Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT4501
2006-11-21 16:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
YEMEN: MFA SAYS KUWAITI AID PLEDGE "APPROPRIATE"
how-toVZCZCXRO5382 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHKU #4501 3251610 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211610Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7670 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 004501
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO USAID, NEA/ARP FOR JACKSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID KU
SUBJECT: YEMEN: MFA SAYS KUWAITI AID PLEDGE "APPROPRIATE"
REF: NEA/ARP-EMBASSY KUWAIT EMAIL
UNCLAS KUWAIT 004501
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO USAID, NEA/ARP FOR JACKSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID KU
SUBJECT: YEMEN: MFA SAYS KUWAITI AID PLEDGE "APPROPRIATE"
REF: NEA/ARP-EMBASSY KUWAIT EMAIL
1. (SBU) As requested reftel, Econcouns met with MFA
Director of Arab Affairs Jassem Al-Mubaraki November 21 to
thank the GOK for its support to Yemen during the November 15
Yemen Donors Conference in London (note: Kuwait pledged USD
200 million in loans to Yemen, to be administered by the
Kuwait Fund over a five-year period). Al-Mubaraki said he
was aware of grumbling within some quarters in Yemen that
Kuwait's pledge was "too small." Al-Mubaraki wanted to be
clear that the reason Kuwait did not pledge more was not for
political reasons but because the GOK did not believe Yemen
had the capacity to effectively absorb more funding. He said
the GOK shared the same concerns about Yemen that the
Millennium Challenge Corporation had noted. Until Yemen
demonstrated it could tackle corruption and make progress on
reform, Kuwait was wary of providing more assistance.
Kuwait's funding commitment in London was a decision based on
economics, Al-Mubaraki insisted, not politics. Al-Mubaraki
said he had underscored this point the previous week with
senior Yemeni officials, including Dr. Iryani, on the margins
of a conference in Dubai.
2. (SBU) That said, Al-Mubaraki said the relationship
between Yemen and Kuwait was "normal" but not especially
warm. Kuwaitis have not forgotten Yemen's refusal to stand
by Kuwait during the first Gulf War, he said. Yemen opposed
any action by the UN that "offered Kuwait light at the end of
the tunnel" during the Iraqi invasion.
3. (SBU) In a separate conversation the same day, MFA
Director of International Organizations Mansour Al-Awadhi
commented to Econcouns that Kuwaiti aid to "both Yemens" had
been very generous over the years, and that Kuwait was one of
few Arab countries that had good relations with both North
and South Yemen. "Practically every village in Yemen has at
least one project that was funded by Kuwait," he claimed.
Kuwaiti assistance to Yemen stopped after the Gulf War but
resumed in 2000, he said.
********************************************* *
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/
*********************************************
LeBaron
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO USAID, NEA/ARP FOR JACKSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID KU
SUBJECT: YEMEN: MFA SAYS KUWAITI AID PLEDGE "APPROPRIATE"
REF: NEA/ARP-EMBASSY KUWAIT EMAIL
1. (SBU) As requested reftel, Econcouns met with MFA
Director of Arab Affairs Jassem Al-Mubaraki November 21 to
thank the GOK for its support to Yemen during the November 15
Yemen Donors Conference in London (note: Kuwait pledged USD
200 million in loans to Yemen, to be administered by the
Kuwait Fund over a five-year period). Al-Mubaraki said he
was aware of grumbling within some quarters in Yemen that
Kuwait's pledge was "too small." Al-Mubaraki wanted to be
clear that the reason Kuwait did not pledge more was not for
political reasons but because the GOK did not believe Yemen
had the capacity to effectively absorb more funding. He said
the GOK shared the same concerns about Yemen that the
Millennium Challenge Corporation had noted. Until Yemen
demonstrated it could tackle corruption and make progress on
reform, Kuwait was wary of providing more assistance.
Kuwait's funding commitment in London was a decision based on
economics, Al-Mubaraki insisted, not politics. Al-Mubaraki
said he had underscored this point the previous week with
senior Yemeni officials, including Dr. Iryani, on the margins
of a conference in Dubai.
2. (SBU) That said, Al-Mubaraki said the relationship
between Yemen and Kuwait was "normal" but not especially
warm. Kuwaitis have not forgotten Yemen's refusal to stand
by Kuwait during the first Gulf War, he said. Yemen opposed
any action by the UN that "offered Kuwait light at the end of
the tunnel" during the Iraqi invasion.
3. (SBU) In a separate conversation the same day, MFA
Director of International Organizations Mansour Al-Awadhi
commented to Econcouns that Kuwaiti aid to "both Yemens" had
been very generous over the years, and that Kuwait was one of
few Arab countries that had good relations with both North
and South Yemen. "Practically every village in Yemen has at
least one project that was funded by Kuwait," he claimed.
Kuwaiti assistance to Yemen stopped after the Gulf War but
resumed in 2000, he said.
********************************************* *
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/
*********************************************
LeBaron