US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4283

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004283 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI, RIYADH FOR REARDON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KU, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: FM BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON KUWAITI-IRAQI ISSUES; SAYS 
GOK WILL EXPEDITE TRIALS OF GITMO DETAINEES 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 4263 (NOTAL) 
     B. STATE 182501 (NOTAL) 
     C. KUWAIT 4230 (NOTAL) 
     D. KUWAIT 4214 (NOTAL) 
     E. STATE 174135 (NOTAL) 
     F. SECTO 19 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  During an October 1 meeting, Kuwaiti FM 
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed told the Ambassador that he and fellow 
GCC foreign ministers had a very good meeting with the 
Secretary on the margins of the UNGA, and he hoped such 
 
SIPDIS 
gatherings would become a regular event.  On Kuwaiti-Iraqi 
issues, he expressed concern about reports that charges 
against Saddam Hussein for the invasion and occupation of 
Kuwait would be dropped; said that Kuwait was ready for the 
arrival of a UN team to visit the shared border area and 
willing to cover a significant portion of the related 
expenses; and welcomed the visit of Iraqi officials.  He also 
noted his discussions with the Secretary and S/WCI 
Ambassador-at-Large Prosper on Guantanamo detainees and 
stressed they would be tried upon repatriation to Kuwait. 
The Ambassador advised the FM of the October 5 visit of 
Ambassador Jeffrey and mentioned recent, productive meetings 
between Kuwaiti and U.S. officials on Iraq reconstruction and 
terror finance.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed 
Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah opened an October 1 meeting with 
the Ambassador by expressing appreciation for the Secretary's 
September 19 meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign 
ministers on the margins of the UNGA (ref f).  He said the 
discussion was very good and the GCC states would like the 
"annual ritual to continue."  The FM told the Ambassador he 
had GCC responsibility for the Iraq portfolio at the meeting 
with the Secretary.  He briefed the Ambassador on the 
scheduled October 2 meeting in Jeddah of Iraq's Arab 
neighbors (ref a).  Continuing with Iraq, the FM expressed 
concern that the Iraq Special Tribunal (IST) was reportedly 
considering dropping the case against Saddam Hussein for the 
invasion and occupation of Kuwait.  He cautioned that such a 
move would have serious repercussions in Kuwait.  He informed 
the Ambassador of S/WCI Ambassador-at-Large Prosper's support 
for an Embassy Baghdad officer travel to Kuwait for 
discussions on the IST (ref e).  (Comment:  Post is in direct 
contact with Embassy Baghdad's Regime Crimes Liaison Office 
(RCLO) on the timing of such a visit.  End comment.) 
 
3.  (C)  The FM also briefed the Ambassador on his meeting 
with UN Secretary General Annan on the border issue.  He said 
Kuwait was willing to pay $500,000, "more than its fair 
share," for the UN team to visit the area and for pillar 
maintenance.  Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said Iraq has yet to 
respond to the UN.  The Ambassador informed the FM of 
progress on fulfilling the GOK request for satellite imagery 
of the border and said images would likely be passed to both 
the GOK and the UN by mid-October.  Further commenting on 
Kuwait-Iraqi relations, the FM said Iraq's Speaker of 
Parliament, Hajim Al-Hasani, was scheduled to arrive in 
Kuwait October 2.  He was also apprehensive about the 
"gathering storm" between President Talabani and Prime 
Minster Jaafari, saying they were "in the election mode too 
early." 
 
4.  (C)  The Ambassador said the U.S. welcomed open dialogue 
with Kuwait on Iraq and the October 5 visit of a delegation 
led by Ambassador Jeffrey presented a good opportunity to 
exchange views.  He also told the FM that Kuwait Fund for 
Arab Economic Development Director General Abdulwahab 
Al-Bader had a productive meeting on Iraq reconstruction 
issues with the USAID Middle East Director during his recent 
visit to Washington (ref b).  Referring to the mid-September 
visit of OFAC Director Werner, he said that work remains to 
be done to eliminate funding from Kuwait for jihadist 
activities.  (refs c and d). 
 
5.  (C)  The FM also said he appreciated the discussions with 
the Secretary and Ambassador Prosper on Kuwaitis detained at 
Guantanamo (refs e and f).  He welcomed the prompt response 
regarding the transfer of five detainees and said the GOK 
hoped to "expedite the process to prepare for their trial." 
 
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LEBARON