PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000267 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR EAP/ANP, SCA/PB MARY BETH GOODMAN AND TARA FOLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL AS SUBJECT: PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: SECSTATE 24367 Classified By: Economic Counselor Edgard Kagan for reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C/NF) Econcouns delivered reftel demarche jointly March 18 with Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner Tawasar Khan to DFAT First Assistant Secretary for South and West Asia, the Middle East and Africa Deborah Stokes. The Japanese Embassy had already approached the Australians last week and did not want to repeat the message. Stokes said Pakistan is a very high priority for the Australian Government and that Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has decided in principle to attend the conference, though this still needs formal approval from PM Rudd. She stressed the FM Smith is very committed to the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) mechanism and that he had successfully pushed for a doubling of Australian assistance to Pakistan. Stokes said she would work with the Australian Agency for International Development to see what new components might be announced at Tokyo meetings. ¶2. (C/NF) Stokes mentioned that Australian Embassies have been hearing some complaints about the pace of progress through the FODP mechanism. Emphasizing that Australia does not share these concerns, she said that the Tokyo meetings will be an important element in reinforcing the FODP. Noting that the question of a possible World Bank trust fund to support development in the tribal areas had been discussed at the last FODP Senior Officials meeting, Stokes said Australia is very interested in exploring such a mechanism that could provide accountability for donors and asked for U.S. views. Lisa Rice Maddan, Director of the DFAT Pakistan, Bangladesh and Central Asian Section asked if donors would be expected to provide direct budget support. CLUNE