Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI633
2007-04-17 11:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
INTERNATIONAL COMPACT WITH IRAQ (ICI) - UAE
how-toVZCZCXRO7897 PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHAD #0633 1071159 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 171159Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8775 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0124
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000633
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I - TAECKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN IR PGOV PREL IZ AE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMPACT WITH IRAQ (ICI) - UAE
CONSIDERING WHO TO SEND
REF: A. SECSTATE 50497
B. SECSTATE 47346
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000633
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I - TAECKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN IR PGOV PREL IZ AE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMPACT WITH IRAQ (ICI) - UAE
CONSIDERING WHO TO SEND
REF: A. SECSTATE 50497
B. SECSTATE 47346
1. (U) As part of our continuing efforts to urge the UAE to
attend the ICI signing cerimony and to reaffirm its decision
to forgive Iraqi debt, Ambassador met with UAE Minister of
State for Financial and Industrial Affairs Dr. Mohammed
Khalfan bin Kharbash on April 17. Dr. Kharbash stated that
the decision on who would represent the UAE would be UAE
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's (AbZ)
to make, and would depend partially on his availability. Dr.
Kharbash also asked whether the recent resignation or the
Sadrist members of the Iraqi cabinet would complicate the
GoI's ability to implement reforms.
2. (U) On April 10, Econchief met with Yacoub Al-Hosani, MFA
Director of International Cooperation to deliver the same
demarche. Al-Hosani asked whether this would be a pledging
conference, Econchief reiterated our hope that the UAE would
reaffirm its decision to forgive 80% or more of Iraq's debt
and commit to a date and process to resolving that issue. On
April 16, Econchief followed-up with Ministry of Finance A/US
for Revenue and Budget Khalid Al-Bustani, who confirmed that
MFA would make the final decision on assistance and
attendance.
3. (U) On April 16, Econchief met with Dr. Mustapha Kara,
Director of the Arab Monetary Fund's Economic and Technical
Department to urge the AMF to attend the signing ceremony as
well. (Note: AMF Director General Jassem Al-Mannai was out
of the UAE at the IMF/World Bank Spring meetings and
deputized Dr. Kara to discuss the issue. End Note.) Dr. Kara
said that he would brief Al-Mannai as soon as possible. In
response to Econchief's question about discussions between
Iraq and the AMF regarding Iraqi arrears to the fund, Kara
said that he thought discussions were promising, but that
they had not reached agreement on a repayment schedule. He
confirmed that the AMF would not be able to extend new
financing to the GoI until the Iraqis began to clear their
arrears. He said that the AMF would probably be able to
extend new funds, once a repayment schedule had been agreed
on, although the AMF would be cautious about increasing Iraqi
debt too greatly.
4. (U) We will continue to follow-up with both the UAEG and
the AMF.
SISON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I - TAECKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN IR PGOV PREL IZ AE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMPACT WITH IRAQ (ICI) - UAE
CONSIDERING WHO TO SEND
REF: A. SECSTATE 50497
B. SECSTATE 47346
1. (U) As part of our continuing efforts to urge the UAE to
attend the ICI signing cerimony and to reaffirm its decision
to forgive Iraqi debt, Ambassador met with UAE Minister of
State for Financial and Industrial Affairs Dr. Mohammed
Khalfan bin Kharbash on April 17. Dr. Kharbash stated that
the decision on who would represent the UAE would be UAE
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's (AbZ)
to make, and would depend partially on his availability. Dr.
Kharbash also asked whether the recent resignation or the
Sadrist members of the Iraqi cabinet would complicate the
GoI's ability to implement reforms.
2. (U) On April 10, Econchief met with Yacoub Al-Hosani, MFA
Director of International Cooperation to deliver the same
demarche. Al-Hosani asked whether this would be a pledging
conference, Econchief reiterated our hope that the UAE would
reaffirm its decision to forgive 80% or more of Iraq's debt
and commit to a date and process to resolving that issue. On
April 16, Econchief followed-up with Ministry of Finance A/US
for Revenue and Budget Khalid Al-Bustani, who confirmed that
MFA would make the final decision on assistance and
attendance.
3. (U) On April 16, Econchief met with Dr. Mustapha Kara,
Director of the Arab Monetary Fund's Economic and Technical
Department to urge the AMF to attend the signing ceremony as
well. (Note: AMF Director General Jassem Al-Mannai was out
of the UAE at the IMF/World Bank Spring meetings and
deputized Dr. Kara to discuss the issue. End Note.) Dr. Kara
said that he would brief Al-Mannai as soon as possible. In
response to Econchief's question about discussions between
Iraq and the AMF regarding Iraqi arrears to the fund, Kara
said that he thought discussions were promising, but that
they had not reached agreement on a repayment schedule. He
confirmed that the AMF would not be able to extend new
financing to the GoI until the Iraqis began to clear their
arrears. He said that the AMF would probably be able to
extend new funds, once a repayment schedule had been agreed
on, although the AMF would be cautious about increasing Iraqi
debt too greatly.
4. (U) We will continue to follow-up with both the UAEG and
the AMF.
SISON