QATAR BEGINS ORGANIZING ITS FOREIGN AID AGENCY;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000861 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: PGOV KCRS AID QA SUBJECT: QATAR BEGINS ORGANIZING ITS FOREIGN AID AGENCY; LOOKS FORWARD TO U.S. PARTNERSHIP REF: A. DOHA 475 ¶B. DOHA 515 Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . -------------- (C) KEY POINTS -------------- -- MFA Minister of State for International Cooperation and Conferences Khalid Al-Attiyah told Ambassador at a December 4 meeting that Qatar will broaden its involvement in external development and humanitarian programs and hopes to forge a stronger working relationship with the U.S. in this regard. -- Al-Attiyah explained that under the pending reorganization of the MFA (see Ref A) his office will coordinate Qatar's external aid and humanitarian assistance programs across the governmental and non-governmental spectrum. To coordinate policy until the final Amiri decree of reorganization is issued, a task force has been created under his direction. -- Al-Attiyah stated that once the final decree of reorganization is issued, an International Development Department (IDD) will be established under his authority to oversee all Qatari external aid programs and to promote transparency in their administration. The IDD portfolio would not include external investment. -- Al-Attiyah is considering appointing Ahmad M. Muraikhi, the current Director General of the Qatar Authority for Charitable Activities (QACA),to head the IDD. -------------- (C) COMMENTS -------------- -- Minister of State Khalid Al-Attiyah reports to the the PM/Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani and enjoys the confidence of the Amir, whose wife Shaykha Mouza Bint Nasser Al Missned oversees the officially non-governmental Qatar Foundation. Al-Attiyah, we believe, plays the critical role in reconciling the competitive differences (see Ref B) between the two in forging a common, unified approach to Qatar's developmental assistance. -- The Qatari external aid and humanitarian assistance portfolios are currently spread among GOQ ministries (controlled by Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani) and Qatar Foundation (controlled by Shaykha Mouza). Their prospective consolidation under the authority of Khalid Al-Attiyah, if successful, would be further evidence that the Amir counts on him to handle the most sensitive portfolios. Before taking up his current duties, Al-Attiyah effectively held the human rights portfolio and continues to be influential (see septel) in this area. -- Post is currently discussing with USAID how best to craft a development partnership with the GOQ. End Key Points and Comments. ¶1. (C) MFA Minister of State for International Cooperation and Conferences Khalid Al-Attiyah told Ambassador December 4 that Qatar plans to broaden its involvement in external development aid and humanitarian assistance. He said Qatar hopes to partner with other countries that have expertise in these areas, and welcomes such a partnership with the U.S. ¶2. (C) Al-Attiyah noted that in the past several Qatari agencies and government-affiliated organizations were involved in external development and humanitarian assistance, but that a more integrated approach is expected as a consequence of the Cabinet reorganization announced in July (see ref A). All external assistance programs, including those of such organizations as Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) will be coordinated by the International Development Department (IDD),to be created after the Amir issues the final decree of reorganization, under Al-Attiyah's overall direction. (Note: ROTA is a "non-governmental organization" under the authority of the quasi-governmental Qatar Foundation, which is headed by Shaykha Mouza Bint Nasser Al Missned, wife of the Amir. It funds basic infrastructure and educational projects and provides emergency relief after natural disasters. End note). Until that time, a task force has been created to coordinate development policy. ¶3. (C) According to Al-Attiyah, the IDD portfolio would not include international investments, which would still fall DOHA 00000861 002 OF 002 under the authority of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The IDD would, however, be in close contact with the QIA in order to maximize the effectiveness of Qatar's external aid programs. ¶4. (C) Al-Attiyah said that he is leaning toward appointing Ahmad M. Muraikhi as head of the IDD. Muraikhi is currently the Director General of the QACA (Note: The QACAwas established in 2005 within the Ministry of Cvil Affairs and Housing, but was later reorganizd as an independent institution within the GOQ, esponsible to a Board of Directors. It is in chage of regulating charitable and humanitarian aidwithin Qatar and abroad. End Note). LeBaron