US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4729

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004729 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, KWMN, KU 
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER HOSTS FIRST OFFICIAL RAMADAN DINNER 
FOR WOMEN 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 2924 
     B. KUWAIT 2900 
 
1.  (U)  On October 31 Prime Minster Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed 
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosted a 'Ghabqa' traditional Ramadan late 
night dinner for a group of Kuwaiti women, marking the first 
time an official dinner has been held for women by the Prime 
Minister.  The Ghabqa was held at the Prime Minister's 
residence, Dar Salwa, with press, female ruling family 
members, and leading Kuwaiti female professionals in 
attendance.  Attendees were effusive in their praise for the 
event, many saying that it marked the opening of a chapter in 
government-to-women dialogue which they had long sought.  The 
PM said that the Amir's leadership was responsible for 
allowing women to take part in the political process and that 
he was grateful to be able to host such an event, coming on 
the heels of the historic May 16 decision to grant women 
their full political rights. 
 
2.  (SBU) The Prime Minister invited almost 100 women to the 
event, although a handful of men were also included.  The 
evening celebrated women's accomplishments.  Female ruling 
family members, including two of the PM's granddaughters, 
stood in the receiving line next to the PM as the guests made 
their entrance. Islamists and moderates as well as veiled and 
uncovered women, among them princesses, engineers, writers, 
lawyers, artists, entrepreneurs, activists, academics, 
journalists mingled as the PM shook each and every hand.  The 
dinner itself lasted over an hour and was marked by the PM's 
informal chatting with his guests.  Several of his guests 
later told the Political Assistant that they "felt as if he 
(the PM) was like their father." 
 
3.  (U) Among the attendees were Shaykha Amthal Al-Ahmad, the 
Amir's full sister and the Chairperson of the Voluntary 
Action Committee, which coordinates volunteer groups within 
Kuwait.  Shaykha Hussa Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, 
the Crown Prince's daughter also attended.  She was joined by 
recently appointed Minister of Planning and Minister of State 
for Administrative Affairs Dr. Ma'souma Al-Mubarak, who 
thanked the Prime Minister for the dinner, stating that it 
signaled "the great attention that the Kuwaiti leadership 
grants to women."  Also included were Fatima Al-Sabah, one of 
the two recently appointed members of the Municipal Council, 
and Sarah Al-Duwaisan, a former undersecretary in the 
Ministry of Planning. 
 
4.  (U) Other notables in attendance included Lulwa Al-Mulla, 
Secretary General of the Women's Cultural Society; Suad 
 
SIPDIS 
Abdullah, a leading Kuwaiti actress; Bibi Al-Marzouk, 
editor-in-chief of Al-Anba newspaper; Suad Al-Humaidi, 
economist; Fawzia Al-Baher, Municipal Council member and 
engineer; Mariam Al-Saleh, artist; Maha Al-Barges, Human 
Rights Society board member; Dr. Farida Al-Habib, Head of 
Cardiology at the Military Hospital and the PM's physician; 
and Dr. Haila Al-Mekaimi, political science professor at 
Kuwait University. 
 
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LEBARON