(C) ARTICLE 98: FM EXPECTS RECESS-RATIFICATION BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001810 SIPDIS STATE FOR T, L/T, D, PM/B:AMB BODINE AND JPMURRAY, NEA/ARP TEL AVIV FOR DCM LEBARON RIYADH FOR TUELLER TUNIS FOR NATALIE BROWN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2014 TAGS: PREL MARR KJUS KU SUBJECT: (C) ARTICLE 98: FM EXPECTS RECESS-RATIFICATION BY DECREE, SUBJECT TO PARLIAMENTARY CONFIRMATION IN THE FALL REF: KUWAIT 1662 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.4 (B, D). ¶1. (C) Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah told Charge June 7 that the Cabinet had decided June 6 that the Constitution requires ratification of the Article 98 agreement by the National Assembly. As the Assembly is about to recess for the summer, he said he expected the agreement would be ratified by decree during the recess, subject to confirmation by the Assembly after it reconvenes in October. He confirmed that the agreement would be in force from the date of the decree, and would remain in force unless and until the parliament voted it down. ¶2. (C) The Minister said he expected the Assembly to go into recess by the end of June, and in the meantime to be focused solely on debating and adopting the budget. URBANCIC