US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1173

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001173 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI BERNS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PGOV, KU, UN 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND MFA DIRECTOR DISCUSS U.S.-GOK 
COOPERATION ON UN ISSUES 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1125 
 
     B. KUWAIT 1120 
     C. STATE 46598 
     D. KUWAIT 1077 
     E. USUN 474 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U)  The Ambassador used a March 22 courtesy call on 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations 
Director Ambassador Abdullah Ahmed Al-Murad to thank Kuwait 
for its vote in favor of a UNGA resolution on Human Cloning. 
He noted the declaration was a U.S. policy priority and 
appreciated Kuwait's support.  Likewise, he restated U.S. 
appreciation for the GOK decision to keep the Humanitarian 
Operations Center (HOC) open until June 30, 2005 (refs a and 
b).  He agreed that the UN, through UNAMI, had an important 
role to play in Iraq's reconstruction, but emphasized that 
the HOC, under strong Kuwaiti leadership, was vital to the 
coordination and flow of assistance to Iraq.  Al-Murad 
reported good cooperation with UNAMI; was hopeful that the UN 
Status of Mission Agreement, now out of committee, would soon 
be ratified by the National Assembly; and said the GOK would 
try to keep the HOC open to work with UNAMI. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Turning to other UN issues, Al-Murad said the GOK 
was studying the SYG report on reform and was concerned that 
most countries seem to focus exclusively on UN Security 
Council reform.  Al-Murad argued that the recommendations be 
considered as a package and thought it premature to 
concentrate on Security Council composition when there was no 
consensus among those pushing for reform. 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  The HOC extension and the 11th hour 
support on human cloning are but a few examples of the type 
of assistance the GOK gives us when we ask.  As noted ref d, 
Kuwaiti involvement was key to the success of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom and continues to be fundamental to efforts to promote 
democracy and security in Iraq.  Therefore, post reiterates 
its strong recommendation that the U.S. support Kuwaiti 
candidate for UNDP Administrator Fawzi Sultan.  Sultan has 
the endorsement of the Arab League (ref e) and Al-Murad 
reported substantial support among UN member states.  End 
Comment. 
 
LEBARON