US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4535

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004535 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI SWALKER, SA/FO FOR JGASTRIGHT, ISLAMABAD 
FOR TWILDER, LONDON FOR LTSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, EAID, PGOV, PREL, XD, KU 
SUBJECT: FINANCE MINISTRY ON EARTHQUAKE ASSISTANCE TO 
PAKISTAN AND THE NEW FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 189774 
     B. KUWAIT 4398 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  In an October 22 meeting with Econ 
Counselor, the Acting Undersecretary at the Ministry of 
Finance confirmed the GOK $100M assistance offer for 
Pakistan's earthquake victims.  He was unaware of any 
additional assistance to be announced at the upcoming October 
26 Geneva donors conference.  The Undersecretary also 
welcomed the establishment of the Foundation for the Future 
and indicated that the GOK would be attending the November 
11-12 Forum  for the Future in Bahrain.  End Summary 
 
2. (SBU) On October 22, Econcouns, accompanied by Econoff, 
met with, Mustafa Al-Shamali, Acting Undersecretary at the 
Ministry of Finance, to request an update on GOK assistance 
to earthquake victims in Pakistan and inform the Ministry 
about the proposed Foundation for the Future (FFF) 
initiative. 
 
3. (SBU) On earthquake assistance, Econcouns thanked the GOK 
for its timely assistance offer and urged continued support 
to earthquake victims, particularly in anticipation of the 
coming winter's consequences for the affected areas. 
Al-Shamali confirmed that the $100M decreed by the Council of 
Ministers (cabinet) would be disbursed equally through the 
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the 
Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS).  He added that the $50M 
KRCS portion would be transferred to the Red Crescent "today 
or tomorrow" and  KFAED would disburse its funds through 
concessional loans intended for infrastructure development. 
Al-Shamali was unaware of any additional pledges the GOK 
might announce at the upcoming October 26 Geneva donors 
conference. 
 
4. (SBU) Econoffs briefed Al-Shamali on the upcoming Forum 
for the Future and the planned establishment of the 
Foundation for the Future (ref A) intended to strengthen 
civil society in the Broader Middle East and North Africa 
(BMENA).  Econcouns provided Al-Shamali with a copy of a 
non-paper based on reftel A points.  Al-Shamali welcomed the 
proposed FFF and noted that the GOK had attended the previous 
BMENA meetings in Rabat and would likely attend the upcoming 
Forum for the Future in Bahrain. 
 
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LEBARON