(C) KUWAITI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON,

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003826

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS AND THEROUX

E.O. 12958: DECL: END OF VISIT
TAGS: PREL OVIP KU
SUBJECT: (C) KUWAITI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON,
D.C.


Classified By: CDA FRANK C. URBANCIC; FOR REASON 1.5 (A)


1. (C) Kuwait Prime Ministerial Counselor Shaykh Fawaz Saud
Nasser Al-Sabah told Charge August 20 that the GoK has just
now begun to nail down details on the visit of Prime Minister
Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Washington.
Delegation will likely consist of the following:

Prime Minister
HH Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Minister of Energy (Oil, Electricity, Water)
HE Shaykh Ahmed Fahed al-Ahmed Al-Sabah

Minister of Information
HE Mohammad Abdullah Abulhasan

Minister of Commerce and Industry
HE Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Taweel

Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs
HE Khalid Jarallah

Director of the Office of the Prime Minister
Ambassador Ahmad Al-Fahad

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior
General Abdullah Al-Faris

Counselor in the Office of the Prime Minister
Shaykh Fawaz Saud Nasser Al-Sabah

Counselor in the Office of the Prime Minister
Mazin Al-Essa


2. (C) Charge emphasized that the US hoped to use the
occasion of the Prime Minister's visit to advance a number of
initiatives in the economic and political relationship. He
suggested that, upon learning the likely composition of the
delegation, the US might propose separate meetings in these
areas for key members of the delegation. Fawaz took this on
board, and replied that the delegation would be pleased to
engage. He requested that the US provide a list of proposed
side meetings and topics as early as possible to allow the
Kuwaiti side to prepare. Charge agreed to pass on this
request.


3. (C) On timing, Fawaz said the GoK intended to announce
the visit after the regular cabinet meeting Sunday morning,
August 24. Charge asked Fawaz to defer this plan until he
had had a chance to confer with Washington. He said the US
preferred a simultaneous announcement which, given the
different weekend schedules in the US and Kuwait, would
likely mean announcement on Monday, August 25. In any case,
there was time to nail this down before either date. Charge
promised to get back to Fawaz with the US preference by
Kuwaiti OOB Saturday, August 23.


4. (C) Action request: Please advise US preferences on
simultaneous announcement, as well as proposed side meetings
for select members of the delegation and topics to be
discussed.
URBANCIC