KUWAIT NO LONGER WILL PERMIT ENTRY OF IRAQIS

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003969

SIPDIS

NEA FOR NEA/NGA AND NEA/ARP
CA FOR CA/VO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS KU IZ
SUBJECT: KUWAIT NO LONGER WILL PERMIT ENTRY OF IRAQIS
WITHOUT VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS


1. On August 26, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr.
Mohammed al-Sabah told Charge that Kuwait would no longer
permit the entry of Iraqis who do not have valid travel
documents. Kuwaiti law requires that all aliens entering the
country have valid passports. In recent weeks, several USG
sponsored Iraqi travelers transiting Kuwait enroute to the
United States have not had valid passports. The Kuwaitis
authorized entry in those cases, but with obvious and
increasing discomfort.


2. The Charge informed a Ministry representative today
that the Coalition Provisional Authority does not issue
travel documents at this time. He asked whether the ban on
entry by Iraqis without valid travel documents applied to
members of the Iraqi Governing Council (GC),noting that two
GC members wish to enter Kuwait in mid-September enroute to
a conference in Washington and do not have valid passports.
The Ministry representative requested the names and agreed
to look into the matter.


3. COMMENT. Kuwait's decision to no longer permit entry of
Iraqis without valid travel documents is the most recent
manifestation of the country's concern about the security of
its borders and the integrity of its customs and immigration
procedures vis--vis Iraq. We will report the Ministry's
response concerning GC members without travel documents as
soon as it is received. END COMMENT.

URBANCIC