KATRINA ASSISTANCE, COMING TO CLOSURE

UNCLAS RIYADH 009155

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL EPET SA
SUBJECT: KATRINA ASSISTANCE, COMING TO CLOSURE

REF: SECSTATE 198690


1. (U) As per reftel request, on 17 December,
Mission delivered a diplomatic note to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) formally
requesting information on the status of
disbursements of the outstanding $48 million
of $100 million the SAG pledged for Hurricane
Katrina assistance. We requested the MFA
also pass the note to the Ministry of Petroleum
and Mineral Resources (MOP) and Saudi Aramco.
As per reftel request, we asked the SAG to
consider making block grants to U.S. charitable
organizations with the remaining funds and to
provide a timetable for disbursement,
if it intended to fulfill the remainder of its pledge.


2. (SBU) Post has requested Katrina disbursement
information on at least six occasions during the last
three months from the MOP, our designated point of
contact for Katrina assistance. However, we have
learned that Saudi Aramco's Houston office, the
SAG entity charged with making actual disbursements
in the U.S., claims to have encountered difficulties
in identifying charities able to absorb efficiently
the sums the SAG has attempted to donate.
Saudi Aramco officials have indicated they are
working to identify additional charities which can
make proper use of these donations. In the
meantime, the MOP claims to be stymied in
their attempts to obtain disbursement status
reports from Saudi Aramco. Saudi Aramco has
been unwilling to speak directly with our
Mission regarding the amounts disbursed,
instead referring us to the MOP.


3. (SBU) We are hopeful a formal diplomatic
note will finally enable us to obtain new
information on the status of Hurricane Katrina
aid disbursements, and will advise septel.

GFOELLER