Cablegate: Supporting Uae Assistance to Afghanistan

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #1160 3491235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151234Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0029
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0001
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0002
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0002

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001160

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, SRAP, AND SCA/A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN AE AF
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING UAE ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN

REF: KABUL 3993; ABU DHABI 745

(SBU) Post supports Embassy Kabul's suggestion (Ref A) that
relevant USG officials engage the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development
(ADFD), which is tasked with programming UAEG financial support for
Afghanistan (as well as its $300 million pledge for Pakistan). As
reported in Ref B, ADFD has repeatedly expressed interest in
cooperating with the USG on implementation of this funding. While
post can support visitors on the margins of the January SRAP
meeting in Abu Dhabi, ADFD Acting Director General Mohammed Saif Al
Suwaidi has also expressed an interest in traveling to Washington
in early 2010 to meet with USAID and other USG officials. Al
Suwaidi told EconOff he hopes to improve ADFD coordination with and
support for U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other
countries, including Latin America. If USG officials are available
to travel to the UAE, the newly established federal Office of
Foreign Aid Coordination may also be able to gather other relevant
humanitarian organizations, such as the Red Crescent Authority,
Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan Charitable Organization, and other
prominent groups.
OLSON

© Scoop Media