Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT1293
2003-04-07 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAITI CONCERNS ON MEETING ITS AID PLEDGE TO PA

Tags:  PREL EAID KPAL US IS KU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001293 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2013
TAGS: PREL EAID KPAL US IS KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI CONCERNS ON MEETING ITS AID PLEDGE TO PA

REF: A. SECSTATE 85451


B. KUWAIT 1283

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001293

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2013
TAGS: PREL EAID KPAL US IS KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI CONCERNS ON MEETING ITS AID PLEDGE TO PA

REF: A. SECSTATE 85451


B. KUWAIT 1283

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 b and d.


1. (C) The Ambassador discussed the issue of Kuwaiti support
for the Palestinian Authority (ref A) with Shaykh Dr. Ahmed
Nasser al-Sabah, the Head of Office for Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed al-Sabah, the morning of
April 6. (Dr. Mohammed was unavailable due to a last-minute
Council of Ministers meeting prior to his departure for his
tour of P-5 capitals, ref B.) Drawing on ref A talking
points, the Ambassador explained the situation to Shaykh
Ahmed in detail and pointed out that Dr. Mohammed should be
prepared to respond on this issue in his meetings in
Washington.


2. (C) Dr. Ahmed thanked the Ambassador for reviewing the
issue with him. He confided that the "real" reason that the
GOK was hesitating to transfer money to the Palestinian
Authority recently had nothing to do with Arafat or any other
"personal" issues. The GOK understood the need to support
the PA and reform efforts at this critical time regardless of
such animosities. He argued that in fact, the GOK had
transferred money to the Palestinians plenty of times in the
past when their relations with Arafat were worse than they
are now. No, according to Dr. Ahmed, the actual reason for
their reluctance was a fear that the Israelis would find a
way to seize or at least freeze any funds they provided for
the PA.


3. (C) The Ambassador said that he understood the history
that might lead to such fears but reiterated that the US had
made good progress in this area recently. The Israelis were
now releasing tax revenues to the PA on schedule. Dr. Ahmed
said that if this was the case, and the US could guarantee
that the Israelis would not seize/freeze the funds, Kuwait
would seriously consider making good on its AL pledge. This
is the answer Dr. Mohammed would give if/when the issue was
raised with him in Washington.


4. (C) COMMENT: While somewhat encouraging, Dr. Ahmed's
response falls well short of a commitment. Indeed, the
Kuwaiti position may be intended to put the ball back into
our court indefinitely, figuring that it will be impossible
for us to provide the requested guarantee. Our skepticism
arises from past discussions with Dr. Mohammed on this topic.
Once before when urged that the GOK meet its Arab League
pledges to the Palestinians, he responded wryly that he found
it interesting that the US was trying to enforce AL
resolutions.
JONES