US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4962

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004962 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ECON, ETRD, KPAO, OIIP, PGOV, PREL, KU, WTO 
SUBJECT: GOK REMAINS UNDECIDED REGARDING DOHA ROUND 
POSITION ON AGRICULTURE 
 
REF: A. STATE 209236 
     B. STATE 211956 
 
1.  (SBU) Ambassador delivered ref b points to Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah on November 
27.  He stressed the need for sustained engagement and noted 
that the European partners needed to be pushed on their 
proposals regarding access to agricultural markets. 
Al-Jarallah noted the USG position without further comment. 
 
2.  (SBU) On November 26, Econ Counselor delivered ref b 
demarche and followed up on ref a points (delivered by dip 
note on November 20) with Hamid Al-Ghanim, Assistant 
Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs, and Nefal M. 
Al-Doesari, Director of International Organizations, both of 
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  Al-Ghanim said that 
the Minister of Commerce would head the Kuwaiti delegation to 
the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference scheduled for 
December 13-18.  Other members of the delegation would 
include Al-Ghanim, Al-Doesari, representatives of the Kuwait 
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and officers from the 
Ministries of Energy and Foreign Affairs.  Al-Doesari said 
the individuals from these other organizations would be 
selected within the next week. 
 
3.  (SBU) Al-Ghanim reported that Kuwait would "adopt the 
still-to-be-determined consensus Arab opinion" regarding ref 
b talking points.  He and Al-Doesari welcomed the ref a 
invitation to participate at Hong Kong in USG-organized 
briefings and discussions on trade development assistance and 
development issues.  Al-Ghanim offered to contact the U.S. 
delegation after arrival to schedule the ref a requested 
bilateral meeting in Hong Kong. 
TUELLER