OMANI PLANS FOR PAKISTAN DONORS' CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000299 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND SCA/P E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-04-07 TAGS: PREL EAID IBRD IMF PK MU SUBJECT: OMANI PLANS FOR PAKISTAN DONORS' CONFERENCE REF: A) STATE 32712; B) MUSCAT 195 CLASSIFIED BY: Gary A. Grappo, Ambassador, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy - Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief delivered ref A points April 6 to Mohammed al-Hassan, Political Affairs Director for Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi. Al-Hassan replied that Oman would participate in the April 17 donors' conference in Tokyo, but stated that no final decision had been taken on who would represent the Sultanate. [Note: Minister bin Alawi told the Ambassador on March 24 that the Omani ambassador to Japan would likely attend for Oman. End Note.] Al-Hassan further stated that the government would consider making a pledge at the conference, but emphasized that Oman had already provided "millions of dollars" for humanitarian assistance projects in Pakistan, particularly for reconstruction efforts after the devastating earthquake in Baluchistan in 2008. ¶2. (C) Comment: While Oman may make a symbolic pledge in Tokyo, any new assistance will likely be relatively limited given the Sultanate's past record in similar donor conferences and the strain on its current finances due to the global economic situation and low oil prices. Al-Hassan promised to attempt to provide information on past and present Omani assistance for Afghanistan, which post will forward to the Department. End Comment. GRAPPO