urges we meet their modest request
on the LDC Graduation issue. Please advise. END
COMMENT.

CAMP