Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RIYADH136
2010-01-31 06:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SFD CONFIRMS $150 MILLION FOR AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRH #0136 0310653 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 310653Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2408 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0320 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000136
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2020
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL SA AF
SUBJECT: SFD CONFIRMS $150 MILLION FOR AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000136
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2020
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL SA AF
SUBJECT: SFD CONFIRMS $150 MILLION FOR AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On the sidelines of a January 30 meeting at the Saudi
Fund for Development, Mohammad Al-Arifi, the Fund's technical
director for Asia, confirmed to Econoff that the SAG would be
extending an additional $150 million in aid to Afghanistan.
He said this aid would come in the form of soft loans for
development projects and that it would be administered by the
Fund. (Note: SFD soft loans to Afghanistan feature the most
lenient terms of any loans the SAG extends, with a 10-year
grace period, a 40-year repayment time frame, and a 2 percent
annual service charge. End note.)
2. (C) Comment: Based on past experience with the SFD, it is
likely that, having announced this aid, they will now wait
for the GOA to suggest projects for the SFD's consideration.
We would welcome any encouragement that can be given to the
GOA to offer such projects to the SFD to speed up Saudi aid
disbursement. Additionally, if Embassy Kabul can provide us
with the details of projects the GOA puts forward to the SFD,
we can encourage the SFD to consider them expeditiously on
this end.
SMITH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2020
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL SA AF
SUBJECT: SFD CONFIRMS $150 MILLION FOR AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On the sidelines of a January 30 meeting at the Saudi
Fund for Development, Mohammad Al-Arifi, the Fund's technical
director for Asia, confirmed to Econoff that the SAG would be
extending an additional $150 million in aid to Afghanistan.
He said this aid would come in the form of soft loans for
development projects and that it would be administered by the
Fund. (Note: SFD soft loans to Afghanistan feature the most
lenient terms of any loans the SAG extends, with a 10-year
grace period, a 40-year repayment time frame, and a 2 percent
annual service charge. End note.)
2. (C) Comment: Based on past experience with the SFD, it is
likely that, having announced this aid, they will now wait
for the GOA to suggest projects for the SFD's consideration.
We would welcome any encouragement that can be given to the
GOA to offer such projects to the SFD to speed up Saudi aid
disbursement. Additionally, if Embassy Kabul can provide us
with the details of projects the GOA puts forward to the SFD,
we can encourage the SFD to consider them expeditiously on
this end.
SMITH