Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
03KUWAIT4709 | 2003-10-15 13:59:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Kuwait |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004709 |
1. (C) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: The French Ambassador hosted a meeting October 13 of embassy representatives of G8 countries and Switzerland, as part of worldwide consultations in preparation for the November 17 second meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) created during the G8 Summit in Evian earlier this year. Consensus of participants was that the Kuwaiti political leadership understands the need to combat terrorism (including terrorist financing), but is less strong on effective follow-through. END SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION. 2. (C) At the invitation of French Ambassador Claude Losguardi, representatives of the local embassies of all G8 countries and Switzerland met October 13. Australia would have been invited too, but has no embassy in Kuwait. The meeting, which Losguardi chaired, was part of worldwide consultations in preparation for the second meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) created during the G8 Summit in Evian earlier this year, which is set for November 17. Pol Chief attended for the US Embassy; except for Russia, all the other countries were represented by their Ambassadors. 3. (C) Losguardi noted that after the November 17 meeting, the chair of the CTAG will pass from France to the US. He said the transition is being coordinated closely between Paris and Washington. 4. (C) COUNTER-TERRORISM CONVENTIONS: Losguardi reviewed the status of international conventions against terrorism: Kuwait is a party to seven of the twelve. He cited MFA Director of International Organizations Affairs Amb. Abdulhamid al-Awadhi as saying Kuwait accepts four of the other five, but has concerns about the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism due to its definition of terrorism that includes national liberation movements. These concerns are especially strong among some members of the National Assembly. There has been no progress on ratification over the summer, but none was expected, as the National Assembly was not in session. (NOTE: Kuwait had general elections in July, and the new Assembly will convene October 20. END NOTE.) However, Losguardi argued, the GOK is taking actions, even unpopular ones, such as removing unauthorized charity kiosks, which prompted accusations that the Government was attacking one of the pillars of Islam (alms-giving). 5. (C) WHERE THERE'S A WILL: Losguardi invited assessments of Kuwait's performance in the war against terrorism. UK Ambassador Christopher Wilton said the political will exists at the top, the question is whether the GOK will be determined enough to push ahead despite opposition in parliament. Losguardi agreed, noting that two-thirds of current MPs are Islamist or tribalist, or both. He recommended continually reminding the GOK of the importance of sustained effort against all facets of terrorism. Several participants commented that, as a general matter, the GOK is not known for strong bureaucratic follow-through, especially on technically complex matters (money-laundering, e.g.). The Russian representative remarked that when Russia closed down branches of major Kuwaiti Islamic charities (Revival of Islamic Heritage Society and Social Reform Society), the GOK kept asking for proof of wrong-doing but did not seem keen on seeking proof. He added that sharing evidence could be problematic, as much of it comes from intelligence sources. 6. (C) BORDER SECURITY: Turning to border security, Wilton said the Kuwaitis have good physical security, awareness and staffing on the border with Iraq; the other side of that border is more problematic, and the Saudi border is "porous." In relation to Saudi Arabia, Losguardi remarked that a visiting member of the Iraqi Governing Council, Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, had made a statement which he interpreted as a veiled accusation of Saudi/Wahhabi involvement in the car-bombing that killed his brother, Ayatullah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim. German Ambassador Werner Daum said he had heard the Kuwaitis complain that they had too few resources on the border, now that the UN Iraq Kuwait Observation Mission UNIKOM was gone. 7. (C) ITALIAN VISIT: Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Prati announced that his Undersecretary of Finance would visit Kuwait soon, and that occasion would be used to underscore to the GOK the need to sustain efforts against terrorism. JONES |