US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2587

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KU, IR, IZ, KUWAIT-IRAN RELATIONS, KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: PM SENIOR ADVISOR SAYS IRAQ TOP PRIORITY, 
AGREEMENTS WITH IRAN UNLIKELY 
 
REF: A. STATE 107980 
     B. KUWAIT 2551 
     C. KUWAIT 2548 
     D. KUWAIT 2229 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  During a June 11 meeting which focused 
largely on Kuwait's relations with regional neighbors, Senior 
Advisor to the Prime Minister Mohammed Abulhassan told the 
Ambassador that Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah, who left June 11 
for Riyadh, was attempting to break stalemates between Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC) member states by encouraging some 
practical steps forward. On Iraq, Abulhassan responded to the 
Ambassador's call for the reestablishment of diplomatic ties 
by noting that the issue had been raised previously and was 
on the Prime Minister's agenda.  Abulhassan also said that 
the June 4-6 visit of the Secretary General of Iran's Supreme 
National Security Council, Dr. Hassan Rouhani had produced 
little of substance other than general agreements to continue 
to work towards the resolution of disputes over the 
continental shelf and related gas fields.  Abulhassan said it 
was unlikely Kuwait and Iran would come to agreement on these 
or any other issues during the remainder of Iranian President 
Khatami's term, but would instead wait until a new president 
took office. End Summary. 
 
PM Urging GCC to Resolve Differences 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) The Ambassador met with Senior Advisor to the Prime 
Ministerial, former Information Minister and former UN 
PermRep Mohammed Abulhasan on June 11 (ref. B).  Abulhasan 
began by discussing the Prime Minister's scheduled June 11 
visit to Riyadh.  Abulhasan said the Gulf Cooperation Council 
(GCC) "hides real issues through courtesy" and accordingly 
now finds its member states deadlocked by disagreements.  He 
said PM Shaykh Sabah was asked by others in the GCC to help 
calm relations between Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, in 
this case Qatar, U.A.E. and Bahrain. 
 
Iraq Relationship Top Priority for GOK 
-------------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) The Ambassador raised the issue of Kuwaiti-Iraqi 
diplomatic relations (ref. A), noting that the U.S. was 
pleased that Iraqi Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Hamad 
Al-Bayati's June 9 visit to Kuwait -- during which a general 
agreement on the exchange of embassies was signed -- had been 
productive.  Reiterating the message he had previously 
relayed to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. 
Mohammed Al-Sabah (refs. B and D, respectively) the 
Ambassador said the U.S. was anxious to see a Kuwaiti 
Ambassador to Iraq appointed, and offered U.S. assistance in 
working through any security matters related to the 
establishment of a Kuwaiti Embassy in Baghdad.  Abulhasan 
said the GOK had given its relationship with Iraq priority, 
and, pointing out that Kuwait had received Iraqi officials 
"almost every week," said the reestablishment of diplomatic 
relations was on the Prime Minister's agenda. 
 
Visit of Iranian Advisor Bears Little Fruit 
------------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) On the June 4-6 visit of the Secretary General of 
Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Dr. Hassan Rouhani, 
Abulhasan said there had been little progress on bilateral 
issues.  Abulhasan said Iran was eager to finish the 
demarcation of the continental shelf and its related gas 
fields.  Citing clear differences of opinion regarding these 
issues and the June 12 election in which Iran will elect a 
new president, Abulhasan said he is doubtful that any 
progress would be made until a new President is sworn in. 
When asked about possible water and gas deals, Abulhasan was 
equally pessimistic.  He also made it clear that the GOK saw 
little to be gained now by dealing with "lame duck" Khatami 
and would rather see Rafsanjani get credit for any 
improvement in relations. 
 
Iranians Claim Nuclear Power For Peaceful Purposes 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
5. (C) Abulhasan said Rouhani had touched upon the issue of 
Iranian negotiations with the Europeans over Iran's nuclear 
activities, emphasizing that Iran sought nuclear technology 
for peaceful purposes only.  Reminding his Kuwaiti 
interlocutors that Iran had cooperated with the IAEA, 
Abulhasan said Rouhani pledged that Iran would not embark on 
"illegal activities."  Abulhasan said the GOK's position 
vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear activities was to continue support 
for Iranian negotiations with the Europeans.  He said the GOK 
had told Rouhani it was not only the Europeans and Americans 
who had questions about Iran's nuclear program, but also the 
IAEA. 
 
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LEBARON