Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3942
2008-12-25 04:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
GOP PLANNING FOR FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN, DONORS CONFERENCE AND
how-toVZCZCXRO5045 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #3942/01 3600452 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 250452Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0832 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 4238 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 3112 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9329 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2467 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5044 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0821 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 6554 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 5412
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003942
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: EINV EFIN ENGY ECON PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: GOP PLANNING FOR FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN, DONORS CONFERENCE AND
ENERGY DIALOGUE
Classified by Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003942
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: EINV EFIN ENGY ECON PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: GOP PLANNING FOR FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN, DONORS CONFERENCE AND
ENERGY DIALOGUE
Classified by Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 23, the DCM met with Secretary General
Salman Farruqui in order to discuss the upcoming Friends of
Democratic Pakistan meetings, the proposed Donors Conference and the
Energy Dialogue. Farruqui extended the GOP's invitation to
Secretary-designate Clinton to attend the Donors Conference. There
was discussion about the role of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan
versus the Donors Conference. Farruqui also talked about his
expectations for the Energy Dialogue in Washington in January. End
summary.
2. (U) On December 23, the DCM and EconOff met with Secretary General
Salman Farruqui to discuss planning for the Friends of Pakistan
expert-level meetings, the Donors Conference and the Energy Dialogue.
Also present in the meeting were the Secretary for Water and Power
Ismail Qureshi, Secretary for Petroleum Salim Mehmood, and MFA
Director General for the Americas Sohail Khan.
DONORS CONFERENCE, FRIENDS OF DEMOCRATIC PAKISTAN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (C) The DCM informed Farruqui that the proposed January date for
the Donors Conference was now unlikely, and we are therefore looking
at possible new dates, perhaps in February or March, and that the
location was still undecided. Farruqui asked if February would be
too soon for the new administration, to which the DCM replied that
things would become clearer after they are in office. When the DCM
suggested that Tokyo is a possible location, Farruqui expressed
appreciation for Japanese assistance and described some of the
projects that the Japanese had collaborated on with Pakistan,
including hydroelectric projects, the Indus highway, and proposals
for a mass transit system for Karachi. Sohail Khan added that the
Japanese MFA had approached the Pakistani Embassy in Tokyo to solicit
their views on the conference and to inform them that they were ready
to organize it. However, the Japanese indicated to the GOP that they
would like to merge the Friends of Pakistan ministerial meeting with
the Donors Conference since they felt that the same countries were
involved and that it would be difficult to organize the meetings
separately if they were to be scheduled so close together. Khan also
said that the GOP has heard from other countries that they are on
board both with the Friends of Pakistan and the Donors Conference,
but that they are waiting to see what Washington will do.
4. (C) Farruqui then asked if Secretary-designate Clinton would be
available to attend the Donors Conference. He said that the
conference could be set for a date of her convenience, and that if
travel to Tokyo were not possible, the GOP would be agreeable to
having it in New York instead. Regardless, Farruqui said the GOP was
"very keen" to have her present at the Donors Conference as well as
at the Friends of Pakistan ministerial meeting, which is also
tentatively planned for February or early March.
5. (C) Sohail Khan added that it would be necessary to clarify
whether Donors and Friends would be two separate meetings or one, as
well as the location and timing of both. The DCM noted that the
Donors Conference was intended to focus on the social safety net
programs that would not be funded by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) program and that the Friends of Democratic Pakistan was
intended to focus on support for projects as proposed by Pakistan.
(Comment: Confusion over the purpose of the two groups vis-a-vis one
another continues. Khan's comments also reinforce the idea that both
the GOP and the international community are waiting for the U.S.'s
leadership in both groups.)
ENERGY DIALOGUE
- - - - - - - -
6. (C) Farruqui confirmed his intention to travel to Washington to
attend the Energy Dialogue on January 12 and 13. He said that he was
satisfied that the agenda addressed most of their major issues. His
main expectation for the outcome of the meeting was to reach
consensus on these issues in order to facilitate an expanded Energy
Dialogue for the summer of 2009, when the new administration would
presumably be settled into their roles and able to focus on concrete
progress on Pakistan's energy issues.
