US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2229

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 002229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/FO, NEA/APRI; LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, ECON, KDEM, SOCI, KWMN, IZ, KU, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: KUWAITI PM SAYS THERE WILL BE A FEMALE CABINET 
MEMBER; HIS VISIT TO THE U.S. WILL STRENGTHEN STRONG TIES 
 
REF: A. STATE 95389 
     B. KUWAIT 2064 
     C. KUWAIT 1900 
     D. KUWAIT 1752 
     E. KUWAIT 1131 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  During a May 24 call on Kuwaiti PM Shaykh 
Sabah, the Ambassador congratulated him on the May 16 vote 
granting women full political rights and encouraged speed in 
bringing women into senior government positions.  The PM said 
the GOK would appoint a woman cabinet minister, a matter the 
Council of Ministers would address May 29.  Discussing the 
successful visit of FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed to Washington, the 
Ambassador said it set the stage for the PM's upcoming visit 
and reviewed with him issues that would interest Washington 
policy makers.  He stressed efforts to promote stability and 
political progress in Iraq, and urged the PM to take 
immediate action on Iraqi debt and to transfer DFI assets. 
He also encouraged continued assistance to the Palestinians 
and renewing GOK fuel assistance to Jordan; the PM responded 
there was progress on both fronts.  On bilateral issues, the 
Ambassador raised the serious situation of Kuwait's 
expatriate labor force and advised the GOK to consult with 
international organizations to ensure that Kuwait adhered to 
international labor standards.  He commended the improvement 
in counterterrorism cooperation and pressed the GOK to 
intensify its search for wanted terrorists and terror 
financiers.  He also noted U.S. interest in the successful 
participation of American companies in the Kuwait Project and 
the Al-Zour North Power Plant, and advised the PM of possible 
problems over taxation of U.S. firms doing business in 
Kuwait.  End Summary. 
 
Female Cabinet Minister To Be Named "Soon" 
------------------------------------------ 
 
2.  (C)  The Ambassador opened the May 24 meeting, which was 
warm and relaxed, by congratulating Prime Minister Shaykh 
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the historic May 16 vote 
by the National Assembly granting women full political rights 
(ref B).  Shaykh Sabah, who was in an exceptionally good mood 
and appeared in very good health, said he thanked God the 
Government accomplished what it wanted without any external 
pressure.  He told the Ambassador he too had heard the rumors 
that he would not be welcomed at the White House if the 
legislation failed to pass, but stated there was no outside 
influence on the decision.  He confirmed the GOK would "soon" 
name a female minister and said the Council of Ministers 
would discuss the matter at its regular Sunday meeting on May 
29.  In response to a query on other possible political 
reform, the PM said the GOK had submitted to Parliament two 
redistricting proposals, both of which would reduce the 
number of districts from 25 to ten.  MP reaction was negative 
and the GOK withdrew its proposals and asked, and is still 
waiting for, Parliament to present an alternate plan.  (Note: 
 Prior to the meeting with Shaykh Sabah, the Ambassador spoke 
with independent, pro-GOK MP Abdulwaheb Al-Awadi, 
accompanying International Parliamentary Union President 
Sergio Paez Verdugo, who described ongoing discussions on 
requiring districts to have at least 10,000 voters.  While he 
agreed the existing smaller districts facilitated 
vote-buying, he opposed redistricting because it would create 
large, disjointed districts.  End note.) 
 
July PM Visit to Washington to "Cement" Relations 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
3.  (C)  The Ambassador also congratulated the PM on the 
successful Washington visit of Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. 
Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (ref A).  He described 
such visits as beneficial to the bilateral relationship, and 
said the FM should travel more often to Washington.  The 
Ambassador asked Shaykh Sabah about his goals for his July 
visit.  The PM replied that there were no serious problems 
between the U.S. and Kuwait and he simply wanted to 
strengthen already strong ties.  His ultimate goal was a 
"distinguished and everlasting relationship" with the U.S. 
He expressed interest in discussing Iraq and Iran, saying his 
visit presented an opportunity to learn from each other. 
 
Kuwaiti Aid to Iraq 
------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  The Ambassador then advised the PM of topics that 
would likely be of interest to his Washington interlocutors. 
Beginning with Iraq, the Ambassador mentioned significant 
interest in debt relief and encouraged the GOK to initiate a 
bilateral debt relief process.  He also encouraged the 
immediate transfer of Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) assets 
currently held by the Kuwaiti Mission to the UN (ref C). 
Shaykh Sabah said Kuwait remained ready to assist Iraq and 
would participate actively in the upcoming international 
meeting to support Iraq.  He cautioned that debt relief 
should not be linked to the compensation issue, a position 
the Ambassador said the U.S. shared.  The PM again raised the 
GOK's $60 million pledge to Iraq for school and hospital 
construction in the south and said the GOK was still waiting 
for Iraqi input on projects (ref C).  He also said the GOK 
was considering favorably an Iraqi request -- from either 
Iraq's UN Mission or its ambassador in France -- for mobile 
hospitals that would be deployed to Basrah or Amarah.  He 
added that former Iraqi PM Allawi had requested food 
assistance, but never sent a representative to Kuwait to 
discuss Iraq's needs.  On DFI, he sought confirmation there 
were no private claims or judgments against the funds and 
said, "we are ready to help." 
 
