US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3704

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003704 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KPAO, KMDR, KU 
SUBJECT:  INFORMATION MINISTER SUBMITS PLAN FOR MINISTRY 
"RESTRUCTURING" TO COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 
 
Ref: A. Kuwait 3057 
Ref: B. Kuwait 1493 
 
1. Summary: Dr. Anas Al-Reshaid, Kuwaiti Minister of 
Information, unveiled his formal Ministry restructuring 
plan at the regular August 14 meeting of the Council of 
Ministers. While the Minister told reporters, "I will be 
the last Information Minister," the practical effects of 
the proposed plan, which largely entails transforming 
ministry sectors into semi-autonomous "authorities" still 
subject to ministerial supervision, remain unclear. 
Nevertheless, columnists hailed the Minister's vision, and 
the Council referred the report to its legal committee, 
which is charged with drafting legislation implementing the 
plan to be submitted to Parliament. End Summary. 
 
A Profusion of "Authorities" 
---------------------------- 
 
2. In Al-Reshaid's proposal, the state-owned radio, 
television and print organs would all be spun off into 
"independent authorities." The radio and television arms, 
along with the engineering department, would become the 
"Public Authority for Radio and Television." The state 
newswire, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), would join the 
ministry's foreign media department, which oversees non- 
Kuwaiti media operating in Kuwait, in becoming the new 
"Authority of Media and Information." And the National 
Council for Culture, Arts and Letters will become a third 
authority, responsible for culture. (Note: Several semi- 
autonomous "authorities" exist in Kuwait in various 
sectors, such as the Public Authority for Agriculture 
Affairs and Fish Resources and the Public Authority for 
Youth and Sports. Such authorities are typically headed by 
a government-appointed director general, and are 
responsible to a relevant ministry, but enjoy more day-to- 
day autonomy than departments within ministries might, 
because of the specialized nature of their functions and 
duties. End note.) All of the new authorities would remain 
under the aegis of the Minister of Information. 
 
Intellectual Property Action 
---------------------------- 
 
3. Notable among the proposed move of departments now under 
Information to other ministries is the decision to transfer 
the Ministry of Information's Intellectual Property Rights 
Department to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. (Note: 
Since 2004, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has shown 
a willingness to take a larger role in intellectual 
property rights enforcement as part of Kuwait's progress 
towards a Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. End note.) 
 
4. Al-Reshaid's plan also proposes transferring the 
Ministry of Information's tourism sector to the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry. The state printing shop, currently 
under the purview of the Kuwait Investment Authority, will 
be privatized. The Minister will continue to exercise 
direct control over the licensing and regulation of local 
publications, including daily newspapers, weekly magazines, 
and other periodicals. 
 
"One of the Most Significant and Advanced Projects" 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
5. Columnists across the ideological spectrum were quick to 
hail the plan. Salafi Islamist Dr. Wael Al-Hasawi, writing 
in Al-Rai Al-Aam on August 16, wrote, "[The Minister] has 
earned our admiration and gratefulness. The moment he took 
office he promised to bring change, and today he has 
fulfilled his promise. Khudair Al-Enezi, writing in Al- 
Qabas on August 16, wrote that the proposal "can be deemed 
one of the most significant and advanced projects which has 
been adopted by the government of His Highness Prime 
Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed." Faisal Al-Zamel wrote in 
Al-Anba on August 16, "When people see and feel the impact 
of the change, then the doubts will turn into commendations 
and applause." One liberal, Kuwait University Professor Dr. 
Shamlan Al-Issa, sounded a dissenting note, asking in Al- 
Seyassah on August 16, "What is the reason for this 
restructuring if the government is going to be in charge 
again but in a different form?" 
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LEBARON