US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4586

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI SWALKER, SA/FO FOR JGASTRIGHT, ISLAMABAD 
FOR TWILDER AND TGRENCIK, LONDON FOR LTSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, CASC, KFLO, MARR, PREL, AMGT, XD, KU 
SUBJECT: MGXDO1: GOK NOT PLANNING NEW PLEDGE IN GENEVA AND 
STILL DECIDING ON REPRESENTATION 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 195483 
 
     B. KUWAIT 4534 
     C. KUWAIT 4398 
 
1. (U) Summary. Per reftel A, Embassy followed-up with the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to confirm GOK 
participation at the upcoming Geneva Donors Conference for 
South Asia earthquake victims and to urge continued GOK 
assistance to victims in anticipation of winter.  The MFA's 
Asia and Americas Departments informed Emboffs that the GOK 
has not yet decided on its representation to the conference, 
explaining that the official notification to attend the 
conference only arrived at the Ministry today (October 25) 
and that no additional GOK pledges were expected at this 
time.  (Note: GOK has pledged $100M in reconstruction loans 
and in-kind assistance.)  End Summary 
 
2.  (U) Counselor Hamad Al-Ahmad from the MFA's Asia 
Department informed Econoff that the Ministry received only 
today the official notifications from the U.N. and the 
Government of Pakistan to attend the conference and that a 
final decision on GOK participation was pending the Foreign 
Minister's decision.  Al-Hamad noted the possibility of 
attendance by a representative from the Kuwaiti Mission in 
Geneva or an official from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic 
Development. (Note: The Kuwait Fund will be responsible for 
disbursing $50M in concessional loans to Pakistan for 
reconstruction efforts in the affected areas.) 
 
3.  (U) Ambassador Khaled Abdul Mohsen Al-Babtain, head of 
the MFA's Americas Department, informed Econcouns that the 
GOK was not anticipating any new pledges in addition to the 
$100M already decreed by the Council of Ministers (see refs B 
and C).  These contributions, he said, would consist of $50M 
in "in kind" assistance through the Kuwait Red Crescent 
Society and $50M in reconstruction assistance (concessionary 
loans) via the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. 
 
4.  (U) Al-Hamad pointed out to Econof that the GOK had been 
approached by the Pakistani Ambassador to Kuwait for urgent 
provision of blankets and tents and that the GOK did not have 
adequate supplies to meet the urgent needs but had offered to 
purchase tents in Pakistan.  Al-Hamad added that Pakistani 
President Musharraf had cautioned donors against dwindling 
tent and blanket supplies in Pakistan, forcing Kuwait to 
reconsider its plans to purchase supplies in Pakistan. 
Al-Hamad suggested that India and China should would be 
better positioned to meet the urgent tent and blanket needs 
in anticipation of winter and that their respective 
governments should be encouraged to cover those outstanding 
needs in support of international efforts.  Al-Hamad voiced 
concern about the coming winter and noted that Kuwait "was 
doing its best" and would continue to support relief efforts. 
 
 
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LEBARON