US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1886

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001886 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PTER, ASEC, KU, IZ, IR, SY, BA 
SUBJECT: DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER 
4 MEETING WITH KUWAITI NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT 
SHAIKH SABAH KHALED AL SABAH 
 
Classified by A/DCM Hallie H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Hadley met with 
Kuwaiti National Security Council President Shaikh Sabah 
Khaled Al Sabah December 4 on the margins of the IISS Gulf 
Security Dialogue conference in Manama.  Shaikh Sabah hailed 
the strong bilateral relationship and stated that Kuwaitis 
are more content now than at any point over the past few 
years.  Kuwait will work with the Iraqi government on debt 
forgiveness following the January 30 elections.  Kuwait is 
encouraging Sunnis in Iraq to participate in the elections. 
Iran advocated for the departure of foreign forces from Iraq 
by the end of 2005 during the regional interior ministers 
meeting it hosted, but Kuwait worked to remove this language 
from the communique.  DNSA Hadley commented that Iran should 
not be exempt from its responsibilities in the global war on 
terror.  While it had locked up Al Qaida leaders, it 
continued to provide support to Hizballah.  DNSA Hadley noted 
U.S. concern that Syria was being used as an assembly point 
for jihadists going to Iraq.  Shaikh Sabah replied that Syria 
claims to control movements into Iraq, but it was not doing 
enough.  Shaikh Sabah promised Kuwaiti political and 
financial support for the Palestinians, and noted that Abu 
Mazen would visit Kuwait soon.  End Summary. 
 
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Strong Relations, Strong Support 
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2.  (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Hadley opened his 
December 4 meeting with Kuwaiti National Security Council 
President Shaikh Sabah Khaled Al Sabah by expressing his 
thanks for strong Kuwaiti support over the past two and a 
half years.  The U.S. relationship with Kuwait is crucial, 
and we look forward to continuing to work closely with 
Kuwait.  He recognized that Kuwait's supply of oil to the 
U.S. military is a generous contribution.  Shaikh Sabah 
agreed that the relationship is very strong, and Kuwaitis are 
more relaxed now than at any point over the past few years. 
Though Kuwait does not support the high international oil 
prices, it is benefiting and the stock market and trade flows 
are booming.  In response to DNSA Hadley's question, Shaikh 
Sabah said that Kuwait welcomed the Paris Club decision to 
forgive 80 percent of Iraq's debt.  Kuwait considers this 
percentage to be a guideline.  The GOK will discuss 
forgiveness with the Iraqi government following the elections. 
 
3.  (C) Shaikh Sabah told DNSA Hadley that Kuwait works 
closely with the United States on Iraq.  The GOK has reached 
out to the Sunnis in Iraq and encouraged them to participate 
in the January 30 elections.  DNSA Hadley recognized Kuwaiti 
outreach efforts to the Sunnis and said that broad 
participation is necessary for the elections to be seen as 
legitimate. 
 
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Iranian Agenda Inside Iraq 
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4.  (C) Shaikh Sabah said that Iranian Foreign Minister 
Kharazi visited Kuwait in November to discuss Iran's nuclear 
program.  Kharazi told the Kuwaitis that U.S. pressure would 
ruin any agreement with the Europeans because Iran does not 
believe the Europeans will stand up to America.  Shaikh Sabah 
said that Kuwait responded by telling Kharazi that Iran must 
convince the IAEA and the Europeans that it can be trusted. 
Kuwait offered to assist Iran if/when Iran is serious about 
making concessions.  In Iraq, Iran has its own agenda, and is 
encouraging the Shia in the south to participate in the 
elections.  Iran hosted a meeting of regional interior 
ministers on the situation in Iraq, and Iran tried to insert 
language in the communique stating that the multinational 
forces should depart Iraq by the end of 2005.  Kuwait 
objected, saying that Kharazi was at the Sharm meeting where 
this issue had been rejected.  Iran ultimately agreed to 
leave this language out of the statement. 
 
5. (C) DNSA Hadley said that Iran should not be exempt from 
its responsibilities in the global war on terror.  It has Al 
Qaida leaders under lock and key but, at the same time, it 
provides support to Hizballah.  Shaikh Sabah raised the 
Iranian presidential elections and said that the likely 
candidates would be Rouhani, Velayati, Youssefi, and possibly 
Rafsanjani, who claims to have good relations with the 
Europeans.  In the last election, the youth supported Khatemi 
but they now are disaffected.  They doubt the country will 
achieve progress through the electoral process. 
 
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Syria Assembly Point for Jihad 
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6.  (C) DNSA Hadley expressed U.S. concerns about Syria, 
which is now serving as an assembly point for jihadists 
seeking to fight in Iraq.  Shaikh Sabah noted that Syria is 
facing pressure on Iraq, its relationship with Lebanon 
through UNSCR 1559, and the peace process.  Though the SARG 
claims to have begun to control movements into Iraq, its 
efforts have not been sufficient.  Kuwait has information 
that Iraqi Baathists are gathering inside Syria and are 
trying to influence events in Iraq.  The GOK was dismayed 
that two Kuwaiti boys, ages 16 and 17, traveled first to 
Damascus then to Fallujah to fight.  Shaikh Sabah wondered 
who encouraged, organized and paid for this travel?  He 
recommended that the U.S. use official channels to influence 
Syria, and stated that the U.S. should talk bluntly to the 
SARG.  Syrian Foreign Minister Sharaa visited Kuwait and 
asked the GOK about U.S. views.  The GOK responded that the 
United States is very clear and Sharaa should listen to what 
Secretary Powell says. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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Improving Palestinian Quality of Life 
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7.  (C) Shaikh Sabah stated that Kuwait greatly appreciates 
the President's position on Palestine and the January 9 
elections.  The U.S. should encourage the international 
community to support the Palestinian people just as they are 
supporting the Iraqi people.  Abu Mazen will visit Kuwait 
shortly and the GOK will tell him that it will provide 
political and financial support to the Palestinians.  DNSA 
Hadley said that the United States wants to help Finance 
Minister Fayyad, and Kuwaiti assistance is critical.  The 
Palestinian Authority needs to have the comfort of sufficient 
finances.  The U.S. talks to the Israeli government about 
doing the right thing regarding the Palestinians.  Shaikh 
Sabah replied that Abu Mazen failed when he was prime 
minister, and PM Sharon did not help by refusing to release 
Palestinian prisoners.  Kuwait does not want to see the 
parties repeat their mistakes, and will support Abu Mazen and 
other moderate leaders who want to improve Palestinians' 
quality of life. 
 
8.  (C) DNSA Hadley said that the United States seeks to 
encourage the voices of reform in the region and hoped Kuwait 
could play a role.  Shaikh Sabah stated that Kuwait would 
participate in the Forum for the Future meetings in Rabat, 
and expressed Kuwait's desire that Bahrain host the 2005 
meetings.  He noted that he supports NATO's Istanbul 
Cooperation Initiative to enhance stability in the Middle 
East region. 
 
9.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
10.  (C) The NSC cleared this message. 
 
MONROE