MGXDO1: GOK NOT PLANNING NEW PLEDGE IN GENEVA AND

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004586 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI SWALKER, SA/FO FOR JGASTRIGHT, ISLAMABAD FOR TWILDER AND TGRENCIK, LONDON FOR LTSOU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL AMGT XD KU SUBJECT: MGXDO1: GOK NOT PLANNING NEW PLEDGE IN GENEVA AND STILL DECIDING ON REPRESENTATION REF: A. SECSTATE 195483 ¶B. KUWAIT 4534 ¶C. KUWAIT 4398 ¶1. (U) Summary. Per reftel A, Embassy followed-up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to confirm GOK participation at the upcoming Geneva Donors Conference for South Asia earthquake victims and to urge continued GOK assistance to victims in anticipation of winter. The MFA's Asia and Americas Departments informed Emboffs that the GOK has not yet decided on its representation to the conference, explaining that the official notification to attend the conference only arrived at the Ministry today (October 25) and that no additional GOK pledges were expected at this time. (Note: GOK has pledged $100M in reconstruction loans and in-kind assistance.) End Summary ¶2. (U) Counselor Hamad Al-Ahmad from the MFA's Asia Department informed Econoff that the Ministry received only today the official notifications from the U.N. and the Government of Pakistan to attend the conference and that a final decision on GOK participation was pending the Foreign Minister's decision. Al-Hamad noted the possibility of attendance by a representative from the Kuwaiti Mission in Geneva or an official from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. (Note: The Kuwait Fund will be responsible for disbursing $50M in concessional loans to Pakistan for reconstruction efforts in the affected areas.) ¶3. (U) Ambassador Khaled Abdul Mohsen Al-Babtain, head of the MFA's Americas Department, informed Econcouns that the GOK was not anticipating any new pledges in addition to the $100M already decreed by the Council of Ministers (see refs B and C). These contributions, he said, would consist of $50M in "in kind" assistance through the Kuwait Red Crescent Society and $50M in reconstruction assistance (concessionary loans) via the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. ¶4. (U) Al-Hamad pointed out to Econof that the GOK had been approached by the Pakistani Ambassador to Kuwait for urgent provision of blankets and tents and that the GOK did not have adequate supplies to meet the urgent needs but had offered to purchase tents in Pakistan. Al-Hamad added that Pakistani President Musharraf had cautioned donors against dwindling tent and blanket supplies in Pakistan, forcing Kuwait to reconsider its plans to purchase supplies in Pakistan. Al-Hamad suggested that India and China should would be better positioned to meet the urgent tent and blanket needs in anticipation of winter and that their respective governments should be encouraged to cover those outstanding needs in support of international efforts. Al-Hamad voiced concern about the coming winter and noted that Kuwait "was doing its best" and would continue to support relief efforts. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON