US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT2567

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002567 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/I 
BAGHDAD FOR AMB. NEUMANN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, KTIA, MARR, KU, IZ 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT-IRAQ BORDER ACTIVITIES TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT 
 
REF: KUWAIT 02548 
 
Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: On August 11, Emboffs visited 
border-crossing points on the Kuwait-Iraq border to identify 
future construction sites for a planned Kuwaiti border 
barrier and to seek context for GOK reports of friction with 
Iraqi border patrols (reftel).  Both Kuwait and Iraq appear 
determined to construct barriers or facilities only meters 
away from the UN-demarcated border, raising tensions and 
increasing the probability of armed confrontations on the 
border. End Summary. 
 
2. (C) An Embassy group consisting of PolOffs, EconOff, and 
Office of Military Cooperation-Kuwait (OMC-K) personnel, 
including the Acting Chief of OMC-K, visited several 
Kuwait-Iraq border crossings on August 11, with the 
assistance of Kuwaiti border personnel, to better understand 
reports of problems.  This border issue has quickly become a 
priority at the highest levels of the Kuwaiti MOD.  The 
following is a clarification of issues reported in reftel and 
some new developments observed during Emboffs visit to three 
border crossings: 
 
- The Kuwait survey teams (reftel) conducting a site survey 
for a vehicle barrier to run along the Kuwait-Iraq border 
plan to construct the barrier only two meters south of the 
UN-demarcated border. 
 
- The Kuwaiti berm located nearest the border is 
approximately 50 meters south of the demarcated border. 
However, many Iraqis visually identify this berm as the 
actual border and mistakenly believe that they are still in 
Iraq, when in fact they have crossed into Kuwaiti territory. 
 
- The Iraqis are constructing observation towers along the 
border approximately two to four meters north of the 
UN-demarcated border.  The towers are painted light blue and 
white giving them a "UN" appearance. 
 
- Iraqi border police vehicles are also painted in this same 
blue and white scheme. 
 
- Although we cannot independently verify the accuracy of the 
reports, Kuwaiti border officials informed us that the Iraqi 
border patrol personnel are using Kuwait territory * an 
improved-surface dirt road, which runs along the border on 
the Kuwaiti side * to patrol the border.  They also contend 
that Iraqi militias and smugglers hide behind the berm to 
facilitate drug smuggling and have used the physical barrier 
* 50 meters inside Kuwaiti territory * to fire on Kuwaiti 
patrols.  Kuwaiti border officials told us that their intent 
is to remove the berm, because it obstructs their view of 
militia activities and smuggling, and replace it with the 
pipeline vehicle barrier. 
 
- At the Marker #91 border crossing, linking Al-Abdeli and 
Safwan, there is an Iraqi border police building no more than 
one to two meters north of the physical border, if that. 
 
- Kuwaiti Border Police suggested that the inclusion of an 
Iraqi engineer on the Kuwaiti survey team might assist in 
calming current tensions. 
 
3. (C) Comment: The construction of the proposed Kuwaiti 
barrier almost directly on the demarcated border is sure to 
be read provocatively by the Iraqis.  Conversely, the Iraqis 
are  positioning structures within an equal proximity to the 
border, thus irritating Kuwaiti sensitivities.  That the 
Kuwaitis have already reported threats by armed Iraqi border 
police makes the probability of future confrontations only 
greater if construction--so close to the border--continues 
without clear communication leading to a bilateral 
understanding between the two countries.  A bilateral or 
multilateral discussion mechanism may be a way past the 
current situation. 
 
4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
TUELLER