US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1175

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI - BERNS AND EUR/RPM - SHINAGEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, KU, NATO 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COMMITTED TO ISTANBUL COOPERATION INITIATIVE 
 
REF: NATO 171 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  During a March 22 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for International 
Organizations Ambassador Abdullah Ahmed Al-Murad described 
the March 18 NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) 
meeting as "excellent."  He welcomed NATO's outreach to Arab 
nations and willingness to examine defense theory and 
strategic thinking in a post Cold War and post 9/11 
environment.  NATO assistance to non-NATO countries and 
increased cooperation was needed since today's enemy is often 
hidden.  He was particularly pleased that conference 
participants discussed issues that were germane to Gulf 
states, and that the GCC participants were asked for their 
views.  He was complimentary of Bahraini Crown Prince Shaykh 
Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa's opening statement and 
considered useful the discussions on Iran's nuclear 
aspirations, how terror organizations spread their 
philosophies, and promoting a real and comprehensive solution 
for the Arab-Israeli conflict.  He said the Gulf states 
wanted the region to be completely free of WMD -- Israel 
included -- and feared if Iran was successful in producing 
nuclear weapons, it would turn into another North Korea.  He 
agreed on the need for identifying terrorists and their 
financiers, but added that additional attention needed to be 
given to how they disseminate their violent beliefs. 
 
2.  (C)  Responding to the Ambassador's question about next 
steps for the ICI and the Gulf, Al-Murad noted plans for NATO 
visits to Gulf states and mentioned the need to bring Saudi 
Arabia on board.  He said a NATO team would visit Kuwait in 
April for talks with the Ministry of Defense and the National 
Security Bureau and agreed with the Ambassador's counsel that 
the ICI relationship be broad and include all elements of 
Kuwait's national security apparatus since political and 
defense issues would be addressed. 
 
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LEBARON