US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT4415

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004415 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2014 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, PGOV, MOPS, ECON, KU 
SUBJECT: KUWAITI CALLS BMENA MEETING A SUCCESS, REITERATES 
PERCEPTION OF IMBALANCE IN BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP 
 
REF: SECDEF 092102Z DEC 04 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In a December 18 call on Kuwaiti Foreign 
Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, 
Ambassador stressed the gravity of recent security threats to 
U.S. and Kuwaiti interests and noted the weakness of the GOK 
legal instruments in combating terrorist financing. (SEPTEL) 
The two also addressed GOK views on the "Forum for the 
Future" meeting in Morocco, the need for continued fuel for 
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and the impact on the Kuwaiti 
private sector of U.S. military use of Kuwaiti ports. End 
Summary. 
 
Impressions of "Forum of the Future" 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed led the Kuwaiti delegation to 
the "Forum of the Future" December 10-11 meeting in Rabat. 
The FM reported that government participants arrived to 
anti-U.S. demonstrations on the streets of Rabat and added 
that most civil society groups were outright negative about 
the U.S. during meetings. Nevertheless, he viewed the forum 
as a symbolic success as prior to September 11, 2001, the 
topic of reform could not even be discussed in the region. 
He said that the process of discussing democracy in the 
region had advanced considerably over the last three years. 
 
OIF Oil Renewal 
--------------- 
 
3. (C)  Dr. Mohammed asked Ambassador for a his impressions 
of the recent meeting between PM Shaykh Sabah and SECDEF 
Rumsfield.  In this context, the Ambassador mentioned that we 
will be asking the GOK to extend the agreement for OIF fuel 
March 2005. The Ambassador addressed the GOK perception (as 
expressed by the PM) that the U.S. is asking too much from 
Kuwait in the bilateral relationship by asserting that the 
relationship is too valuable to damage over such a gap in 
mutual perceptions.  The FM remarked that members of the 
National Assembly are questioning the government about the 
heavy demands placed by the U.S. on Kuwait, with a focus on 
the arrangements for fuel.  He said that the current coverage 
of costs under the DCA would be protected, but that this 
would not apply to Iraq operations.  Dr. Mohammed also noted 
specific rumblings in the National Assembly (echoing the 
complaint to SECDEF by the PM) that the U.S. is not asking 
other GCC nations, specifically Oman, Qatar, and the UAE to 
provide anything comparable to the contribution that Kuwait 
is making to U.S. efforts to maintain regional security. (See 
reftel for memcon of SECDEF meeting.) 
 
U.S. Military Movements Impeding Kuwaiti Commerce 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
4. (C) FM Dr. Mohammed also stated that the use of the 
Shuaiba port by U.S. military vessels is impacting Kuwait's 
private sector. Kuwait Cement Company, whose chairman sits on 
the board of Rashid Al-Rashid's (a Kuwaiti business mogul) 
company, has complained that U.S. ships are blocking the 
company's two piers, preventing the delivery of raw materials 
used to produce cement. At this rate, the FM added, Kuwait 
soon will have to halt cement production. He asked the U.S. 
to be sensitive to the GOK's concerns. The Ambassador said he 
would raise the issue with CFFLC, but noted that heavy troop 
rotations scheduled for January-April would complicate the 
issue.  (The FonMin has previously raised the issue of 
returning use of the land facilities around the port 
currently used by U.S. forces, which are slated for extensive 
private sector development.) 
 
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