KUWAIT SUPPORTS KOSOVO'S WORLD BANK MEMBERSHIP

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000524 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/IFD/ODF, EUR/SCE TREASURY FOR SCHMERIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL KVIR KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT SUPPORTS KOSOVO'S WORLD BANK MEMBERSHIP REF: A. STATE 47369 ¶B. KUWAIT 432 ¶C. KUWAIT 414 ¶D. KUWAIT 376 ¶1. (SBU) On May 25, EconCouns followed-up with Kuwait Investment Authority Executive Director Ahmad Bastaki about Kuwaiti support for Kosovo's World Bank membership. (Note: During an earlier conversation with Bastaki, he had said that Kuwait had supported World Bank Membership for Kosovo, but did not provide details. End Note.) Bastaki said that his office had faxed copies of its "yes vote" for Kosovo's World Bank membership to Kuwait's Executive Director, Merza Hassan, and had sent originals by Fed Ex. He added that he had personally scanned the approvals and sent an additional copy Hassan. ¶2. (SBU) According to Bastaki, KIA sent its yes vote for Kosovo's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency membership on May 10th and for membership in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on May 18. He explained that the delay in approving Kosovo's IBRD membership was due to the need to clear the approval with the Kuwait Development Fund, the director of which is Kuwait's IBRD Alternate Governor. Bastaki stressed "we did it" well in advance of the June 3 closing date. He suggested that Washington follow-up with Hassan if there were any concerns about the World Bank receiving Kuwait's vote. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES