Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KUWAIT180
2004-01-18 11:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

NEA A/S BURNS'S MEETING WITH FM, JANUARY 14

Tags:  PREL MARR ETRD ECON KU IZ FR SY YM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000180 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA,NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD ECON KU IZ FR SY YM
SUBJECT: NEA A/S BURNS'S MEETING WITH FM, JANUARY 14

Classified By: CDA Frank Urbancic for reasons 1.4 b,d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000180

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA,NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD ECON KU IZ FR SY YM
SUBJECT: NEA A/S BURNS'S MEETING WITH FM, JANUARY 14

Classified By: CDA Frank Urbancic for reasons 1.4 b,d


1. (C) SUMMARY: NEA Assistant Secretary Burns met with
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah
on the evening of 14 January 2003. In a wide-ranging
discussion, the Minister expressed great satisfaction about
developments in Iraq but insisted that any final decisions
must wait until a legitimate Iraqi Government is formed. He
called for a speedy clarification of the AIK fuel issue. END
SUMMARY


2. (C) Dr. Mohammed began the discussion by mentioning that
he had recently attended the Sanaa Inter-Governmental
Regional Conference on Democracy, Human Rights and the Role
of the International Criminal Court. He noted that the
absence of the US at the conference was conspicuous. A/S
Burns remarked that he did not believe that the US had been
invited to the regional conference and added that the US
definitely encourages these types of events. A/S Burns
insisted that the region must help address the problems in
Yemen as he noted the marked contrast between the city of
Sanaa and the tribal areas where the Yemeni Government has
little control. He explained that one of the biggest
challenges for President Saleh is that Yemeni security
problems cannot be disconnected from the economic problems.
Dr. Mohammed stated that while the recent GCC summit
reconfirmed members' commitment to work with Yemen, there was
no way that Yemen would be accepted as a member. He jokingly
mentioned that Iraq is considered a more acceptable candidate
for membership. (COMMENT: The way he said it did not/not
suggest Iraq stood any chance either. END COMMENT).

Thanking Kuwait
--------------


3. (C) A/S Burns then explained that the main purpose of the
meeting was to convey the enormous appreciation the US has
for Kuwait and to highlight the importance of the US-Kuwaiti
relationship. He mentioned that Iraq would not be free if it
were not for the efforts of Kuwait. A/S Burns explained that

the meeting represented an excellent opportunity to consult
on Iraqi developments but that other bilateral issues should
also be dealt with.

French Interests
--------------


4. (C) Dr. Mohammed stated that he had just hosted French
Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who had raised the
need for an international conference on Iraq. The French,
according to Dr. Mohammed, thought that the US should be
gradually transferring power to the Iraqis before the 30 June
official transition of authority. A/S Burns responded that
the USG is very serious about the transition process and
thought that the French proposal was a false argument. He
explained that the US is transferring power now and offered
the example that many Iraqi ministers have much more power
today than even a few months ago. He intimated, however,
that there must be a military coalition presence in Iraq for
some time to come. (NOTE: Dr. Mohammed was clearly not
supportive of the French proposal. END NOTE)


5. (C) A/S Burns said that a big conference on Iraq was not
necessary. What is more important, he relayed to Dr.
Mohammed, are building-blocks of support such as the Madrid
Donors' conference, a regional neighbors' conference, and
possibly another UN resolution, at an appropriate point, to
codify solid international support.


6. (C) The French Foreign Minister had also told Dr. Mohammed
that there is a need to re-engineer the security structure in
the Gulf; that the threat from Saddam, Iran, and Syria is
gone and there should be new ideas of what the international
community should do to make the region more stable. Dr.
Mohammed said that what the French had in mind was UNSCR 598,
Article 8 and that De Villepin wanted to find a way to inject
French ideas into the region. Dr. Mohammed asked if this was
something new or if the French were just trying to annoy the
US, as he had not heard these views before. Burns remarked
that he had heard similarly vague talk about regional
security restructuring from the French and stated that the
issue has been discussed ever since the liberation of Kuwait.
He said that what is essential is GCC security interests and
what GCC members can do to help create a stable security
structure in the Gulf.

Wait For Sovereign Government
--------------


7. (C) Dr. Mohammed said the recent GCC summit covered
relatively little political ground and focused primarily on
educational reform. He had found it very refreshing to focus
on more social policy issues. He stressed the need to
withhold any security or political judgments until a
legitimate Iraqi Government is formed. He remarked that
Kuwait does not want to change anything and is content with
the security arrangement that exists. He then expressed his
appreciation for the November 15 Agreement establishing a
timetable for transferring sovereignty to the Iraqi people.
He said this was something to be applauded and shared that
there is much optimism for the plan.


