US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT327

S E C R E T KUWAIT 000327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR T AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, MARR, KISL, KU, IR, IAEA 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON KEY ISSUES FOR UNDERSECRETARY BOLTON'S 
JANUARY 28-29 VISIT TO KUWAIT 
 
REF: 04 KUWAIT 4427 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (S)  Since your last visit, the GOK welcomed the transfer 
of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government and has been a 
strong supporter of holding elections on January 30.  The GOK 
has also encouraged Sunni participation in elections and 
Kuwaitis are hoping greater stability will result from the 
installation of an elected government.  Domestically, recent 
threats and terror activities have received heavy media 
attention and Kuwait's senior leadership is being criticized 
for not taking stronger measures to prevent militants from 
establishing cells in Kuwait. 
 
2.  (C) ARTICLE 98:  Progress is slow on GOK approval of the 
agreement, but we maintain an active dialogue with senior 
officials on the need to conclude the agreement.  In October, 
FM Dr. Mohammed informed the Ambassador that the agreement 
was being fast-tracked through the National Assembly. 
Members of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee discussed 
the agreement on December 22, and it is possible the 
agreement will be discussed by the full National Assembly on 
February 2.  Because of Kuwaiti observance of the Eid-al-Adha 
holiday, it was not possible to get a status report in time 
for transmission of this message.  We will have an update 
when you arrive.   (NOTE: We treat the existence of the 
agreement as Confidential, because it has never been publicly 
confirmed by the GOK.  END NOTE.) 
 
3.  (C) CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN:  FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed has 
called Iran "the biggest threat to Gulf countries," in part 
because of the long-term strategic threat presented by its 
nuclear program.  Kuwait is skeptical of Iran's assertions 
that its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes 
and its promises to suspend uranium enrichment.  The GOK also 
believes that Iran would welcome a Shi'a-dominated Iraq and 
has cautioned Tehran not to meddle in Iraqi issues. 
Nonetheless, the GOK considers it necessary to maintain an 
open dialogue with Iran, but does not believe it has much 
ability to influence Iranian behavior. 
 
4. (S) COUNTER-TERRORISM:  Recent confrontations with Kuwaiti 
homegrown terrorists, some in the military, have prompted 
considerable criticism of government inaction and Islamist 
tolerance of terrorism.  It is too soon to tell whether the 
Kuwaiti authorities will follow up on their recent aggressive 
actions against terrorists with a full-fledged sustained 
effort.  There is cooperation in U.S. and UN efforts to 
freeze bank accounts of terror suspects and their financiers, 
and we continue to engage Kuwait's leaders on the need for 
cooperation on all facets of the Global War on Terror. 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
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LEBARON