US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1497

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001497 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR SENIOR ADVISER JONES, NEA/ARP, NEA/I, AND IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, KTIA, MARR, KU, IZ, UN, KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER REQUESTS SECURITY FOR BORDER TEAM; 
OFFERS PAYMENT FOR "INFILTRATORS" 
 
REF: A. 04 KUWAIT 2548 
     B. LAPENN/DIBBLE/BERNS EMAILS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) During their April 9 meeting, Prime Minister Shaykh 
Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah told visiting Senior Advisor and 
Coordinator for Iraq Policy, Ambassador Richard Jones, that 
the United Nations had agreed to return to the Kuwait/Iraq 
border to oversee border pillar maintenance, but would need 
some help with security from coalition forces.  (Note: The 
Kuwaitis raised this issue at the UN; the UN is obligated to 
maintain the border by UNSC resolution.) 
 
2.  (C) On a separate matter along the border, the PM 
reiterated Kuwaiti willingness to compensate Iraqis who had 
"infiltrated" into Kuwaiti territory (i.e. those border 
dwellers whose land claims extended a reasonable distance 
inside Kuwait) would be financially compensated by the GOK 
for moving back across the UN demarcated border.  (Note: The 
Kuwaitis have an escrow account with the UN to do this.) 
 
3. (C) Comment: That the Prime Minister himself raised these 
border issues indicates the high level of GOK concern.  Post 
understands that UN representatives have visited the border 
and documented the vandalism and damage to border pillars. 
Post recommends that USUN continue to engage the UN on this 
matter and press for a plan to meet UN obligations. Providing 
some security support would be desirable, especially given 
the support Kuwait has provided for coalition forces. 
 
4. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. 
LEBARON