US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4774

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004774 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KU, IZ 
SUBJECT: KUWAITI FM TO CAIRO TO CONSULT ON RECONCILIATION 
CONFERENCE; OFFER SUPPORT TO SUNNI MODERATES 
 
REF: STATE 207921 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  In a brief aside at luncheon on 15 November, Kuwaiti 
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem 
Al-Sabah told the Ambassador he would travel to Cairo on 
Saturday to be present for some of the preparatory work for 
the Iraqi reconciliation conference.  He said he expected 
that some of the senior Iraqi leadership would be there as 
well.  Dr. Mohammed said he would be in Cairo to offer a show 
of support for moderate Sunnis.  He contended that the Sunni 
agenda has been hijacked by the a small minority of radicals 
on either end of the political spectrum -- the Baathists on 
the left and the Zarqawi people on the right.  He believes 
the vast majority of Sunnis want an end to the violence so 
they can get on with their lives.  He went on to say that 
Sunni states in the region had not done enough and they need 
to do more to assist the political process in Iraq. 
 
2.  (C)  When queried, Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said he did not 
expect to participate formally in the meetings, beyond 
perhaps some sort of brief formal opening session.  The main 
purpose of his visit would be to be available for informal 
consultations with the parties with a view to helping them 
make progress. 
 
3.  (C)  We will make sure Dr. Mohammed has reftel points 
containing U.S. views on the conference before he travels to 
Cairo. 
 
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LEBARON