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