US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3949

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003949 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, IZ, KU 
SUBJECT: IRAQI FM HOSHYAR ZEBARI VISIT TO KUWAIT 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3948 
 
     B. KUWAIT 3900 
     C. KUWAIT 3851 
     D. KUWAIT 1460 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: In a September 5 meeting with the 
Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Head of 
International Organizations Ambassador Abdullah Al-Murad 
commented on the August 31 visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister 
Hoshyar Zebari to Kuwait.  (Note: Al-Murad attended the 
meeting and lunch hosted by the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister. 
End note.)  The two main issues discussed during Zebari's 
visit were the Iraqi Constitution and bilateral relations, 
specifically Kuwaiti aid to Iraq.  Al-Murad confirmed media 
reports that the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) would 
open an embassy in Kuwait "in a month."  Kuwait and Iraq also 
agreed to establish a joint committee to oversee relations 
between the two countries.  End summary. 
 
Iraqi Constitution Concerns; Predicting More Violence 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
2.  (C)  Commenting on the August 31 visit of Iraqi Foreign 
Minister Hoshyar Zebari to Kuwait, MFA official Al-Murad said 
the trip was "very private;" FM Zebari only met and lunched 
with FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and his 
staff.  One of the primary issues discussed was the draft 
Iraqi Constitution.  Al-Murad said FM Zebari believed neither 
Sunni opposition to nor Kurdish support for the constitution 
was universal.  FM Zebari explained that Sunnis objected 
primarily to the issue of federalism, which some of them 
believed threatened to divide the country into three states 
and exclude the predominantly Sunni region from oil 
resources.  FM Zebari was optimistic that the constitutional 
referendum would be approved, expressing doubt that Sunni 
oppositionists, which FM Zebari characterized as remnants of 
the former regime, had enough votes to defeat the referendum 
in three provinces.  Al-Murad commented, however, that a lot 
can happen between now and October 15.  The Ambassador 
emphasized that the U.S. was doing everything it can to keep 
the Sunnis in the political process and address their needs 
regarding the constitution. 
 
3.  (C) Al-Murad said FM Zebari predicted violence would 
increase before the October 15 referendum, but expressed hope 
that, if approved, the referendum would provide greater 
political legitimacy to the Iraqi government.  The 
insurgents' strategy was to continue attacking civilian 
targets in the hope of destabilizing the ITG and pressuring 
the U.S. to withdraw its troops, FM Zebari said.  Al-Murad 
also reported that FM Zebari was "very furious" about the 
comments of Amre Moussa questioning lack of provisions in the 
constitution on Iraq's Arab identity. 
 
4.  (C) Al-Murad mentioned that FM Zebari appeared distracted 
during his visit, which coincided with the tragic bridge 
stampede in Baghdad on August 31, which killed hundreds of 
Shi'a pilgrims.  "FM Zebari's mind was in Iraq," Al-Murad 
said. 
 
Kuwait Gives Aid; Iraq Gives Embassy 
------------------------------------ 
 
5.  (C) Regarding bilateral relations, Al-Murad said FM 
Zebari had asked for reconstruction aid, which, according to 
Al-Murad, Kuwait was ready to disperse.  FM Zebari suggested 
Kuwait give aid to southern Iraq, which was "quieter" and 
"closer" and as a "gesture of solidarity" with southern 
Iraqis. 
 
6.  (C) Al-Murad confirmed that Iraq would re-establish its 
embassy in Kuwait "in a month."  Different Iraqi groups were 
"fighting to get their man" appointed ambassador to Kuwait, 
Al-Murad commented.  He dismissed reports that Faeq Al Shaykh 
Ali would be named (ref D).  Asked if Kuwait would 
reciprocate diplomatic representation, Al-Murad said "it is 
difficult for Kuwait to have an ambassador in Iraq."  He 
added that Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) Lieutenant 
General (Ret.) Ali Al-Mumin was often in Iraq essentially 
fulfilling the functions of ambassador, implying Kuwait was 
content with the current arrangement.  (Note: Lieutenant 
General (Ret.) Al-Mumin was previously mentioned as a 
candidate for the job of Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq.  End 
note.) 
 
7.  (C) Kuwait sent $10 million (USD) to Iraq to aid victims 
of the tragic stampede on August 31 (ref A), Al-Murad said; 
$5 million went directly to "the Iraqi people," and $5 
million went to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.  Al-Murad 
also reported that Iraqi Planning Minister Saleh would visit 
Kuwait in the next several weeks (ref B). 
 
Joint Committee to Be Established 
--------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C)  Although not mentioned by Al-Murad during the 
meeting, an MFA official told the Ambassador after the 
meeting that FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed and FM Zebari agreed to 
establish a joint committee to oversee all aspects of 
Kuwait-Iraq relations.  (Note: This committee is different 
from the bilateral committee proposed by FM Shaykh Dr. 
Mohammed to oversee border maintenance (ref C).  End note.) 
They did not discuss details of the new committee. 
 
9.  (C) Comment: Despite the recent difficulties on the 
Kuwait/Iraq border, both sides seem satisfied with the state 
of their bilateral relations, not the case for other Sunni 
neighbors of Iraq.  FM Zebari gave a press interview in 
Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas in Kuwait which tracked 
closely with Al-Murad's read-out.  End comment. 
 
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LEBARON