Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DOHA861
2008-12-15 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

QATAR BEGINS ORGANIZING ITS FOREIGN AID AGENCY;

Tags:  PGOV KCRS AID QA 
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VZCZCXRO6405
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #0861/01 3501333
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151333Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8526
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
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.

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