Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT400
2005-03-08 06:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

RECONSTRUCTION DISBURSEMENTS TO IRAQ

Tags:  EAID ECON EFIN IZ MU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000400 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ODF (RDEMARCELLUS),NEA, NEA/I/A, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2015
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IZ MU
SUBJECT: RECONSTRUCTION DISBURSEMENTS TO IRAQ

REF: A. SECSTATE 36580

B. 04 MUSCAT 1645

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (b, d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000400

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ODF (RDEMARCELLUS),NEA, NEA/I/A, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2015
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IZ MU
SUBJECT: RECONSTRUCTION DISBURSEMENTS TO IRAQ

REF: A. SECSTATE 36580

B. 04 MUSCAT 1645

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (SBU) On March 6, the Ambassador called on Foreign
Ministry Under Secretary Sayyid Badr bin Hamed al-Busaidi to
deliver reftel demarche seeking a status report on Oman's
pledge to Iraq's reconstruction. Sayyid Badr recalled that
Oman had initially pledged USD 3 million at the 2003 Madrid
Conference, but subsequently upped its offer to USD 5
million. He understood that Oman was to make its
contribution to "the UN fund," but promised to report back to
us the status of the disbursement. He asked if we could
provide specific instructions on how to deposit the Omani
contribution if it had not already been done. Sayyid Badr
questioned what difference Oman's modest contribution could
make when stacked against the enormous USG commitment, to
which the Ambassador replied that every bit of help was
appreciated.


2. (C) On March 7, the Under Secretary's political advisor
contacted Pol/E Chief to report that Oman indeed has not yet
deposited its pledged assistance. He said that, in line with
recent comments by the Foreign Minister to the Ambassador,
Oman is awaiting the post-election formation of a new Iraqi
government before disbursing its assistance. P/E Chief
pushed back, recalling that similar benchmarks in Iraq's
transition had been identified by the Omani government
without follow-through on its pledge. Further stages, such
as a referendum to approve a new constitution followed by
another round of elections, are always on Iraq's horizon but
critical assistance requirements cannot be postponed. The
MFA official agreed that the January 30 elections were an
exceptional achievement for Iraqi democracy, and that Oman
would carry out its assistance pledge as soon as there was a
government formed in Baghdad, which he expects in the very
near future.
BALTIMORE