Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUWAIT401
2009-04-26 08:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
NON-PAPER DELIVERED: RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF
how-toVZCZCXRO9163 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHKU #0401 1160846 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 260846Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3230 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000401
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PGOV KWBG IS KW
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER DELIVERED: RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION IN PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
REF: A. SECSTATE 38607
B. KUWAIT 311
C. KUWAIT 230
D. KUWAIT 97
E. KUWAIT 22
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000401
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PGOV KWBG IS KW
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER DELIVERED: RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION IN PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
REF: A. SECSTATE 38607
B. KUWAIT 311
C. KUWAIT 230
D. KUWAIT 97
E. KUWAIT 22
1. On April 22, Econoff delivered reftel nonpaper on
financial accountability and transparency measures by the
Palestinian Authority (PA) to Ahmed Baqer of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Arab World Department and stressed the PA's
need for budget assistance. Baqer said that improvement on
these issues by the PA was of interest to the GoK because it
took great care to ensure that it could track how its
financial assistance was disbursed.
2. Baqer outlined current GoK Palestinian aid commitments
which included USD 220 million remaining from a USD 300
million Paris Donors Conference pledge in December 2007, USD
34 million UNRWA pledge from the January 2009 Arab Economic
Summit in Kuwait and USD 200 million from the March 2009
Sharm Al-Sheikh donors conference. He explained that funds
from the Sharm Al-Sheikh pledge or from the Paris pledge
could theoretically be utilized for budget support. Baqer
said that the Paris pledge had been divided into three
elements: USD 80 million to be distributed by the Arab Fund
for Economic and Social Development, USD 90 million to be
administered by the Islamic Bank Development, and USD 50
million which the GoK is reserving for urgent requests.
3. Baqer said that the GoK had provided USD 196 million in
budget support from 2002 until 2007 under 2002 Beirut Summit
commitments. When asked by econoff to confirm that 2007 was
the end of this commitment, Baqer declined to discuss why no
payments had been made since 2007. Baqer said that the
matter would be conveyed to the Council of Ministers for
their consideration. (Note: Senior Kuwaiti officials have
recently reiterated their preference for project-based
assistance to the Palestinians rather than direct financial
support. End note.)
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PGOV KWBG IS KW
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER DELIVERED: RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION IN PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
REF: A. SECSTATE 38607
B. KUWAIT 311
C. KUWAIT 230
D. KUWAIT 97
E. KUWAIT 22
1. On April 22, Econoff delivered reftel nonpaper on
financial accountability and transparency measures by the
Palestinian Authority (PA) to Ahmed Baqer of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Arab World Department and stressed the PA's
need for budget assistance. Baqer said that improvement on
these issues by the PA was of interest to the GoK because it
took great care to ensure that it could track how its
financial assistance was disbursed.
2. Baqer outlined current GoK Palestinian aid commitments
which included USD 220 million remaining from a USD 300
million Paris Donors Conference pledge in December 2007, USD
34 million UNRWA pledge from the January 2009 Arab Economic
Summit in Kuwait and USD 200 million from the March 2009
Sharm Al-Sheikh donors conference. He explained that funds
from the Sharm Al-Sheikh pledge or from the Paris pledge
could theoretically be utilized for budget support. Baqer
said that the Paris pledge had been divided into three
elements: USD 80 million to be distributed by the Arab Fund
for Economic and Social Development, USD 90 million to be
administered by the Islamic Bank Development, and USD 50
million which the GoK is reserving for urgent requests.
3. Baqer said that the GoK had provided USD 196 million in
budget support from 2002 until 2007 under 2002 Beirut Summit
commitments. When asked by econoff to confirm that 2007 was
the end of this commitment, Baqer declined to discuss why no
payments had been made since 2007. Baqer said that the
matter would be conveyed to the Council of Ministers for
their consideration. (Note: Senior Kuwaiti officials have
recently reiterated their preference for project-based
assistance to the Palestinians rather than direct financial
support. End note.)
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES