US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3263

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Identifier:	05KUWAIT3263
Wikileaks:	View 05KUWAIT3263 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Kuwait
Created:	2005-07-24 13:17:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PARM MARR PGOV PREL KU
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003263 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND AC; LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2015 
TAGS: PARM, MARR, PGOV, PREL, KU 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CWC HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT WITH KUWAIT 
 
REF: A. BROWN/HANLINE E-MAIL DATED 7/12/05 
 
     B. STATE 81767 
     C. 04 STATE 199661 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1. 
4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U)  This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 3. 
 
2.  (C)  PolChief met July 24 with Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs Legal Department Director Ghanim Al-Ghanim to discuss 
progress toward concluding a Host Country Agreement (HCA) 
with Kuwait on Challenge Inspections.  Al-Ghanim reported 
that his office had compared the text provided ref c to 
previously negotiated language and found no significant 
changes.  He said the Defense Ministry had also reviewed the 
agreement and, in principle, found it to be acceptable. 
Nevertheless, the GOK requested, orally and by diplomatic 
note, additional information before it could agree to an 
exchange of notes.  Commenting that it was "difficult to be 
the first one to sign," Al-Ghanim asked for an update on the 
status of negotiations with other GCC countries.  The GOK is 
also interested in knowing why discussions on the HCA stalled 
in 2002. 
 
3.  (C)  Action requested:  Ref b reports that no HCAs have 
been concluded with Middle East countries and advised post of 
the possible autumn travel of a delegation to Saudi Arabia, 
Oman, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain.  Please provide 
information, releasable to Kuwait, on the status of HCA 
discussions with these countries and whether other GCC states 
will be approached.  Post would also appreciate background, 
again releasable to Kuwait, on why HCA discussions stalled in 
2002 and the importance of immediately concluding an 
agreement. 
 
********************************************* 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* 
TUELLER