Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OSLO233
2009-04-07 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN DONOR CONFERENCE: NO NEW MONEY FROM NORWAY

Tags:  EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK NO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHNY #0233 0971425
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 071425Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7480
INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 2528
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 8077
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0462
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 3392
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000233 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK NO
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN DONOR CONFERENCE: NO NEW MONEY FROM NORWAY

REF: STATE 32712

Classified By: P/E Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000233

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK NO
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN DONOR CONFERENCE: NO NEW MONEY FROM NORWAY

REF: STATE 32712

Classified By: P/E Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary. Although Norway considers itself a strategic
donor to Pakistan, it will not be able to pledge new monies
at the upcoming donor conference. Norway will be represented
by its Deputy Development Minister and welcomes the
conference discussions, especially if they promote
coordination among donors and realism in Pakistan. End
Summary.


2. (C) Responding to the delivery of reftel points by
Pol/Econ Couns and the Japanese DCM, MFA Acting Director
General, Andreas Gaarder, said that Norway attaches great
importance to the Conference on Pakistan. Although the FM's
schedule could not accommodate the recently scheduled
Conference, Norway will be represented by the Deputy Minister
of Development, Hakon Gulbrandsen. Turning to the question
of what Norway's pledge would be, Gaarder said that while
Norway agrees with the assessment that Pakistan's role is
critical to the stability of the region, it will not be able
to offer new money at the conference. He said it was too
late in the GON budget process to offer significant new
monies for 2009 and also noted that the financial crisis is
causing the GON difficulty in estimating what one percent of
its 2010 GDP would be which in turn makes the entire aid
budget in discussion for that year unclear.


2. (SBU) He explained however that Norway considers itself a
long-term strategic donor to Pakistan in that Norway provides
$15 million a year in education, good governance, and
cultural funding. This funding will continue for the
foreseeable future. In addition, Norway gives humanitarian
funding of about $3 million for the North West Frontier and
FATA areas. Further, Norway provides:
--NOK $37 million over 5 years for the Millennium Goals 4 and
5 (maternal/child health),some of which goes to Pakistan; and
--NOK $4.5 billion to the IMF, some of which can be used for
Pakistan.


3. (C) Gaarder highlighted the GON institutional funding of
$1 million for Pakistan has had some significant successes.
He specifically cited the provision of Norwegian experts who
work with the Pakistani standards accreditation institution
assisting with measurements. Norway is looking at doing more
of this type of project. Another project of interest he
noted has been funding to madrassas in the North West
Frontier province, where Norway has focused on using its
support to provide education where no other facility exists,
provide facilities to allow girls to attend, and provide
materials on secular subjects. A final decision on whether
to extend that program has not yet been made.


4. (C) Gaarder concluded that he hoped the Tokyo meeting
would not just be about pledging but also about coordination
among donors and use of the money in Pakistan. He was
particularly concerned with Pakistani media reports that $10
billion is expected and hoped everyone would work to ensure
that some realism is injected into the discussions.
JOHNSON