US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1594

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001594 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PI, ABU DHABI FOR MEPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KMPI, PGOV, PHUM, KU, MEPI 
SUBJECT: GOK SKITTISH ABOUT MEPI FUNDING, ASSERTS FOREIGN 
FUNDING OF KUWAITI NGOS ILLEGAL 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Faisal Hajji 
Boukhadour voiced his concerns to the Ambassador about Middle 
East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding of Kuwaiti 
organizations during an April 13 meeting. Under Kuwaiti law, 
he said, non-governmental organizations may not receive 
funding from foreign sources. The rationale behind the ban, 
Boukhadour explained, is to prevent "the dangerous side" from 
influencing Kuwaiti politics. He reported an incident in 
which candidates for the National Assembly received or 
attempted to receive funding from the Iranian Embassy, which 
caught the GOK's attention and caused problems. 
 
2. (C) The Minister stressed that Kuwait will never forget 
what the U.S. has done for the country, but the GOK must 
enforce the funding restriction universally in order to keep 
certain elements out. If the U.S. is allowed to donate money, 
"some people will use this against you and us," added 
Boukhadour. The Ambassador asked for a copy of the specific 
law regulating NGO funding. The Minister also noted that the 
GOK itself, through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, 
provides funding for worthy projects by NGOs. 
 
3. (C) The DCM further discussed MEPI programs April 18 with 
Ambassador Khaled Al-Babtain, Director of the MFA Americas' 
Desk. His office previously had requested information on MEPI 
following Post's March 30 press release announcing the small 
grants program. Al-Babtain, echoing concerns about Iranian 
influence in Kuwait, reasserted that foreign funding to NGOs 
is illegal, said the GOK would fund NGO activities upon 
request and asked that Post provide specific information on 
the grants it intends to approve. 
 
4. (SBU) Additionally, an Arabic daily printed an editorial 
April 12, which questioned the dimensions of MEPI, 
considering financial contributions as interference in 
internal Kuwaiti affairs. One of the paper's editors told PAO 
that GOK sources had mentioned to him on more than one 
occasion that they were very conscious of being viewed as 
American stooges. The previous public criticism of MEPI was 
an October 2004 article citing Islamist MP Walid Tabtabae who 
labeled a DC-based training course, "Leadership and Decision 
Making for Women in Leadership Positions," a U.S. attempt to 
"promote mixing of the sexes." Islamists have portrayed MEPI 
funding as American interference and used it to criticize 
reform-minded Kuwaitis. 
 
5. (U) Note: Only one grantee, the Kuwait Economic Society, 
received an FY04 MEPI small grant for Kuwait. Criticism of 
this project is, in part, due to the very public persona of 
its outspoken chairperson. The Society, like approximately 
30% of NGOs in Kuwait, is officially recognized by the 
Government. End note. 
 
6. (C) Comment: The small grants program has been the 
proximate cause of the GOK's unease about MEPI funding. The 
presence of a MEPI-funded NDI adviser on women's issues did 
not cause much of a stir or elicit government objections. 
Exchanges and training through MEPI have also occurred 
without difficulty. We understand the GOK's concern about 
Iranian influence. It is a point we often made ourselves in 
relation to the Iraqi elections. We will need to be creative 
in continuing to support reformers while avoiding a 
counter-productive bilateral confrontation. Our leverage is 
limited. Kuwait is, of course, not an aid recipient. In fact, 
it makes major financial contributions to the U.S. presence 
in Kuwait and by extension in Iraq. End comment. 
 
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LEBARON