SUPPORTING KUWAITI CANDIDATE FOR UNDP ADMINISTRATOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001077 SIPDIS FOR KIM HOLMES AND DAVID SATTERFIELD FROM AMBASSADOR E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015 TAGS: PREL KU UNDP SUBJECT: SUPPORTING KUWAITI CANDIDATE FOR UNDP ADMINISTRATOR Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) I strongly recommend that the U.S. endorse Kuwait's candidate for UNDP Administrator, Fawzi Sultan. A former long-time President of the U.N. International Fund for Agricultural Development and Executive Director of the World Bank, Sultan is an eminently qualifed candidate for this position. ¶2. (C) More importantly, supporting Mr. Sultan's candidacy would serve to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. An indispensable ally in our efforts to rebuild Iraq, Kuwait has provided over $2 billion in assistance in kind for OIF, including allowing coalition forces free use of its territory for their operations and basing, providing millions of dollars of AIK fuel and waiving customs fees for military cargo. GOK officials have been persistent in expressing their discontent with what they feel is a lack of U.S. recognition of these efforts. Support of Mr. Fawzi's candidacy would be a small step to indicate that the U.S. considers Kuwait a valuable partner and ally. ¶3. (C) While I realize that we may not normally endorse candidates for such positions, I believe this would be a low cost way to to show to the GOK that we take them seriously as an ally in our regional efforts. LEBARON