US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4739

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004739 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/ENA, IO/UNP, AND S/WCI; LONDON FOR TSOU; 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PBTS, PGOV, PREL, KU, IZ 
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS INFORMATION-SHARING KEY TO 
FIGHTING TERRORISM; ENCOURAGES SYRIA TO COOPERATE WITH UN 
 
REF: STATE 205225 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  During a November 12 meeting with Interior 
Minister Shaykh Nawaf Al-Sabah, the Ambassador stressed the 
needed to strengthen counterterrorism measures and said that 
better cooperation between the U.S. and Kuwait, as well as 
increased information-sharing, would help to prevent terror 
attacks.  He welcomed GOK pressure on Syria and supported the 
Government's efforts to definitively resolve the border issue 
with Iraq.  Shaykh Nawaf agreed that closer coordination 
would improve the GOK's CT capabilities.  The Minister also 
confirmed that the former Guantanamo detainees would be tried 
and asked that the U.S. consider repatriating the remaining 
Kuwaitis held at Guantanamo.  End Summary. 
 
C/T Cooperation 
--------------- 
 
2.  (C)  The Ambassador opened his November 12 meeting with 
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Shaykh 
Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah by citing the November 9 
suicide bomber attacks in Amman as evidence that no country 
was beyond the reach of terrorism.  He noted good cooperation 
between the U.S. and the GOK, but said that there was room 
for improvement.  He identified solid intelligence as the 
best way to prevent attacks and said the GOK needed to 
improve its surveillance capacity, both physical and 
technical, in order to head off attacks before they happen. 
Shaykh Nawaf replied he appreciated the continuing, open 
dialogue with the U.S. on counterterrorism and agreed that 
sharing information was the basis for thwarting terrorists. 
He said the GOK welcomed increased bilateral cooperation and 
technical assistance.  Commenting on surveillance, he said 
the Kuwaiti constitution put some constraints on the scope of 
such measures. 
 
Syria: What Is He Thinking? 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  (C)  On other issues affecting regional stability, the 
Minister said Syrian President Bashar al Asad's November 10 
speech to the UN General Assembly was not good for Syria and 
was not what the GOK wanted to hear.  He said Syria's motives 
were unclear, but the GOK supported reform, compliance with 
UNSCR 1636, and full cooperation with the international 
community, a message he said the Foreign Minister recently 
delivered to al Asad.  The Ambassador welcomed GOK pressure 
on the SARG and relayed reftel points. 
 
Dealing With Iraq Border 
------------------------ 
 
4.  (SBU)  Turning to the Kuwait-Iraq border issue, Shaykh 
Nawaf reported the November 11 arrival of UN Secretary 
General Kofi Annan to Kuwait and restated Kuwait's 
determination to permanently resolve the matter.  He said the 
GOK welcomed the anticipated November 19 visit of an Iraqi 
delegation to visit the border area and said the GOK would 
compensate displaced Iraqi farmers. 
 
Guantanamo 
---------- 
 
5.  (C)  Commenting on the November 3 return of five 
detainees from Guantanamo, the Minister said they had 
received medical attention and were under detention.  He 
confirmed they would be tried in Kuwaiti courts.  He 
expressed hope that the remaining six detainees would soon be 
repatriated. 
 
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LEBARON