US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3775

S E C R E T  KUWAIT 003775 
 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, PTER, KU 
SUBJECT: PM URGES ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAN, SYRIA; CALLS FOR 
RETURN OF GUANTANAMO DETAINEES 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3699 
     B. KUWAIT 3585 
     C. KUWAIT 3580 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (S) Summary: During Ambassador's 30-minute conversation 
with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber 
Al-Sabah at Sief Palace August 23, the PM urged the U.S. to 
heed his advice and engage Iran and Syria. He provided 
updates on GOK progress in counterterrorism and human 
trafficking issues. The PM reiterated support for the 
Palestinian leadership and discussed Sunni participation in 
the Iraqi constitution-drafting process. He also requested 
the return of remaining Kuwaiti Gitmo detainees and addressed 
a GOK anti-corruption campaign. End summary. 
 
Follow up from PM's U.S. Visit: Iran, Syria 
------------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad, who spoke in 
English with only occasional help from an interpreter, 
expressed his pride to have received a warm welcome from the 
President, Vice President, Secretary of State and other 
Administration officials during his July 1 U.S. visit. First, 
the PM reconfirmed his offer made at the White House for 
Kuwaiti participation in potential refinery construction in 
the U.S. The de facto ruler of Kuwait then discussed letters 
he sent to the Iranian and Syrian leaders after his return 
from Washington. He began the conversation by stating that 
"the region is not stable. ... We need to have stability for 
our interests." The PM added that Iran is interfering in 
southern Iraq and that the threat of potential Iranian 
nuclear weapons is a "big danger for us." In a conciliatory 
tone, however, the PM suggested that "we have to talk with 
them as friends." Ambassador then asked, "But are they 
listening?" to which Sabah Al-Ahmad responded, "I hope so." 
 
3. (C) Regarding new Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 
the PM repeated a description he provided to local newspapers 
last week, saying that Ahmadinejad's "wisdom will never allow 
him to do something" sinister. "Don't blame him," he added, 
because during the elections every politician says things 
that he does not mean. "You have to keep trying," the PM 
urged Ambassador. 
 
4. (C) Turning to Syria, the PM said that during GOK 
discussions with President Bashar Al-Asad, Al-Asad said that 
he had agreed to comply with any U.S. demands and asked what 
more was expected. Shaykh Sabah tasked Foreign Minister 
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah to convey that 
message during an August 9 meeting with Ambassador (ref C). 
To date, the PM stated, and repeated several times, the GOK 
has not received feedback from Washington. He urged the U.S. 
to provide him additional points to make to Al-Asad. 
 
Strengthening Counterterrorism, Human Trafficking Legislation 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
5. (S/NF) Ambassador praised increased bilateral cooperation 
between intelligence agencies on counterterrorism issues in 
the past six months but added that Kuwaiti laws need 
strengthening to increase penalties and close loopholes in 
money laundering/terror finance laws. The PM responded that 
terrorists are not against only the U.S. but against the 
whole world. Shaykh Sabah was pleased by the enhanced 
bilateral cooperation. 
 
6. (C) Regarding trafficking in persons (TIP), Ambassador 
highlighted the need for Kuwait to bolster the legal 
framework regarding the treatment of domestic workers. The PM 
said that some people do not care about other human beings 
but that the Government is "serious" about this issue. "You 
will see this in the coming months," he reported. With 
respect to Kuwait's Tier 3 rating, the worst category in the 
annual TIP Report, the PM emphatically stated, "Believe me, 
we are not on the bottom." According to the PM, Kuwait sent 
two widebody aircraft full of repatriated trafficking 
victims, one to Indonesia and one to the Philippines, in 
2004. Ambassador noted the need to offer alternatives short 
of deportation. 
 
Regional Issues: Palestinians, Iraq 
----------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) In response to Ambassador's request for the GOK to 
expedite donations to the Palestinians, Shaykh Sabah reported 
that the GOK transferred funds after the Arab League meeting 
in Algeria (ref B). The PM reported that Palestinian 
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently called him to 
schedule a visit to Kuwait. The PM said that Abbas is welcome 
in the emirate anytime and that further aid would be 
discussed at that time. Shaykh Sabah spoke positively of 
Abbas but cautioned, "God help him...not from the Israelis 
but from the Palestinians." 
 
8. (C) While discussing the new Iraqi constitution, the PM 
blamed the news media for fostering negative sentiment 
against the Sunnis. He believes the media are 
mischaracterizing the Sunnis and are not allowing them to 
present their viewpoint. According to the PM, the Iraqi 
Sunnis want to accept the new constitution but are afraid. He 
said that he is surprised by the number of ex-regime Iraqis 
in Jordan, including one of Saddam Hussein's daughters who 
plans to launch a satellite news station. The PM added that 
Saddam sent a letter for public release via the International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) even though they are not 
permitted to carry politically-related messages. (Note: 
August 21 media reports indicate the note was censored by 
detaining authorities prior to delivery to the ICRC. End 
note.) 
 
Gitmo: Send the Kuwaitis Home 
----------------------------- 
 
9. (S) The PM spoke frankly about the GOK's position 
regarding Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo. "I am not happy," 
he said, "that you sent us only one prisoner." Shaykh Sabah 
mentioned that multiple detainees had been returned to Saudi 
Arabia and other countries, but Kuwait only received one. 
Kuwaitis are asking why, he reported, after everything that 
Kuwait has done for the U.S (ref A). In his words, the 
continued detentions are creating more hatred for the U.S. 
among the detainees' family and friends. He urged that the 
next four scheduled for release should happen in weeks, not 
months. "Send us all of them. We know how to take care of 
them," he said. 
 
Priorities for the Fall 
----------------------- 
10. (C) When asked about legislative priorities for the fall, 
the PM expressed his confidence that the GOK has secured 
enough votes to authorize Project Kuwait, a major expansion 
of northern oil fields employing foreign companies' 
expertise. Ambassador noted the GOK's announcement of a 
large-scale anti-corruption campaign. Shaykh Sabah said, "we 
want to see where corruption is and stop it." He added that 
the Government will follow corruption trails wherever they 
may lead. 
 
 
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LEBARON