GOK (REALLY) READY TO SIGN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002455

SIPDIS

STATE FOR U/S BOLTON
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU
SUBJECT: GOK (REALLY) READY TO SIGN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

REF: A. STATE 146573 B. KUWAIT 2297

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The GOK will be ready to sign an Article 98
Agreement with the U.S. when U/S Bolton visits Kuwait this
month, MinState for Foreign Affairs told the Ambassador
during their June 4 meeting. End Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador met with Minister of State Shaykh Dr.
Mohammed al-Sabah on June 4 to discuss Ref. A's follow-up to
A/S Bloomfield's May 27 meeting with Dr. Mohammed and Kuwaiti
Ambassador Salim Al Sabah's May 29 meeting with U/S Bolton
(Ref B). Although the GOK had raised additional concerns
over the text of Ref A's counter-proposal during a meeting
between the DCM and the MFA Legal Department Director the
previous day, Shaykh Dr. Mohammed assured the Ambassador that
all such issues had been resolved during his morning briefing
with the Legal Department and the GOK was ready to accept
U.S. counter-proposal as presented.


3. (C) Dr. Mohammed said the GOK will be ready to sign the
agreement during U/S Bolton's planned visit to Kuwait this
month, and confirmed that the agreement could enter into
effect through the exchange of Diplomatic Notes. Embassy
will obtain and forward a GOK-provided Arabic translation of
the agreement for Department conformance as soon as possible.
JONES