JAPANESE SRAP FOLLOWS UP ON FODP AND IDPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001662 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN EINV EAID PGOV PREL PREF PK SUBJECT: JAPANESE SRAP FOLLOWS UP ON FODP AND IDPS ¶1. (SBU) Summary. In a July 17 meeting with the Ambassador, Japan's Special Representative for Assistance to Pakistan and Afghanistan Yoshikawa revealed that Spain and Kuwait have allegedly withdrawn their pledges from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) conference in Tokyo. He also commented that there exists a disconnect between what the Government of Pakistan (GOP) expects from donors and what it is likely to get. Yoshikawa remarked that the next significant meeting on Pakistan should not be held until the Afghan elections have been successfully completed. While in Lahore, Yoshikawa met with Nawaz Sharif and lauded Sharif's decision not to criticize the government's efforts to help internally displaced persons (IDPs). End Summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FRIENDS OF DEMOCRATIC PAKISTAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) On July 17, the Ambassador and DCM met with Japan's Special Representative for Assistance to Pakistan and Afghanistan Yoshikawa; Kenichi Masamoto, Political Counselor, Embassy of Japan; and Yukio Suzuki, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶3. (SBU) As co-host of the FODP meeting in Tokyo on April 17, Yoshikawa believes that Japan has a "special responsibility" to ensure the FODP's success. He met with Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar to get an update on donors' contributions and to better understand the GOP process. He was worried the recent IDP crisis in Pakistan has distracted donors and the GOP alike. Yoshikawa said Japan should donate additional funds to assist IDPs but admitted it is politically difficult to do so. ¶4. (SBU) Yoshikawa was impressed by an Economic Affairs Division (EAD) matrix of donor countries, which contains pledge amounts and timetables for disbursement, as well as the GOP strategy on how to spend each country's pledge. Yoshikawa said the matrix indicated that Kuwait (USD 49.1 million pledge) and Spain (USD 26.43 million) have withdrawn their pledges. The Ambassador expressed surprise since Spain had lobbied so hard to join the FODP (Note: EconOff confirmed with EAD that neither Kuwait nor Spain will disburse their pledges. End Note). ¶5. (SBU) Despite the informative matrix, however, Yoshikawa said there is a "concept gap" in the minds of GOP officials. They want a quick disbursement of funds from the Friends and have already added the pledged money into the GOP budget as if they were going to get all of the money at once. The Ambassador explained how donor coordination by the GOP is poor and that there is no GOP staff to follow up. Yoshikawa remarked that the GOP views the FODP as a short-term fiscal fix rather than the medium to long-term development assistance originally envisioned. - - - - - - - - - - - - JAPAN COMMITTED TO IDPS - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) Building on the joint statement of support from the June G-8 Summit in Trieste, Yoshikawa said his visit was also intended to emphasize to the GOP that the Government of Japan is committed to assisting IDPs. He commented that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been working well with GOP point person for IDP relief Lieutenant General (retd) Nadeem Ahmad of the Special Services Group. He added that the GOP needed to ensure not only the physical security of IDPs but also to assist them in achieving economic sustainability. The Ambassador said the UN should put a humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan and endorsed Jean-Maurice Ripert. Yoshikawa said he met with the Sharifs in Lahore and commended Nawaz Sharif's decision to support the GOP's efforts in helping the IDPs rather than taking the opportunity to criticize the government. - - - - - - - - - TOO MANY EVENTS? - - - - - - - - - ISLAMABAD 00001662 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) Yoshikawa is concerned about donor fatigue and said he is worried that there are too many upcoming meetings with the same participants and similar agendas. For example, he said the Italians would like to follow up the G-8 Trieste conference with an event in Italy on September 24. France has appointed a new Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan who would like to host an event on September 2 in Paris; French Foreign Minister Kouchner will reportedly attend. Yoshikawa said he would be amenable to postponing the September FODP meeting in Turkey until November. He believes that no meetings should be held until the Afghan elections have been successfully completed. PATTERSON