US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3523

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003523 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSAU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PBTS, IZ, KU, KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: GOK AND ITG COMMITTED TO RESOLVING BORDER DISPUTE 
DIPLOMATICALLY 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3446 
 
     B. KUWAIT 3396 
     C. KUWAIT 3331 (NOTAL) 
     D. KUWAIT 3287 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: On August 6, an Iraqi delegation, in Kuwait 
to discuss the border issue, visited the border and examined 
the barrier being installed by Kuwait.  The delegation head 
Khaled Al-Attiyah confirmed that "the border barrier is in 
Kuwaiti territory."  In a meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign 
Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Al-Attiyah 
reiterated the Iraqi Transitional Government's (ITG) 
commitment to the official border demarcation as agreed upon 
in UN Resolution 833.  According to the Arabic daily Al-Rai 
Al-Aam, the FM told a parliamentary committee that the 
Kuwait-Iraq border issue was finalized and not open to 
negotiation.  According to press reports, both the GOK and 
the ITG were pleased with efforts being made to resolve the 
border issue diplomatically and dismissed attempts by some 
MPs in both countries to hijack the issue for their own 
political purposes.  In an August 7 meeting with OMC-K Chief, 
Kuwait Armed Forces Chief of Staff Shaykh Ahmed Khalid 
Al-Sabah appeared less concerned about the border issue than 
in a meeting on July 26.  He told the Chief he is optimistic 
the issue will be resolved through dialogue.  (Note: 
Ambassador is scheduled to meet with the Foreign Minister on 
Tuesday and will verify whether the upbeat reporting on the 
border issue reflects GOK views.  End note.)  End Summary. 
 
GOK and ITG Committed to Diplomatic Resolution 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2.  (SBU) On August 4, an Iraqi delegation led by Khaled 
Al-Attiyah arrived in Kuwait to discuss the border issue.  In 
an August 4 meeting with FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed, Al-Attiyah 
reaffirmed the ITG's commitment to UN Security Council 
Resolution 833 demarcating the border between the Kuwait and 
Iraq.  "The two countries respect the agreements and treaties 
over the borders, which were supervised by UN Resolution 
833," he stated.  Iraq will not allow its citizens to violate 
these agreements, Al-Attiyah said.  He concluded that "there 
is absolutely no border problem between the (two) countries." 
 The FM agreed stating that the border was well-defined 
according to UN Resolution 833 and "there is no dispute over 
this issue." 
 
3.  (SBU) According to press reports, FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed 
said that installation of the barrier, temporarily suspended, 
would resume under UN supervision; he did not specify, 
however, when installation would resume.  The FM added that 
Kuwait planned to build a wall along the border.  (Note: It 
is not/not clear if this wall is in addition to the vehicular 
barrier currently being installed.  End note.)  The English 
daily Arab Times reported August 6 that Iraqi Foreign 
Minister Hoshiyar Zebari was planning to visit Kuwait in 
mid-August to further discuss the border issue. 
Barrier in Kuwait Territory 
--------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) On August 6, accompanied by Kuwaiti officials, 
Major General Sulaiman Al-Fahd and Director General of the 
General Border Directorate Abdullah Al-Mehanna, the Iraqi 
delegation visited the Kuwait-Iraq border and inspected the 
border barrier being installed by Kuwait.  Afterwards, 
Al-Attiyah confirmed that the "border barrier is in Kuwait 
territory," the Kuwait press reported.  "They (the borders) 
were demarcated and it is over," Al-Attiyah said adding that 
"the Kuwaiti government has a right to safeguard its 
borders." 
 
5.  (U) Regarding Kuwaiti assertions that several Iraqi farms 
have "encroached" onto Kuwaiti territory, Al-Attiyah admitted 
that one Iraqi well was a "few meters" into Kuwaiti 
territory, but expressed his hope that the problem could be 
resolved diplomatically and that the Iraqi owners would be 
compensated.  Kuwaiti media also reported that Al-Attiyah met 
with Iraqi residents of Umm Qasr, whom he claimed clearly 
understood the ITG's efforts to resolve the dispute 
diplomatically. 
 
6.  (U)  The visit received considerable media attention. 
The front page headline of the English daily Kuwait Times 
read, "'Diplomacy' Wins Border Dispute."  The English daily 
Arab Times carried the headline, "Pause on Border Barrier 
Taps 'Well' of Goodwill." 
 
Political Issue for Some Kuwaiti MPs 
------------------------------------ 
 
7.  (U) Some Kuwaiti MPs have used the border issue to attack 
the GOK claiming its response to Iraqi border protests and 
the comments of Iraqi MPs was weak.  Opposition MP Mussallam 
Al-Barrak called for a special session of Parliament to 
discuss the recent, inflammatory comments of several Iraqi 
MPs, which he characterized as demonstrating "ingratitude" 
towards Kuwait for its support in the liberation of Iraq. 
The FM dismissed these criticisms saying, "Kuwait is at the 
height of its power."  Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Shaykh 
Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah echoed this claim stating that 
"Kuwait will not give up a single millimeter of its land." 
(Note: The Kuwaiti National Assembly is in recess until 
October 17.  End note.) 
 
8.  (U) Other Kuwaiti MPs have expressed a more positive tone 
towards Iraq.  Islamist MP Mohammed Al-Basri said the recent 
comments of Iraqi MP Jawad Al-Maleki "do not represent the 
opinion of the current Iraqi government."  Acting Speaker of 
the National Assembly and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager praised the GOK for 
adopting a diplomatic approach to resolving the border issue 
with Iraq. 
 
GOK Pleased With ITG Response 
----------------------------- 
 
9.  (U) According to press reports, GOK officials and their 
Iraqi counterparts were pleased that the appropriate steps 
were being taken to resolve the border issue diplomatically. 
Kuwaiti media quoted the FM as saying, "We sensed a civilized 
manner from our Iraqi brothers, headed by the Iraqi Prime 
Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaarafi, who dealt with the (border) 
issue clearly and sincerely." 
 
10.  (C) Office of Military Cooperation-Kuwait Chief met 
August 7 with Kuwait Armed Forces Chief of Staff Shaykh Ahmed 
Khalid Al-Sabah.  According to the Chief, Shaykh Ahmed was 
noticeably less concerned about the border issue than he was 
during a meeting July 26 (ref D).  Shaykh Ahmed expressed 
optimism that the border issue would be resolved amicably. 
 
11. (U) Basrah minimize considered. 
 
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LEBARON