Cablegate: Uae Outlines Assistance to Afghanistan

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #0214 0421343
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111341Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0282
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0005
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0024

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000214

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, SRAP (BLANC), SCA/A, NEA/RA (YOUSSEF)
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/ODP/BMD (FREEMAN)

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

REF: 09 ABU DHABI 1160; 09 KABUL 3993

1. (SBU) On January 10, visiting SRAP Special Advisor for
International Partnership Jarrett Blanc and EconOff met with Acting
Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD)
Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi to discuss UAE aid for Afghanistan. Al
Suwaidi explained that the ADFD currently has four projects planned
for Afghanistan, in response to GOA requests:

- The first is for Kabul roads, part of a $30 million grant
announced in 2002. Three projects for 18 km of roads is being
funded, with four other roads under consideration.

- The second is a $15m project with Germany to fund work at the
Mazar-e-Sharif airport.

- The third project is a Shahtoot dam project near Kabul, which
will focus on drinking water, irrigation and recharging ground
water.

- The fourth project would utilize the UAE's remaining $235m
pledge to build 7,000 housing units in Kabul, in cooperation with
the Urban Development Ministry. This project is facing planning
and implementation challenges, and ADFD may be open to alternatives
for disbursing this portion of the pledge.

2. (SBU) Blanc provided an overview of the USG's development focus
for Afghanistan, including agriculture, job creation,
anti-corruption and local government development. He also discussed
the need for and agricultural credit facility and offered to
provide Al Suwaidi with further information on U.S. agriculture
programming. Blanc described the importance of international
support for Afghan-led reintegration, including a new international
trust fund and bilateral projects. Al Suwaidi asked about USG
efforts to manage projects with the GOA, noting concerns about slow
decision-making, corruption and lack of transparency.

3. (SBU) Al Suwaidi said he remains interested in traveling to
Washington in early 2010 to meet with USAID and other USG officials
(reftels). Post will work with appropriate USG offices to organize
this visit.

4. (SBU) Special Advisor Blanc has cleared this cable.
OLSON

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