US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4445

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, KDEM, KU, SUCCESSION 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DISCOUNTS FLAP IN AL-SABAH FAMILY 
 
REF: KUWAIT 4406 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem 
Al-Sabah said that recent statements by National Guard Chief 
Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah were just an expression 
of opinion and that the political status quo had returned. 
Commenting on Shaykh Salem's call for a three-person advising 
committee to help the leadership, Shakyh Dr. Mohammed added 
that the spat did not negatively affect the economy, noting 
local stock prices actually increased as rumors of leadership 
change made their way through Kuwait. End summary. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador inquired about recent publicized statements 
from Al-Sabah family members regarding instability among the 
ruling triumvirate (reftel) during an October 15 meeting with 
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah. 
National Guard Chief Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah, 
Crown Prince Shaykh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's 
first cousin, called for the formation of a three-member 
committee to run the country, thereby questioning the current 
leadership's longevity. (Note: The CP, who is in ailing 
health, left for London August 22 to seek medical treatment. 
He is scheduled to return October 19. End note.) The FM said 
that Shaykh Salem has been expressing his views for the past 
year but that last week's comments centered around the health 
and status of Kuwait's leaders, specifically Amir Shaykh 
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the CP. "I think we've 
overcome that," the FM responded in reference to the polemic 
caused by Shaykh Salem's statements. 
 
3. (C) According to Shaykh Dr. Mohammed, the Amir's response 
that he had full confidence in Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah 
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah reaffirmed the head of state's 
control. After the Amir spoke, the FM explained, everything 
returned to the status quo. The FM added that expressing 
one's opinion "is a virtue in Kuwait. People say things as a 
trial balloon when making comments." Ambassador recounted 
comments he heard from expatriate business leaders, which 
alluded to Kuwait's perceived political instability having a 
negative economic impact. "But look at how the market 
reacted," the FM responded. "It went up." 
 
4. (C) The FM added that "the political process is moving 
forward." Occasionally there are side statements, but there 
are not fundamental differences, he commented. In the FM's 
opinion, Shaykh Salem's public comment "was an expression of 
concern." Shaykh Dr. Mohammed predicted that the GOK would 
face another round of rumors upon the return of Shaykh Saad 
later this week. 
 
5. (C) In some of the local speculation about succession 
issues, the FM becomes the PM while Shaykh Sabah replaces 
Shaykh Saad as Crown Prince. However, the FM gave no 
indication whatsoever that he believes such a change will 
occur. 
 
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LEBARON