ISLAMABAD 00003942 002 OF 002
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: EINV EFIN ENGY ECON PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: GOP PLANNING FOR FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN, DONORS CONFERENCE AND
ENERGY DIALOGUE
Classified by Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 23, the DCM met with Secretary General
Salman Farruqui in order to discuss the upcoming Friends of
Democratic Pakistan meetings, the proposed Donors Conference and the
Energy Dialogue. Farruqui extended the GOP's invitation to
Secretary-designate Clinton to attend the Donors Conference. There
was discussion about the role of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan
versus the Donors Conference. Farruqui also talked about his
expectations for the Energy Dialogue in Washington in January. End
summary.
2. (U) On December 23, the DCM and EconOff met with Secretary General
Salman Farruqui to discuss planning for the Friends of Pakistan
expert-level meetings, the Donors Conference and the Energy Dialogue.
Also present in the meeting were the Secretary for Water and Power
Ismail Qureshi, Secretary for Petroleum Salim Mehmood, and MFA
Director General for the Americas Sohail Khan.
DONORS CONFERENCE, FRIENDS OF DEMOCRATIC PAKISTAN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (C) The DCM informed Farruqui that the proposed January date for
the Donors Conference was now unlikely, and we are therefore looking
at possible new dates, perhaps in February or March, and that the
location was still undecided. Farruqui asked if February would be
too soon for the new administration, to which the DCM replied that
things would become clearer after they are in office. When the DCM
suggested that Tokyo is a possible location, Farruqui expressed
appreciation for Japanese assistance and described some of the
projects that the Japanese had collaborated on with Pakistan,
including hydroelectric projects, the Indus highway, and proposals
for a mass transit system for Karachi. Sohail Khan added that the
Japanese MFA had approached the Pakistani Embassy in Tokyo to solicit
their views on the conference and to inform them that they were ready
to organize it. However, the Japanese indicated to the GOP that they
would like to merge the Friends of Pakistan ministerial meeting with
the Donors Conference since they felt that the same countries were
involved and that it would be difficult to organize the meetings
separately if they were to be scheduled so close together. Khan also
said that the GOP has heard from other countries that they are on
board both with the Friends of Pakistan and the Donors Conference,
but that they are waiting to see what Washington will do.
4. (C) Farruqui then asked if Secretary-designate Clinton would be
available to attend the Donors Conference. He said that the
conference could be set for a date of her convenience, and that if
travel to Tokyo were not possible, the GOP would be agreeable to
having it in New York instead. Regardless, Farruqui said the GOP was
"very keen" to have her present at the Donors Conference as well as
at the Friends of Pakistan ministerial meeting, which is also
tentatively planned for February or early March.
5. (C) Sohail Khan added that it would be necessary to clarify
whether Donors and Friends would be two separate meetings or one, as
well as the location and timing of both. The DCM noted that the
Donors Conference was intended to focus on the social safety net
programs that would not be funded by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) program and that the Friends of Democratic Pakistan was
intended to focus on support for projects as proposed by Pakistan.
(Comment: Confusion over the purpose of the two groups vis-a-vis one
another continues. Khan's comments also reinforce the idea that both
the GOP and the international community are waiting for the U.S.'s
leadership in both groups.)
ENERGY DIALOGUE
- - - - - - - -
6. (C) Farruqui confirmed his intention to travel to Washington to
attend the Energy Dialogue on January 12 and 13. He said that he was
satisfied that the agenda addressed most of their major issues. His
main expectation for the outcome of the meeting was to reach
consensus on these issues in order to facilitate an expanded Energy
Dialogue for the summer of 2009, when the new administration would
presumably be settled into their roles and able to focus on concrete
progress on Pakistan's energy issues.
ISLAMABAD 00003942 002 OF 002
PATTERSON