Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT358
2009-03-27 14:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: FINMIN AGREES: USE USG CASH TRANSFER TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0014 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLB #0358 0861438 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271438Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1344 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4535 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3613 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3816 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000358
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
CAIRO FOR USAID JOHN POWER AND DAVID CONSIGNY
STATE FOR EEB/IFD/ODF DEMARCELLUS
NEA/ELA ALLEN
L FITZGERALD
STATE PASS USTR FRANCESCKI
STATE PASS USAID FOR LAUDATO/NANDY/SCOTT
TREASURY FOR PARODI/BLEIWEISS/CORREA
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID EFIN PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: FINMIN AGREES: USE USG CASH TRANSFER TO
PAY WORLD BANK DEBT
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000358
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
CAIRO FOR USAID JOHN POWER AND DAVID CONSIGNY
STATE FOR EEB/IFD/ODF DEMARCELLUS
NEA/ELA ALLEN
L FITZGERALD
STATE PASS USTR FRANCESCKI
STATE PASS USAID FOR LAUDATO/NANDY/SCOTT
TREASURY FOR PARODI/BLEIWEISS/CORREA
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID EFIN PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: FINMIN AGREES: USE USG CASH TRANSFER TO
PAY WORLD BANK DEBT
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3
below.
2. (SBU) In a March 27 phone call with the Ambassador,
Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah agreed that the USG use its
$50 million cash transfer disbursement, which was triggered
by GOL reform of its gas excise tax, to pay World Bank debt.
Though Chatah was disappointed that Washington did not
approve payment of higher-interest debt owed to other
creditors, he said he did not want the disbursement to be a
protracted process, and would instruct his staff to work with
USAID and the World Bank in setting up the debt payment
schedule. He expressed his gratitude for USG assistance.
3. (U) Post requests that USAID Cairo contact Finance
Ministry contacts to proceed with the disbursement.
SISON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
CAIRO FOR USAID JOHN POWER AND DAVID CONSIGNY
STATE FOR EEB/IFD/ODF DEMARCELLUS
NEA/ELA ALLEN
L FITZGERALD
STATE PASS USTR FRANCESCKI
STATE PASS USAID FOR LAUDATO/NANDY/SCOTT
TREASURY FOR PARODI/BLEIWEISS/CORREA
USDOC FOR 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID EFIN PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: FINMIN AGREES: USE USG CASH TRANSFER TO
PAY WORLD BANK DEBT
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3
below.
2. (SBU) In a March 27 phone call with the Ambassador,
Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah agreed that the USG use its
$50 million cash transfer disbursement, which was triggered
by GOL reform of its gas excise tax, to pay World Bank debt.
Though Chatah was disappointed that Washington did not
approve payment of higher-interest debt owed to other
creditors, he said he did not want the disbursement to be a
protracted process, and would instruct his staff to work with
USAID and the World Bank in setting up the debt payment
schedule. He expressed his gratitude for USG assistance.
3. (U) Post requests that USAID Cairo contact Finance
Ministry contacts to proceed with the disbursement.
SISON