8. (C) Dr. Mohammed asked about the issue of federalism in
Iraq. He said that while it means many things to many
people, he had noticed that the Turks expressed some concern
over it. He intimated that Kuwait is just trying to
anticipate the contentious issues. A/S Burns assured Dr.
Mohammed that the US will discuss this issue with Kuwait in
more detail after the Turkish Prime Minister,s upcoming
visit to Washington. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Washington Salem
Al-Sabah said he would follow up with NEA.


9. (C) A/S Burns stated that the transitional administrative
law is not meant to be the final word and that time was
needed to prepare a permanent constitution. He emphasized
the importance of a formula that reinforces stability and
Iraq's unity. Burns remarked that he is impressed by the
general commitment by the Kurds,the Shia, and the Sunni Arabs
to supporting Iraq,s unified future.


10. (C) Dr. Mohammed criticized recent statements from INC
official Mudhar Shawkat who called for Kuwait to allow Iraq
to lease the islands of Warbah and Bubiyan for use as
seaports. The Foreign Minister remarked that it was not the
time to be confronting these issues, that such statements
were not advisable, and that the region must wait for a
legitimate Iraqi Government. On the issue of debt, Burns
noted to the Foreign Minister that James Baker would be
coming to Kuwait soon and that the US considers debt
reduction to be extremely important to the stable future we
both seek for Iraq.


The Sistani Factor
--------------


11. (C) Dr. Mohammed candidly asked whether the US considers
Iran a source of concern. Burns replied that it is a
concern, but that the Iranians have apparently not made up
their minds what to do with a new Iraq. The Kuwaiti Minister
agreed, stating that the Iranians do not see emerging in Iraq
anything they are absolutely against, and that they cannot
seem to galvanize their people against the US. He remarked
that many recently contentious issues, such as the call for
an Islamic state in Iraq, and Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani,s
calls for elections have quieted down. As for Kuwait, Dr.
Mohammed said he is "delighted to have the United States as a
neighbor."


12. (C) A/S Burns remarked that Sistani has not wanted to
meet with US officials and asked Dr. Mohammed if he had any
thoughts on Sistani,s role and his approach to the political
process in Iraq. Dr. Mohammed, offering his personal view,
said he was perplexed about Sistani,s call for elections
because "it doesn,t jibe with his record of staying above
the fray." He speculated that Sistani is being pressured to
take this position and that maybe he is trying to carve out a
role for himself in the new Iraq. Dr. Mohammed opined that
Sistani would not remain aloof from the political situation
there but that his recent statements reduce him from a
religious figure to merely another political entity.

Syria
--------------


13. (C) The Minister claimed that remnants of the Iraqi Baath
party were trying to establish themselves in Syria. A/S
Burns inquired about the Syrian view of the region. Dr.
Mohammed stated that the Syrians are not happy with the Syria
Accountability Act and they expressed surprise when the
Kuwaitis did not raise the issue with them in recent
meetings---in keeping with the perception that the Kuwaitis
do the bidding of the US in the region. The Syrian Baath
party, he pointed out, is beginning to strike out some
Baathist rhetoric "indicating that change might translate to
Syria also." He told Burns that the Syrian political
situation did appear to be changing and related the story of
Kuwaiti hunters who had obtained personal permission to hunt
there from the Syrian Minister of Defense. Syrian Interior
Ministry officials, who apparently did not respect the
signature of the Defense Minister, apprehended the hunters
and tore up their hunting permits.

Bilateral Issues
--------------


14. (C) Moving to bilateral issues, Burns stated that the
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) would soon be
signed; this was another way the US could help Kuwait more in
the direction of economic modernization and reform. On the
issue of Trafficking in Persons he pointed out that the
Embassy was working with the Government of Kuwait (GOK) on
ideas to ensure that Kuwait as a society is pointed in a
healthy direction. He also mentioned the importance of
Article 98, the necessity for a secure border, and US support
for compensation claims in the UN Security Council. Burns
also shared that an announcement was forthcoming on Kuwait,s
status as a Major Non-NATO Ally and that the US would consult
with Kuwait on how best to publicize it as a means of
highlighting the significance we attach to our relationship.


15. (C) Dr. Mohammed expressed concern that the Minister of
Finance was under attack in the Parliament over his running
of the ministry and emphasized that he needs a clear
commitment and a working agreement on AIK to keep it from
becoming an issue in the Parliament. He specifically needs
to know how much fuel is needed and for how long it will be
required. Burns explained that the US looks forward to
working through this issue and assured Dr. Mohammed that the
US understands the GOK need for predictability.


16. (C) Dr. Mohammed, in closing, mentioned that Kuwait looks
forward to signing the TIFA and proudly announced that
foreign banks and investment institutions can now open
business in Kuwait. He then shared that he intends to travel
to the US sometime in April or May.


17. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.


18. (U) Assistant Secretary Burns has cleared this message.

URBANCIC