ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004844

SIPDIS

STATE FOR T, PM/B, NEA/FO, NEA/ARP
DOD FOR OSD/ISA/NESA
NSC FOR THEROUX

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM KU
SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT UPDATE

REF: A. KUWAIT 02538


B. STATE 146573

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.5(b) and (d).

(C) In a meeting October 22 with MFA Undersecretary Khaled
Al-Jarallah, Ambassador reiterated the USG desire to see
rapid progress on the Article 98 agreement with Kuwait.
Ambassador asked Al-Jarallah when the GOK intends to present
the agreement to the National Assembly for ratification (as
the GOK deems necessary) and how long the process is likely
to take. Al-Jarallah informed that the GOK plans to present
the Article 98 agreement along with several other
international agreements to the National Assembly within the
next two months for ratification (i.e., post-Ramadan).
Ambassador stressed that final USG approval of Major Non-Nato
Ally status for Kuwait could be influenced by GOK movement on
this issue.
JONES