US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3768

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003768 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EFIN, KU, IZ 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CALLS IRAQI PRESIDENT VISIT A SUCCESS: 
CANDID TALK ON DEBT, OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE AND SHARM 
CONFERENCE 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1. (C) Summary/Comment:  During a November 2 meeting, 
Kuwaiti MFA U/S Ambassador Khaled al-Jarallah gave the 
Ambassador a readout of IIG President Ghazi al-Yawar's 
October 30 - November 1 visit to Kuwait.  Jarallah said the 
visit had been "very fruitful," though Yawar had not come 
with a specific agenda, and it had set the scene for further 
cooperation between the two governments.  The two sides 
discussed current UNCC compensation levels and Iraqi debt, 
with both agreeing the final resolution of the debt issue 
should be determined by the Paris Club.  On security, 
al-Yawar complained Iraq was suffering from interference from 
Iran and Syria.  He said the IIG had evidence of Iranian and 
Syrian involvement in destabilizing activities in Iraq and 
planned to present formal complaints to both the GOI and GOJ. 
 Regarding the planned Regional Conference on Iraq, Yawar 
said Iraqis needed to hear that all of Iraq's neighbors, 
including Kuwait, were supportive of efforts to move forward 
wih the political process.  The U/S said the GOK had received 
the Egyptian draft of the final communique, and would be 
proposing new language on Iraqi debt and adding a 
condemnation of Saddam Hussein's regime.  Comment: Kuwaiti 
officialdom and the press were clearly pleased with 
Al-Yawar's performance and words during his visit to Kuwait, 
and according to al-Jarallah, al-Yawar felt at home in 
Kuwait.  Ambassador also heard good reviews of the visit from 
the Minister of Public Works, who is a member of the same 
tribe (Shammar) as al Yawar, and who said that al Yawar told 
him he planned to run in the January elections.  End 
Summary/Comment. 
 
Elections to be on Time; Syria and Iran Interfering in Iraq 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
2. (C) MFA Undersecretary Khaled al-Jarallah told the 
Ambassador on November 2 that the GOK had been pleased with 
the "very fruitful"  3-day visit of IIG President Shaykh 
Ghazi al-Yawar, from October 30 - November 1.   Jarallah said 
Yawar reassured Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Sabah that elections would 
occur in January 2005, despite the lack of security currently 
plaguing the country.  Speaking specifically of the situation 
in Fallujah, Yawar said some Sunnis were "finding it 
difficult to accept the new Iraq, and are trying to prevent 
any positive developments."  He lamented that convincing 
newly trained security forces to remain engaged in this 
environment was difficult.  In addition, the IIG had evidence 
that both Syria and Iran were interfering in Iraq, and had 
decided it would confront both countries' governments with 
the evidence.  Yawar added that pressure brought to bear on 
Syria by the United States only seemed to make things worse 
for Iraqis.  Jarallah said Yawar had not raised his 
opposition to military operations in Fallujah, as reported in 
the press, but had rather seemed in favor of tough actions. 
 
Resolving Bilateral Issues: Progress on Debt and Power 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
3. (C) On bilateral issues, Yawar said the current 5% level 
for UNCC payments was fair and manageable to both sides. 
Regarding debt owed Kuwait by Iraq, he said he had confidence 
that "brotherly Kuwait" would "cooperate positively" as the 
issue was deliberated within the confines of the Paris Club 
structure.  In return, the PM said Kuwait would look 
seriously at mutually amenable ways to solve the debt issue. 
 
4. (C) Jarallah said al-Yawar and Shaykh Sabah created 
various subcommittees to the joint Prime Ministerial 
Committee which was established during IIG Prime Minister 
Iyad Allawi's July 31 visit.  He said both governments were 
looking forward to using this mechanism to resolve 
differences.  In this vein, he added, the GOK had officially 
decided it would build a power station near its northern 
border to assist Iraq with its power needs.  (Note: This 
proposal has been in the works since Spring 2003, but has not 
been implemented.  End Note.) 
 
Regional Conference on Iraq 
--------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Yawar said participation by Iraq's neighbors in the 
upcoming Regional Conference on Iraq would be crucial for the 
Iraqi people, who need to be reassured of international 
support in order to maintain their committment ot the 
political process.  Jarallah told the Ambassador that Kuwait 
was very pleased that the conference would include the G-8, 
as the message to the world would be that the situation in 
Iraq was not just a regional problem, but one for the entire 
international community.  He said that Kuwait had rejected 
the notion -- raised to him by the Russian Ambassador -- that 
non-governmental actors should be participants in the 
conference. 
 
Kuwait Seeks Final Communique Changes 
------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Jarallah said the GOK had received a copy of the draft 
final communique from Egypt, and would be proposing a few 
changes.  Specifically, Kuwait was not happy with the draft 
language on Iraqi debt, and would seek to utilize UNSCR 
language that would be "acceptable to all."  He asked for USG 
support for this position.  Additionally, he said Kuwait 
would propose the communique include language condemning the 
killing of POWs and other crimes committed by Saddam 
Hussein's regime. 
 
Local Press Reaction 
-------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) Overall, Jarallah characterized the visit of 
President al-Yawar, the first of an Iraqi President in over 
four decades, as a success with which both sides were 
pleased.  Local dailes lauded the visit, and reported the 
following developments, based on press interviews with 
al-Yawar: 
 
-- Yawar affirmed Iraq will honor the 
internationally-demarcated border with Kuwait. 
 
-- He publicly reaffirmed Kuwait has always been supportive 
of Iraqi people. 
 
-- He confirmed Iraq was considering appointing an Ambassador 
to Kuwait, and would work with the GOK in this effort. 
 
-- He said that a military assault was the wrong way to end 
the standoff in Fallujah, and criticized the coalition for 
its management of the crisis. 
 
-- He reaffirmed Iraq's committment to equality and the rule 
of law. 
 
8. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. 
 
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LeBaron