PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS RIYADH 001808 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AND SCA/PB (TOWNSWICK) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN SA PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. SECSTATE 129615 ¶B. RIYADH 1773 ¶C. SECSTATE 124618 ¶1. (SBU) In a short phone conversation with Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Hamid al-Baz'y on December 14, Econ Counselor delivered reftel demarche regarding a possible donors conference for Pakistan to be held in early 2009. Econ Counselor also asked Baz'y to comment on press reports to the effect that the Kingdom planned to contribute between $500 million and $1 billion to support the Pakistan IMF program. ¶2. (SBU) Pleading that he had just returned to the office after a long local holiday, Baz'y said he was unable to comment but added that he looked forward to discussing the donor conference in more detail with Econ Counselor during the week of December 22. ¶3. (U) See ref B for additional action on this issue. FRAKER