US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3590

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003590 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPR, LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, EPET, KU, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
SUBJECT: ACTING SPEAKER INFORMS AMBASSADOR NATIONAL 
ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS KEY LEGISLATION IN FALL SESSION 
 
REF: KUWAIT 2788 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with MP Mohammed Jassem 
Al-Sager, Acting National Assembly Speaker, August 9 to 
discuss legislation that would be addressed when the National 
Assembly reconvened October 17.  Al-Sager predicted the 
National Assembly would approve Project Kuwait legislation 
for development of the northern oil fields "soon."  He also 
anticipated passage of the Article 98 agreement (ref A) 
during the fall session.  Al-Sager pushed the Article 98 
agreement through the Foreign Affairs Committee, which he 
chairs, during its last meeting before summer recess.  He 
also shared his views on Saudi succession.  Al-Sager said he 
hoped to visit Washington while in the U.S. for a UN 
conference from September 7 to 9.  End summary. 
 
Project Kuwait 
-------------- 
 
2.  (C) The National Assembly would vote on and pass Project 
Kuwait legislation "soon," Al-Sager assured the Ambassador. 
Al-Sager said he had spoken with PM Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed 
Al-Sabah prior to his meeting with the Ambassador.  According 
to Al-Sager, the PM asked for his help passing Project Kuwait 
(Northern oilfields project) legislation and expressed his 
hope that it would be approved "first thing" next session. 
(Note: The National Assembly is on summer recess and 
reconvenes October 17.  End note.) 
 
3.  (C) Al-Sager shared his views on the global oil market 
and oil production in the Middle East.  "The oil map will 
change" as a result of declining production outside the 
Middle East, he said, predicting an increase in the price of 
oil to between $100 and $150 over the next 10 years.  He said 
only three countries in the world have the capability to 
increase production: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.  The 
development of refineries is as important to oil production 
as the discovery of new resources, he argued. 
 
Assembly to Vote on Article 98 
------------------------------ 
 
4.  (C) Al-Sager predicted the Article 98 agreement (ref A) 
would be approved early next session.  The agreement was only 
pushed through the Foreign Affairs Committee, which Al-Sager 
chairs, in the final hours of its last meeting before summer 
recess.  With government support, Al-Sager claimed "we have a 
14-16 vote head-start" on approval of the agreement. 
 
Saudi Succession 
---------------- 
 
5.  (C) Expressing his views on the recent death of Saudi 
King Fahd and the accession of Crown Prince Abdullah to the 
Saudi throne, Al-Sager said King Abdullah needed to implement 
lasting changes, including holding national elections. 
Al-Sager was very curious about who would be appointed Deputy 
Crown Prince.  It was "very, very important" to know, he 
said, because whoever was appointed would be the next Saudi 
King.  Al-Sager highlighted the different outlooks of the two 
main contenders, Princes Sultan and Nayef, and implied that 
this might have ramifications on Saudi-Kuwaiti relations. 
 
Possible Visit to Washington 
---------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Al-Sager told the Ambassador he hoped to spend at 
least a day in Washington while in the U.S. for a UN 
conference from September 7 to 9.  In particular, he wanted 
to go to Congress, the State Department, the Defense 
Department, and several think tanks.  He specifically 
mentioned the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 
which he said he liked because it was "connected to Israel." 
 
 
********************************************* 
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 
********************************************* 
LEBARON