Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON1303
2008-05-09 14:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy London
Cable title:
USAID, DFID AGREE ON COLLABORATION PROJECTS
how-toVZCZCXRO9801 PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHLO #1303 1301442 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091442Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8542 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0811 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0672 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0530 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0301 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1176 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS LONDON 001303
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL KHDP ECON UK
SUBJECT: USAID, DFID AGREE ON COLLABORATION PROJECTS
UNCLAS LONDON 001303
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL KHDP ECON UK
SUBJECT: USAID, DFID AGREE ON COLLABORATION PROJECTS
1. (SBU) Summary: UK Secretary of State for International
Development, Douglas Alexander, sought USAID Administrator Henrietta
ForeQs support for DFIDQs planned September 25 meeting on the
Millennium Development Goals in New York. Douglas agreed to
co-author an op-ed piece with Fore on why development work is
important for national security. Both agreed to press donors to
fulfill their pledges for budget support to the Palestinian
Authority to avoid a serious fiscal crisis. They also discussed
ForeQs recent trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and agreed that the
U.S. and UK should cooperate on development projects in the
Afghan-Pakistan border regions. End Summary.
2. (SBU) In a short bilateral meeting immediately prior to the May 2
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee Meeting (AHLC) in London, Alexander
explained to Fore and Ambassador Tuttle that PM Brown is placing a
high priority on his planned September 25 meeting on the margins of
the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York to support the
Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Administrator Fore reassured him
that the U.S. is supportive of the MDG, but stressed the importance
of economic development as a means to achieve them. Fore suggested
that DFID communicate clearly to the USG, well in advance, how it
can support HMG at the September 25 meeting.
3. (SBU) Fore suggested that USAID and DFID jointly author a series
of op-ed articles on why development aid is important to national
security with examples from DFID and USAIDQs work in Palestinian
Territories, Afghanistan and Pakistan. USAID Mission Director for
the West Bank and Gaza, Howard Sumka, will lead the drafting for the
Palestinian piece. A POC for the other two will be identified.
4. (SBU) Fore told Alexander that the Palestinian AuthorityQs (PAQs)
budget shortfall is her top concern at the AHLC. She noted that the
PA will run out of money in mid-June and have a deficit of over 500
million USD if other donors do not live up to their commitments.
Fore said that part of the deficit is due to Arab government not
living up to their pledges from the December Paris DonorQs
Conference. Both agreed they would advance this message throughout
the AHLC meeting whenever possible.
5. (SBU) Alexander was impressed that the U.S. had channeled money
into Afghanistan via a few of that countryQs working ministries.
Fore said the priority in Afghanistan is to expand the agricultural
sector through export, support the upcoming elections, QAfghanize
the economy, and strengthen the energy sector. In order to achieve
this, the USG should begin purchasing food and other supplies
locally. In Pakistan, she noted that the U.S. and UK should
cooperate on infrastructure projects in the Afghan-Pakistani border
region.
TUTTLE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL KHDP ECON UK
SUBJECT: USAID, DFID AGREE ON COLLABORATION PROJECTS
1. (SBU) Summary: UK Secretary of State for International
Development, Douglas Alexander, sought USAID Administrator Henrietta
ForeQs support for DFIDQs planned September 25 meeting on the
Millennium Development Goals in New York. Douglas agreed to
co-author an op-ed piece with Fore on why development work is
important for national security. Both agreed to press donors to
fulfill their pledges for budget support to the Palestinian
Authority to avoid a serious fiscal crisis. They also discussed
ForeQs recent trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and agreed that the
U.S. and UK should cooperate on development projects in the
Afghan-Pakistan border regions. End Summary.
2. (SBU) In a short bilateral meeting immediately prior to the May 2
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee Meeting (AHLC) in London, Alexander
explained to Fore and Ambassador Tuttle that PM Brown is placing a
high priority on his planned September 25 meeting on the margins of
the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York to support the
Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Administrator Fore reassured him
that the U.S. is supportive of the MDG, but stressed the importance
of economic development as a means to achieve them. Fore suggested
that DFID communicate clearly to the USG, well in advance, how it
can support HMG at the September 25 meeting.
3. (SBU) Fore suggested that USAID and DFID jointly author a series
of op-ed articles on why development aid is important to national
security with examples from DFID and USAIDQs work in Palestinian
Territories, Afghanistan and Pakistan. USAID Mission Director for
the West Bank and Gaza, Howard Sumka, will lead the drafting for the
Palestinian piece. A POC for the other two will be identified.
4. (SBU) Fore told Alexander that the Palestinian AuthorityQs (PAQs)
budget shortfall is her top concern at the AHLC. She noted that the
PA will run out of money in mid-June and have a deficit of over 500
million USD if other donors do not live up to their commitments.
Fore said that part of the deficit is due to Arab government not
living up to their pledges from the December Paris DonorQs
Conference. Both agreed they would advance this message throughout
the AHLC meeting whenever possible.
5. (SBU) Alexander was impressed that the U.S. had channeled money
into Afghanistan via a few of that countryQs working ministries.
Fore said the priority in Afghanistan is to expand the agricultural
sector through export, support the upcoming elections, QAfghanize
the economy, and strengthen the energy sector. In order to achieve
this, the USG should begin purchasing food and other supplies
locally. In Pakistan, she noted that the U.S. and UK should
cooperate on infrastructure projects in the Afghan-Pakistani border
region.
TUTTLE