US embassy cable - 03KUWAIT4960

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2013 
TAGS: PREL, KU, SY, IZ, TU, IR, EG, JO, SA 
SUBJECT: SYRIA TO CONVENE FM'S ON IRAQ 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see para 5. 
 
2. (C) MFA Undersecretary, Ambassador Khaled Al-Jarallah told 
the Ambassador during an October 28 telephone conversation 
that Syria has invited Foreign Ministers from states 
bordering Iraq to a meeting in Damascus on November 1 to 
discuss Iraq.  Jarallah said Syria sent invitations to 
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Iran and Egypt, but had 
excluded Bahrain, a previous invitee to such meetings.  No 
representatives of the Iraqi Governing Council were invited. 
 
3. (C) Jarallah said Kuwaiti FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah 
would represent Kuwait at the meeting, adding that his 
purpose in doing so would be to express outrage at the fact 
that Iraq did not receive an invitation.  Jarallah was unable 
to provide further details on the agenda of the meeting, but 
expressed that the GOK felt the Syrians were "up to no good." 
 In response to the Ambassador's question, U/S Jarallah said 
the GOK had not yet consulted other invitees but that FM Dr. 
Mohammed will call the Egyptian and Jordanian FM's soon. 
 
4. (C) The Ambassador agreed that the exclusion of Iraq from 
the meeting was unacceptable and expressed appreciation that 
U/S Jarallah had shared this information.  The Ambassador 
said he would consult with Washington and relay any further 
USG reaction to U/S Jarallah. 
 
5. (C) Action Request: Please advise how post should respond 
to the GOK. 
 
6. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. 
JONES