(C) IRAQ: GOK SAYS SAUDIS RELUCTANT TO COMMIT

S E C R E T KUWAIT 004682

SIPDIS

STATE FOR E:U/S LARSON
STATE FOR NEA:RRAPHEL, NEA/FO, NEA/NGA, NEA/ARP
SECDEF FOR COMPTROLLER ZAKHEIM
TREASURY FOR U/S TAYLOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2013
TAGS: PREL EAID IZ SA KU
SUBJECT: (C) IRAQ: GOK SAYS SAUDIS RELUCTANT TO COMMIT
SPECIFIC FUNDING AT MADRID

Classified By: AMB. RICHARD H. JONES; REASON 1.5 (B, D)


1. (S) SUMMARY: GOK insider confides that Saudi Arabia is
reluctant to commit specific funding for Iraq at the Madrid
conference. Kuwaiti PM and FM intend to revisit the issue
with Saudi counterparts on the margins of the OIC Summit.
GOK urges USG to push the Saudis hard in the next few days,
preferably by direct approach to the Crown Prince from our
highest levels. GOK also says major Iraqi tribes (Jabur,
Dulaimi) that cooperated with Saddam now want to work with
the USG and desire direct engagement with suitable US
representative. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) NEA PDAS Larocco called on Shaykh Sabah al-Khalid
al-Hamad al-Sabah, Chairman of Kuwait's National Security
Bureau, October 13, during a brief visit to Kuwait. This
message reports what Shaykh Sabah al-Khalid (protect
throughout) had to say about Iraq (other topics septels).


3. (S) MADRID: According to Sabah al-Khalid, after the four
key donor countries in the GCC (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait,
and UAE) had agreed to take a joint GCC approach at the
Madrid donors conference on Iraq, the Saudis became very
reluctant to commit any specific funding due to the lack of a
UNSCR and the lack of a legitimate Iraqi leadership. Prime
Minister Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah fears that a
weak GCC pledge of support will be very harmful to the GCC
and to Iraq. The Prime Minister personally gave orders,
after his meeting with President Bush September 10, that the
GOK fully support the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC). In an
"extraordinary gesture" he even met with Ahmad Chalabi in New
York. The GOK has met with most other IGC members, hosting
Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim as recently as October 12. On the PM's
instructions, the Kuwaiti delegation to the OIC has given
full support to the IGC despite pressure from host Malaysia.
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah
departed for Kuala Lumpur last night (October 12),and the
Prime Minister leaves tonight. Dr. Mohammed will meet with
Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Feisal, then the Prime Minister will
meet with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who is expected to
attend the OIC Summit. (NOTE: FM Dr. Mohammed is expected
to represent Kuwait at the Madrid Conference. END NOTE.)


4. (S) Sabah al-Khalid urged the USG to push the Saudis very
hard in the next few days, as the Saudi position will be
critical for other GCC states. He advised that the best
approach would be directly to Crown Prince Abdullah from our
highest levels.


5. (C) ENGAGE THE TRIBES: Sabah al-Khalid said Kuwait was
very concerned that the US seemed to lack a Sunni policy in
Iraq. Major Iraqi tribes, the Dulaimi and Jabur, recently
contacted the GOK to say they did not understand why the US
was not working closely with them. They acknowledged that
they had supported Saddam, but insisted that had been a
matter of survival. They were now more than willing to work
with the US, and asked that the USG send a suitable
representative to meet with them as soon as possible. The
GOK strongly endorsed this request.


6. (U) Ambassador Larocco was the source of this message,
but did not have time to clear the cable itself.


7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
JONES