DEPUTY TREASURY SECRETARY KIMMITT AND COUNSELOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002954 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/I AND EB; NSC FOR BOUZIS, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2016 TAGS: EAID PREL KU IZ KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: DEPUTY TREASURY SECRETARY KIMMITT AND COUNSELOR ZELIKOW ENLIST ARAB FUND SUPPORT FOR IRAQ COMPACT Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: During a July 22 meeting with Mr. Abdul Latif Al-Hamad, Director General (DG) of the Arab Fund, Deputy Treasury Secretary Kimmitt and State Dept. Counselor Dr. Philip Zelikow outlined the concept for the Iraq Compact, laid out a timeline for critical steps, and solicited the active participation of the Arab Fund as a member of both the preparatory group and the executive committee. Deputy Secretary Kimmitt emphasized the credibility and competence SIPDIS of the key Iraqi participants in the Compact as well as the need for the regional, technical, and process expertise that the Arab Fund could bring to the project. The DG responded that the Arab Fund was eager to return to Iraq and contribute to reconstruction. He acknowledged that after being "totally cut off from Iraq for 15-16 years" the Fund lacked specific knowledge of the Iraqi landscape. (Note: Iraq is still technically suspended from participation in the Arab Fund. End note.) Nevertheless, the DG accepted the invitation to participate in the Compact, stressing that his staff would need weeks to prepare. He added that the Fund could "fill in gaps" in areas such as water and power, realizing significant benefits from investments at the margin. In conclusion, the DG expressed optimism about Iraq's future while predicting progress would be slow and difficult. End summary. Kimmitt Explains Compact, Asks for Arab Fund Participation -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) Deputy Secretary Kimmitt opened the July 22 meeting with Director General Abdul Latif Al-Hamad of the Arab Fund by stating that the Iraq Compact was the best mechanism for driving development within Iraq. Kimmitt and Zelikow were accompanied by Rear Admiral Robert Moeller of U.S. Central Command, NSC Director Evangelia Bouzis, CDA Matt Tueller, State Dept. Financial Economist Alexei Monsarrat, Treasury Dept. Financial Economist Vickie Alvo, and Econoff (notetaker). DepSec Kimmitt explained that the invitation to the Arab Fund to play a leading role was strongly supported by the USG. He said the Iraq Compact would comprehensively address political, economic, and security problems by compelling the GOI to commit to critical economic reforms in exchange for financial and technical support from the International Community. He added that the involvement of the Arab Fund would lend credibility and bring needed expertise. Kimmitt added that, if necessary, this participation could take place remotely. Kimmitt explained that although the initial meeting of the preparatory group scheduled for July 20 had to be postponed due to events in Lebanon, the formation of the Compact would still need to adhere to an ambitious timeline. Technical discussions would continue through August culminating in a meeting of the preparatory group at the end of the month. Meetings would then be held at the margins of the IMF/World Bank sessions in September. Signing would be scheduled for November prior to the debate in the Security Council over the continuation of the mandate for the Multi-national Force in Iraq in December and prior to the end of Kofi Annan's term as Secretary General. DG Commits to Participation but Recognizes Challenges -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) Director General Al-Hamad explained that the Arab Fund had not committed to sending a representative to the July 20 meeting because he "had no one to send" -- a significant proportion of his small staff is on vacation in July/August and the Fund was given notice only four days prior to the meeting. The DG said that although the Fund was still technically prevented from working with Iraq, this situation could be easily remedied. He said that Iraq could play an important, constructive role in the region with the caveat that stability in Iraq was "a longshot." However, he expressed some optimism that the Fund, with its broad experience in the region, could play a useful role despite its disengagement from Iraq in recent years. The DG said that the Compact would serve as a "vote of confidence from the international community," but he warned that the work of the Compact must "create an impression of equity and unity in development" to dispel the image of Iraq as "not a country, but a collection of vested interests and fighting groups." Al-Hamad accepted the invitation for the Fund to participate in the executive committee. DepSec Vouches for Competence and Commitment of the Iraqis -------------- -------------- KUWAIT 00002954 002 OF 002 ¶4. (C/NF) Kimmitt referred to the GOI's success in stabilizing the dinar, building up foreign reserves, and collecting government revenue. He added that the IMF had endorsed the Iraqi economic team, recognizing that they had "laid a strong macroeconomic foundation." The Deputy Secretary said that it was, in fact, the GOI that conceived SIPDIS the idea of the Compact as a means of creating a binding external commitment that would help the Government to overcome domestic political constraints. He stated the shared vision for the Compact to serve as a plan of action rather than an aspirational document. To allay the DG's concerns over a lack of accurate, up-to-date data on Iraq, DepSec Kimmitt offered to furnish copies of recent World Bank, IMF, UNDG, and IRRFI reports. (Note: The Embassy has followed up and provided the reports to the Arab Fund. End Note.) Counselor Zelikow said that the Fund could support the Iraqi team by drawing on its broad experience in identifying the most appropriate development targets to strategically address the most critical problems. Picking the right targets, and then being tough on implementation would be key. Zelikow added that the USG was eager to re-engage the Fund at a broader, systemic level in the near future. Arab Fund On Board but Level of Involvement Uncertain -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C/NF) The DG expressed eagerness to engage but with modest expectations. He emphasized that initial involvement by the Fund would be limited to "filling in gaps" to enhance the performance of existing projects. He also stated that the extent of the Fund's involvement would be limited by the size of his staff as well as the time of the year with summer vacations being followed by Ramadan and the Haj. Nonetheless, he said that the effects of modest and accessible projects such as improving the provision of clean drinking water could be significant. In closing, the Director General said, "I'm optimistic despite all the problems. It's a long haul, but there's really no alternative." ¶6. (U) Deputy Secretary Kimmitt and Counselor Zelikow have cleared this cable. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER