US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT2152

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2014 
TAGS: PTER, KAWC, KJUS, PREL, PHUM, PINR, KU 
SUBJECT: (C) GUANTANAMO:  GOK SEEKS CLEARANCE FOR LAWYER, 
ASKS ABOUT MOU; SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT LAUDS SUPREME COURT 
DECISION 
 
REF: KUWAIT 2120 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES; REASON:  1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (U) THIS IS REVISED VERSION OF REFTEL, WHICH WAS 
INADVERTENTLY SENT INCOMPLETE.  Action Request - please see 
paragraph 4. 
 
2.  (C) Embassy has received two diplomatic notes in Arabic 
from MFA Coordination and Follow-Up Department, both marked 
"secret."  According to the first (number 20041454 dated July 
4, 2004), Mr. Ronald Miller of S/WCI told the Kuwaiti Embassy 
that the USG is nearly ready to propose to Kuwait an MOU that 
would govern the transfer of Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo 
to GOK custody.  We understand that conversation occurred on 
June 28.  MFA prefers to receive the draft MOU via the US 
Embassy in Kuwait, and requests an update on status of the 
draft. 
 
3.  (C) The second (number 20041455 dated July 4, 2004) 
states that lawyer Abdul-Rahman al-Haroun, appointed by the 
families of the Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo, is 
determined to travel to Washington, DC and Guantanamo with 
the goal of following up on the legal situation of those 
detainees in light of the US Supreme Court decision. 
Accordingly, MFA requests that the relevant USG authorities 
grant Mr. al-Haroun the necessary security clearance (last 
two words in English).  We have faxed Mr. al-Haroun's 
passport and visa information to NEA/ARP. 
 
4. (C) Comment/Action Request:  Embassy recommends prompt, 
positive response to the GOK. Please provide response to both 
dipnotes that we can convey to MFA. 
 
5.  (C) In a related conversation on July 6, Speaker of 
Parliament Jassem al-Khorafi praised the ongoing steps to 
implement the Supreme Court decision to allow Guantanamo 
detainees access to legal counsel.  Khorafi, who has often 
criticized the USG on this issue in the past, told the 
Ambassador that the decision, and the USG's prompt compliance 
with it, had been well received in Kuwait.  He added that 
America's reputation as a country founded on the rule of law 
had been restored and strengthened.  He urged the U.S. to 
take maximum advantage of these developments by highlighting 
them in its public diplomacy efforts in Kuwait and the region. 
MORAN