IRAQ COMPACT: IRAQ CENTRAL BANK EXTENDS PERSONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000584 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I, TREASURY FOR DAS SAEED E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2011 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN ETRD IZ KU PGOV PREL SUBJECT: IRAQ COMPACT: IRAQ CENTRAL BANK EXTENDS PERSONAL INVITATION TO ARAB FUND REF: A. KUWAIT 568 ¶B. KUWAIT 575 ¶C. STATE 50503 Classified By: Economic Counselor Timothy A. Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Chairman of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development Dr. Abdelatif Y. Al-Hamad relayed to Econcouns April 21 that he had just received a phone call from the Governor of the Iraq Central Bank extending a "personal invitation" to attend the May 3 Iraq Compact signing in Egypt. Al-Hamad said he told the Governor, whom he has known "for a long time," the arrears problem with the GOI made participation in ICI activities difficult (Ref A). The Governor told Al-Hamad he would follow up on the arrears issue directly with the Iraqi Minister of Finance. ¶2. (C/NF) Al-Hamad said he told the Governor the Arab Fund was still weighing the decision to attend the ICI, and if so at what level. He told Econcouns a decision would be made in the next few days. He had just received, in the last few days, a formal invitation from the UN to attend the ICI, along with supporting materials. ********************************************* * 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