(S) OIF FUEL ISSUE: GOK INVITES COMMERCIAL

S E C R E T KUWAIT 002072

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR EPET EAID MOPS IZ KU
SUBJECT: (S) OIF FUEL ISSUE: GOK INVITES COMMERCIAL
CONTRACT

REF: KUWAIT 2018

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES; FOR REASONS 1.4 (A, B, D)


1. (S) Further to the conversation reported reftel, Embassy
has received a diplomatic note from the MFA Americas Dept.
(number 20041488 dated July 7, 2004),in Arabic, marked
"Urgent and Secret." Informal Embassy translation follows:

BEGIN TEXT:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its best compliments
to the Embassy of the United States of America, and with
reference to the amounts consequent upon the State of
Kuwait's provision of fuel to the American forces, and after
the meeting held between His Excellency the Undersecretary of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and His Excellency the
Ambassador of the United States of AMERICA on Wednesday, June
30, 2004 regarding the referenced subject,

This Ministry is pleased to inform the esteemed Embassy that
the Government of the State of Kuwait, in appreciation for
the great role played by the United States of AMERICA in
Iraq, has decided not to request the amounts consequent upon
the State of Kuwait's provision of fuel to the American
forces up to the date of transfer of authority to the Iraqis.

After the transfer of authority to the Iraqis, we assess that
the presence of the American forces and their stay in Iraq
springs from the desire of the Iraqi authority, upon which
falls the duty to provide all types of facilitation and
support for that presence, including the provision of the
necessary fuel for these forces.

For its part, the Ministry assures that the State of Kuwait
is prepared, if the American forces wish the continuation of
the provision of fuel, to conclude a contract between the two
parties arranging the matter on a commercial basis.

(Complimentary closing)

END TEXT.


2. (U) Baghdad Minimize considered.
JONES