US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3961

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003961 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR TASK FORCE 1, NEA, EB 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID/OFDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, EAID, PREL, ENRG, KU, US, KATRINA AID 
SUBJECT: TFUS01: AMBASSADOR THANKS KUWAITI NATIONAL 
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER FOR SUPPORT TO HURRICANE VICTIMS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3960 
     B. KUWAIT 3957 
 
1.  (U) Ambassador called on the Acting Speaker of the 
Kuwaiti National Assembly, Abdulwahab Rashid Al-Haroun on 
September 6 to thank him for the outpouring of sympathy and 
solidarity from the Kuwaiti parliament and population.  The 
Ambassador also reiterated his public statement (carried in 
Kuwaiti media on Monday) thanking the Kuwaiti government for 
its very generous assistance package.  Al-Haroun again 
expressed his strong support for the American people in this 
time of distress. 
 
2.  (SBU) Responding to the Ambassador's query, Al-Haroun 
said that the GOK had not communicated yet with the Assembly 
about its presentation of the request for the $400 million in 
petroleum products that will require Assembly approval. 
(Note: As previously reported, the first $100 million of the 
$500 million package is already in the GOK budget and does 
not require Assembly approval.)  Al-Haroun noted that the 
Prime Minister is leaving for the U.S. soon for the UN 
meetings, but that the Sunday cabinet meeting could still 
take up the matter of the aid and refer it to the Assembly. 
He did not have any information about rumors of a special 
session of the Assembly.  Note: Given the number of members 
traveling abroad at this time, we would not expect the 
Assembly to convene before its normal mid-October opening.) 
Al-Haroun expected the measure to pass easily when it is 
presented. 
 
3. (U) Al-Haroun accompanied the Ambassador to a press 
stake-out after the meeting.  Local print and television were 
present as well as Al-Hurra and wire services.  Ambassador 
made brief remarks emphasizing U.S. appreciation of the 
Kuwaiti aid and noting that it is a clear manifestation of 
the deeply-felt mutual obligations of two close allies. 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
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LEBARON