US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT977

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000977 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI AND EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, FJ, KU 
SUBJECT: FIJIANS ASSESSING NEED FOR HONORARY CONSUL IN 
KUWAIT 
 
REF: SUVA 97 
 
1. While Post is unable to comment on the current size of the 
Fijian population in Kuwait, we confirm that Kuwait's labor 
force is largely composed of expatriate workers who are also 
key to supply efforts for Operation Iraqi Freedom. As 
reported in reftel, there appears to be a surge in the number 
of Fijians in Kuwait. Fijians, whose villages and churches 
pay recruitment agencies as much as $40K for groups of their 
compatriates to secure employment, reportedly are recruited 
to work in the Kuwaiti private sector. 
 
2. In addition, an English-language newspaper reported March 
5 that a delegation from the Fijian Ministries of Foreign 
Affairs and Labor will be in Kuwait the weekend of March 
10-11 to assess the need to appoint an honorary consul. Fiji 
has no diplomatic representation in Kuwait at present. 
 
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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