US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4625

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004625 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, DRL/SEA, DRL/MLA, IO/SHA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, EAID, KU 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT RED CRESCENT CHAIRMAN FINDS FAULT WITH 
ICRC, ASKS FOR U.S. SUPPORT 
 
 
This cable is sensitive but unclassified; please protect 
accordingly.  Not for Internet distribution. 
 
1.  (SBU) During an October 25 meeting with Kuwait Red 
Crescent Society (KRCS) Chairman Mr. Barjas Al-Barjas, the 
Chairman presented the Ambassador with a set of points he had 
prepared on specific complaints he has with the International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and asked for support in 
pressuring the ICRC for change.  His concerns were focused on 
two areas: the difficulties posed by the prohibition on using 
military transport for Red Crescent and Red Cross 
humanitarian relief activities; and the need for the ICRC to 
offer more direct support for national Red Crescent and Red 
Cross societies, in order to build capacity in the countries 
where the needs are greatest. 
 
2.  (SBU) When the Ambassador reminded Al-Barjas of the offer 
of U.S. military transport for KRCS relief supplies destined 
for the earthquake-struck areas of Pakistan, the Chairman 
explained that the Red Crescent prohibition on using military 
transport and/or military escorts for relief supplies 
actually comes from ICRC rules.  He was clearly not pleased 
with this rule, noting that the KRCS could not supply aid to 
two of its biggest areas of concern, Iraq and Afghanistan, 
without the security provided by military escorts.  He noted 
that the ICRC rules forbid the national societies from going 
into active war zones, but that areas like Iraq and 
Afghanistan remained dangerous long after the war was 
officially over. 
 
3.  (SBU) The other issue Al-Barjas raised seemed to be his 
main area of concern and he even had prepared a paper with 
"Points to be discussed with Ambassador of USA," in Arabic 
with an English translation.  He said that the ICRC needed to 
provide more support for poor countries in Africa and Asia, 
and could best do so by providing training and organizational 
assistance to the national Red Cross and Red Crescent 
societies in those countries.  He noted that many national 
Societies cannot even afford to attend the international 
meetings in Geneva and that KRCS often pays the travel costs 
for delegations from poor countries.  He said that he has 
tried to raise this issue in Geneva "many times," with no 
results. 
 
4.  (SBU) Al-Barjas noted that the ICRC goes "where there is 
war," but that so many of the events of the past year - 
earthquakes, the tsunami, floods, etc. - needed to be dealt 
with by respective national societies.  He said that the ICRC 
needs to provide training and organizational support to these 
societies, in order to help them cope directly with the 
problems in their own countries. 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
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LEBARON