UAE HAS NOT DISBURSED TOKYO PLEDGE FOR PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001016 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/P AND NEA/ARP (MCGOVERN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2019 TAGS: EFIN EAID PGOV PAK AE SUBJECT: UAE HAS NOT DISBURSED TOKYO PLEDGE FOR PAKISTAN REFS: A) STATE 108183 B) ABU DHABI 485 CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND D). ¶1. (C) On October 26 EconChief delivered Ref A talking points urging the UAE to disburse its $300 million Tokyo pledge for Pakistan to Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) Director General Mohammed Saif Al Sowaidi. (Note: As reported in Ref B, the ADFD has been tasked to implement the UAE's Tokyo pledge. End Note.) Al Sowaidi said he had just returned from an extended foreign trip with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who had also urged rapid disbursal of the pledge. Al Sowaidi said he requested the GOP provide a list of potential projects the ADFD could fund several months ago, but that he had yet to receive a response. In addition to the USD 300 million Tokyo pledge, Al Sowaidi told EconOff that the ADFD had an additional USD 250+ million in funds allocated for Pakistan that it had been unable to disburse. He said he was concerned about implementing projects in Pakistan, given corruption problems. ¶2. (C) Al Sowaidi reiterated his interest in following up on his discussions with USAID in Tokyo about cooperation in Pakistan and other developing countries. Al Sowaidi said he hopes to visit Washington the first quarter of 2010 to meet with USAID and other appropriate USG officials. Post will follow up with USAID to organize this visit. ¶3. (C) Comment. The UAEG and the ADFD are clearly committed to disbursing funds for Pakistan as quickly as possible. Any guidance the USG could provide about possible projects the UAE should consider funding would likely be greatly appreciated. The UAE generally prefers to fund specific projects, rather than provide direct budget support, due to the greater control and improved visibility offered. End Comment. OLSON