The PA And Jordan Need Kuwaiti Help, Too 
---------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C)  Continuing with the theme of economic assistance, 
the Ambassador said the Palestinian people would need more 
help as Gaza disengagement proceeds.  Shaykh Sabah said 
commitments were made at the Algiers Arab League meeting and 
the GOK was current on its obligations.  Contrary to local 
press reports, he said there were no official plans for Abu 
Mazen to visit Kuwait and encouraged the U.S. to assist him 
to the fullest extent saying there would be no peace in the 
region without peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. 
The Ambassador also encouraged fuel aid to Jordan, arguing it 
was important to help stabilize the economy.  Shaykh Sabah 
reported the recent visit of a Jordanian official who 
conveyed a request for assistance from King Abdullah.  The PM 
said the GOK was willing to help, but Parliament remained a 
problem.  Nonetheless, Kuwait would assist Jordan in the same 
way it aided Egypt by setting up a long-term loan to be 
repaid in installments with interest.  He said he would 
instruct Oil Minister Shaykh Ahmad Fahd Al-Sabah to contact 
his Jordanian counterpart.  He also noted in passing private 
support he supplies to King Abdullah. 
 
When Foreign Workers Hurt, Kuwait Suffers 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C)  Turning to bilateral issues, the Ambassador informed 
Shaykh Sabah of the increasing emphasis in U.S. foreign 
policy discussions on the treatment of expatriate labor.  He 
said the U.S. recognized the steps the GOK had taken, but 
there were serious concerns about child camel jockeys and 
domestic laborers.  He encouraged Kuwait to comply with 
international standards and suggested close cooperation with 
UNICEF and ILO, which have successfully addressed expatriate 
labor and trafficking problems in other countries.  The PM 
responded that the GOK takes labor issues very seriously 
which is why it intervened when Bangladeshi workers revealed 
they had not been paid (ref D).  He also reported the GOK had 
twice chartered jumbo aircraft to repatriate workers to the 
Philippines and Indonesia.  He said he tasked the Minister of 
Social Affairs and Labor to "be tough" on trafficking and 
disputed there were child camel jockeys in Kuwait.  He 
remarked there had been no international criticism of the 
treatment of expatriate workers in Kuwait and noted his 
surprise that the U.S. had taken up the issue.  Nevertheless, 
when foreign workers were exploited or hurt, Kuwait 
"suffers," and the GOK was trying to do a better job in 
addressing the problems and would also encourage local NGOs 
to be more active. 
 
CT Still A Priority 
------------------- 
 
7.  (C)  The Ambassador complimented the PM on strong 
cooperation between the U.S. and Kuwait on counterterrorism. 
He said the sharing of information continued to flow and the 
U.S. was pleased with Kuwaiti participation in training 
programs.  The Ambassador urged the GOK to take advantage of 
other training offered and suggested a visit to Washington by 
Kuwait State Security (KSS) Chief Shaykh Athbi Al-Fahd 
Al-Sabah.   He further encouraged the GOK to intensify its 
efforts to arrest Mohsen Al-Fadhli, Khalid Al-Dosari, and 
Hamad Al-Harbi, saying their capture would send a very strong 
message.  Shaykh Sabah said he was pleased there had been no 
incidents since the January shootings, informed the 
Ambassador he had been briefed on the April ATA training 
program, and reasserted that KSS was actively seeking 
Al-Fadhli and others.  He restated Kuwait's commitment to 
counterterrorism. 
 
8.  (C)  The PM also raised GOK concern about the 11 
remaining Guantanamo detainees.  He noted detainees had been 
returned to the UK, Iran, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, 
and Yemen, and argued the 11 should be immediately returned 
to Kuwait to stand trial.  He said he would raise this issue 
while in Washington. 
 
U.S. Companies Want To Work In Kuwait 
------------------------------------- 
 
9.  (C)  The Ambassador also flagged bilateral commercial 
issues.  He said qualified American firms competing for the 
Kuwait Project and Al-Zour North Power Plant should be given 
the opportunity to succeed.  He noted that three American 
firms had been pre-qualified for Al-Zour and had met with 
Shaykh Ahmad on problematic contract issues.  The PM welcomed 
U.S. participation and said U.S. companies would be treated 
like Kuwaiti firms (mentioning a 10% preference).  Regarding 
other American firms in Kuwait, the Ambassador advised the PM 
of taxation problems being experience by a number of U.S. 
firms.  The PM admitted the tax law, dating back to the 
1950's, was archaic.  He said the GOK had sent new 
legislation to the Parliament for consideration. 
 
10.  (U)  Baghdad:  Minimize considered. 
 
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LEBARON