DEMARCHE DELIVERED: KUWAIT NON-COMMITTAL ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001198 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/PA AND USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: EAID ECIN ECON PREL KU PK SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: KUWAIT NON-COMMITTAL ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE; WARY OF ZARDARI REF: SECSTATE 129615 Classified By: Ambassador Deborah Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador discussed reftel topic with Office Director to the Foreign Minister -- and son of the Prime Minister -- Shaykh Dr. Ahmed Al-Nasser Al-Mohammed. Shaykh Dr. Ahmad expressed surprise at the $500 million donor target and asked if the USG has received feedback from other GCC governments, as well as other prospective donors. He agreed on the importance of supporting Pakistan at this juncture but expressed concern about the GOK's ability to send a high-level delegation to the donors conference, given Kuwait,s hosting of the Arab Economic Summit on January 17-19, 2009. Accordingly, he requested confirmation of the dates of the conference and formal invitations as soon as possible. Shaykh Dr. Ahmad was otherwise non-committal but agreed to discuss this topic with the Foreign Minister. Ambassador requested that the GOK provide indication of its possible participation in the conference by December 17. ¶2. (C) Comment: Post expects that the GOK will confer with fellow GCC governments, in particular the Saudis and the Emiratis, to get a sense of other Gulf nations' interest in participating in this initiative. The GOK is usually reluctant to provide grants or budgetary assistance, and the GOK's apparent sense is that Pakistan already receives significant support from the KSA and UAE. Various GOK officials have expressed concern about Zardari,s competence as a leader and alleged past corruption on his part. End comment. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * JONES