AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE CONCERNING PAKISTAN DONORS

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000369 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR SCA/P AND EAP/ANZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE CONCERNING PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE, APRIL 17 REF: STATE 32712 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy along with Japanese and Pakistani Embassies delivered demarche on the upcoming donors conference for Pakistan. GOA confirms it will double its commitment to Pakistan, but details remain to be worked out. Demarche was delayed by Japanese Embassy desire to wait for letter from their Prime Minister. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Econ Counselor, along with Japanese Embassy CDA and Pakistani CDA, delivered reftel demarche to Deborah Stokes, First Assistant Secretary for South and West Asia and Middle East at Department of Foreign Affairs, on April 9. Note: the meeting was delayed until today at the request of the Japanese Embassy, which was awaiting a letter from Japanese PM Aso to deliver. Stokes confirmed that Australia Foreign Minister Smith would attend the April 17 conference in Tokyo. Stokes reaffirmed the GOA commitment to double its assistance to Pakistan, but said that AusAid was still working out the details. She noted that Australia will continue to focus on education, agriculture, health and governance and is keen to look for ways to support critical efforts in the border areas. In that regard, Stokes said Australia is interested in the notion of a World Bank trust fund to support activities in the border areas. She said that Australia would not be likely to provide direct budget support. ¶3. (SBU) Stokes expressed concern that many countries were not attending at a ministerial level. She said that FM Smith plans to arrive in Tokyo in the morning and depart in the evening, which will require leaving the conference at around 1500 and said that he is eager to meet with Special Envoy Holbrooke. RICHE