US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3984

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003984 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/ES-O PLEASE TOSEC; ALSO FOR NEA/ARPI; 
CAIRO FOR AMB. SCHLICHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, EAID 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT SUPPORTS SECRETARY' POWELL'S INTERVENTION 
AT SHARM; LOOKS FORWARD TO PARIS CLUB DECISION ON DEBT 
 
REF: STATE 246759 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  The Ambassador briefed FM Shaykh Dr. 
Mohammed November 21 on developments on Iraqi issues in 
advance of the FM's departure for the Sharm Al Sheikh 
regional conference.  The Ambassador secured GOK support for 
Secretary Powell's conference intervention and reconfirmed 
 
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Kuwait's intent to move forward on debt reduction for Iraq. 
He also briefed the FM on military efforts in Falluja.  Dr. 
Mohammed confirmed GOK support for the Sharm communique and 
informed the Ambassador of a Russian proposal that seemed to 
be at odds with conference objectives.  End Summary. 
 
GOK Set for Sharm; Will attend Interior Minister Conference 
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2.  (U)  In a November 21 meeting, the Ambassador raised the 
Secretary's objectives for the Sharm al Sheikh regional 
 
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conference with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed 
Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.  Dr. Mohammed confirmed the GOK's 
support for the themes to be raised by the Secretary as well 
as acceptance of the final draft of the conference 
communique.  Commenting on the follow-up mechanism mentioned 
in the U.S. presentation, Dr. Mohammed informed the 
Ambassador that Iran had already invited Interior Ministers 
to a November 30 conference in Tehran which the GOK will 
attend.  He added that Iran is maintaining an active interest 
in Iraq, behind which he believes are two overriding goals: 
the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, and an 
attempt to be viewed as a full equal to the G8 and other 
concerned countries.  He suspects that Iran is delighted to 
be included in a meeting with G8 countries and looks to such 
a forum to help deflect attention from its nuclear program. 
 
What's Russia Doing? 
-------------------- 
 
3.  (C)  Dr. Mohammed advised the Ambassador that the Russian 
Ambassador had just delivered a slightly confusing letter 
from FM Lavrov, which was reportedly also conveyed to other 
governments, suggesting that "all major political parties 
participate in the Sharm conference, including the 
opposition."  (Note:  It was not clear whether the Russians 
wanted new participants at Sharm or involved in some 
follow-up forum.  End Note.)  The letter also mentioned the 
need to establish a "collective monitoring mechanism" for 
holding meetings between the IIG and political groups.  Dr. 
Mohammed said he questioned the Russians on what they meant 
by opposition -- Chalabi, Al-Sadar, Zarqawi, and terrorists? 
He then asked the Ambassador for the U.S. views on this 
proposal.  The Ambassador commented that the French had 
previously flouted the bad idea of opposition participation 
at Sharm, a notion that that was quickly rebuffed.  He added 
that the Sharm communique focuses on the neighbors' group and 
stressed the importance of Iraqis running Iraq with the 
support, not interference, of its neighbors and other parties. 
 
Kuwait Waiting for a Paris Club Decision 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  The Ambassador then briefed Dr. Mohammed on the 
state of play of Paris Club negotiations.  He reported 
agreement on the amount and timing of debt reductions, noting 
that Russia was the lone hold out.  He informed Dr. Mohammed 
that Presidents Bush and Putin were currently in Chile and 
the issue could come up there.  The Ambassador told Dr. 
Mohammed that it would give momentum to the Sharm conference 
if the GOK could make a public announcement on offering debt 
reduction to the IIG on terms comparable to Paris Club terms, 
with or without the Russians.  Dr. Mohammed stated the GOK is 
on record as favoring substantial debt reduction for Iraq 
once the Paris Club reaches a decision.  He further explained 
that implementation would require ratification by Parliament, 
but he did not anticipate any problems. 
 
Fighting to Continue; Kuwait concerned about U.S. image 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
5.  (C)  On other Iraq issues, the Ambassador briefed Dr. 
Mohammed on the November 20 visit of General Abizaid. 
Insurgents remain active and their intimidation campaign is 
effective and ubiquitous.  Nonetheless, it is possible for 
elections to take place in January 2005, a step that would 
lend further credibility to the IIG.  Dr. Mohammed welcomed 
the update and expressed dismay at what he considered a 
failing public diplomacy effort.  He said Arab audiences 
needed to see more footage of "nasty stuff" such as weapons 
caches and bomb factories.  Scenes of destroyed houses, 
corpses, and U.S. forces injuring unarmed Iraqis are 
detrimental to U.S. interests. 
 
6.  (U) Also present were Director of the MFA International 
Organizations Department Ambassador Abdullah A. Al-Murad, who 
will accompany Dr. Mohammed to Sharm al Sheikh, and MFA 
Director of the Americas' Department Khalid Al-Babtain. 
 
 
7.  (U)  Baghdad:  Minimize considered. 
 
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LeBaron