US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT115

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000115 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PGOV, KISL, KU 
SUBJECT: NEWSPAPER PUBLISHES GOK ANTI-TERROR STRATEGY PAPER 
FOR RIYADH CONFERENCE; FOCUS ON CONTROL OF CHARITIES 
 
REF: 03 KUWAIT 4840 
 
1. (U) Kuwait news daily Al-Qabas obtained and published a 
Social Affairs Ministry working paper outlining Kuwait's 
efforts to combat terrorism.  The paper, according to the 
article, is expected to be presented by GOK officials at the 
upcoming conference in Riyadh on International 
Counterterrorism scheduled for February 5-8.  According to 
the published document, the GOK intends to focus on the 
regulation of financial practices by charitable organizations 
and to intiate anti-terror conferences, awareness campaigns, 
and youth programs to combat extremism.  The article stated 
that because charity organizations around the world are 
supporting Al-Qaida, wittingly and unwittingly, Kuwait has 
taken actions to control charitable funds and to prevent them 
from going to terrorist organizations. 
 
2. (U) Citing UNSCR 1189, the working paper reaffirmed 
Kuwait's intent to discipline and control charitable 
organizations and to combat the funding of terrorism.  It 
stated that Kuwait created a Supreme Commission governing all 
Kuwaiti charity work which would be the central point for the 
GOK effort to organize charities.  The Commission, under the 
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, is responsible for 
establishing policies for the collection of charitable 
donations and the spending of charitable funds inside and 
outside of the country. 
 
3. (U) The working paper outlined the current Kuwaiti rules 
governing charitable organizations, including how they are 
permitted to collect, transfer, and spend charitable funds. 
It highlighted Kuwait's ongoing effort, by the Interior 
Ministry, to remove all forms of unauthorized money 
collection at publicly placed kiosks, donation boxes, and 
other unauthorized collection points, stating that all 
donations are restricted to donation boxes inside Mosques 
that have been authorized by the Ministry of Social Affairs 
and Labor (reftel).  The GOK also created an accountability 
office to verify all accounts and spending practices of 
charity associations according to "current internationally 
accepted accounting laws."  The article did state that 
charitable funds can be distributed without conditions inside 
Kuwait to such projects as building mosques, schools, and 
hospitals and for the purposes of providing social and 
charitable services. 
 
4. (U) The paper stated that changing the mentality about 
charitable work is the key hurdle to successful 
implementation of the policy.  Describing charity work as 
firmly rooted in Kuwaiti society, it explained that some 
Kuwaitis continue to overlook the laws in order to freely 
practice what they believe to be a "right" that stems from 
tribalism and Kuwaiti culture.  The article concluded by 
stating that the GOK intends to make future efforts to 
minimize the influence of extremism.  This will be done 
through a variety of means, including: opening youth activity 
clubs to keep young Kuwaitis away from extremist influences, 
holding conferences on the dangers of terrorism, implementing 
an anti-terror awareness campaign, initiating joint 
Gulf-country social and cultural programs, reviewing all 
media to ensure no terrorist ideas are introduced, and 
reviewing all computer programs and technology to ensure no 
terrorist applications are being spread.  (Comment: While the 
article mentioned that charity activities are the "pride of 
Kuwait" and that such activities show the "commitment of 
society to the values of Islam," it meaningfully stated the 
need for Kuwait to review its present situation and 
emphasized that discipline is required if charity work is to 
continue to add positively to the society. End Comment.) 
 
5.  (U) Post contacted the MFA regarding GOK attendance at 
the Riyadh Conference.  MFA officials informed Post that the 
delegation has not yet been identified.  Post will notify 
Department of the delegation composition when informed by the 
MFA. 
 
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LEBARON