KUWAITI PARLIAMENT MOVING FORWARD ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001044 SIPDIS TREASURY FOR TERRORIST FINANCE TASK FORCE STATE FOR EB/ESC E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2013 TAGS: PTER EFIN PREL PGOV KU SUBJECT: KUWAITI PARLIAMENT MOVING FORWARD ON ANTI-TERRORISM CONVENTIONS REF: A. KUWAIT 939 ¶B. SECSTATE 59891 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 b and d. ¶1. (C) On March 22, the Ambassador joined the French ambassador and the ambassadors of Italy, Canada and Russia as well as the British and German DCM's to carry out the G8 demarche on adherence to counter terrorism conventions with Mohammed al-Sagr, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Kuwait's National Assembly (reftels). French Ambassador Losguardi made the pitch in his capacity as representative of the G8 chair. ¶2. (C) Al-Sagr responded that his committee had completed its review of the conventions; the National Assembly was about to move forward on legislation that would enable Kuwait to complete accession to four of the five agreements. He explained that legislation on the Convention on the Suppression of Acts against Maritime Navigation had already passed a first reading. Its second reading would be held during next week's assembly session (March 31). The first reading of bills on three of the remaining four conventions would likely be passed at the same time. This would leave only the 1999 Convention on Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CSFT) to go. ¶3. (C) When questioned, al-Sagr explained that the CSFT had also been on the agenda for a first reading next week, but he had asked that it be delayed because he was concerned that some deputies were planning to use the debate on the bill as an opportunity to embarrass the GOK by criticizing aid to Jordan. He was reluctant to provide additional details, he said, because the issue of relations with Jordan (which in many Kuwaitis' eyes "sided" with Iraq in 1990) remains highly sensitive in Kuwait. However, he felt that it would be better to wait until after the current conflict with Iraq had subsided before bringing this particular piece of legislation to the floor of the assembly for debate. ¶4. (C) Al-Sagr stressed that he did not see any trouble in passing the legislation when the time comes; "maybe only five people are against it," he said. The Ambassador pointed out that it might be hard for outsiders to understand why Kuwait was moving on the other conventions but not on the CSFT. He noted that two branches of Kuwaiti charities had had their assets frozen for suspicion of financing terrorism. Some would interpret inaction on the CSFT as a sign of a lack of Kuwaiti resolve on this critical issue. The French Ambassador supported this line of argument. Al-Sagr took the point and agreed to consult with the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly about the possibility of adding the CSFT to next week's session and avoiding criticism of Jordan. He warned the ambassadors that he might need to ask for their help with a few key members of the National Assembly in this regard. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The impending progress on legislation on the remaining five counter-terrorism conventions is very welcome news. We will continue to coordinate with our G8 colleagues to encourage Mohammed al-Sagr and other members of the National Assembly to keep working until all the conventions have been approved. JONES