(C) TFIZ01: GCC TO MEET 4/15 ON AID TO IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001337 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/NGA, NEA/ARP, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2013 TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF EAID IZ SUBJECT: (C) TFIZ01: GCC TO MEET 4/15 ON AID TO IRAQ REF: STATE 89192 Classified By: (U) AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES; REASON: 1.5 (B,D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GCC Foreign Ministers meeting in Kuwait April 7 expressed support for the security of Kuwait, and affirmed the organization's readiness to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq. The Ministers decided that the GCC will discuss the subject of aid to Iraq in Riyadh on April 15, apparently at Ambassador level. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) PolChief delivered reftel demarche April 8 to MFA Deputy Director for Americas Ayham al-Omar. (Ambassador had previously discussed the UN's Flash Appeal with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed al-Sabah.) Ayham gave a brief readout of the Ministerial, which was an extraordinary session held at Kuwait's request. He also shared the communique, which affirmed the GCC's support for Kuwait and condemned the Iraqi missile attacks on this country. It called for "the international community, represented in the United Nations, to undertake a quick and effective positive move which would safeguard and ensure the futur of Iraq, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the safety of the Iraqis." ¶3. (C) The communique did not specifically mention UAE President Shaykh Zayid's initiative calling on Saddam to step down to avoid war, but Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmed, praised that "courageous" initiative in his speech. ¶4. (C) The communique expressed the willingness of GCC states "to contribute to the extension of the necessary humanitarian support to the Iraqi people and to contribute to anything that would alleviate and ease their sufferings and meet their various humanitarian needs." According to MFA's Department of GCC Affairs, the Ministers decided that the Council will discuss the subject of aid to Iraq in Riyadh next Tuesday, April 15. Our contact thought the meeting would be at Ambassador level. JONES