(C) GUANTANAMO: GOK SEEKS CLEARANCE FOR LAWYER,

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002152

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/WCI, NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2014
TAGS: PTER KAWC KJUS PREL PHUM PINR KU
SUBJECT: (C) GUANTANAMO: GOK SEEKS CLEARANCE FOR LAWYER,
ASKS ABOUT MOU; SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT LAUDS SUPREME COURT
DECISION

REF: KUWAIT 2120

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES; REASON: 1.4 (B,D)


1. (U) THIS IS REVISED VERSION OF REFTEL, WHICH WAS
INADVERTENTLY SENT INCOMPLETE. Action Request - please see
paragraph 4.


2. (C) Embassy has received two diplomatic notes in Arabic
from MFA Coordination and Follow-Up Department, both marked
"secret." According to the first (number 20041454 dated July
4, 2004),Mr. Ronald Miller of S/WCI told the Kuwaiti Embassy
that the USG is nearly ready to propose to Kuwait an MOU that
would govern the transfer of Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo
to GOK custody. We understand that conversation occurred on
June 28. MFA prefers to receive the draft MOU via the US
Embassy in Kuwait, and requests an update on status of the
draft.


3. (C) The second (number 20041455 dated July 4, 2004)
states that lawyer Abdul-Rahman al-Haroun, appointed by the
families of the Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo, is
determined to travel to Washington, DC and Guantanamo with
the goal of following up on the legal situation of those
detainees in light of the US Supreme Court decision.
Accordingly, MFA requests that the relevant USG authorities
grant Mr. al-Haroun the necessary security clearance (last
two words in English). We have faxed Mr. al-Haroun's
passport and visa information to NEA/ARP.


4. (C) Comment/Action Request: Embassy recommends prompt,
positive response to the GOK. Please provide response to both
dipnotes that we can convey to MFA.


5. (C) In a related conversation on July 6, Speaker of
Parliament Jassem al-Khorafi praised the ongoing steps to
implement the Supreme Court decision to allow Guantanamo
detainees access to legal counsel. Khorafi, who has often
criticized the USG on this issue in the past, told the
Ambassador that the decision, and the USG's prompt compliance
with it, had been well received in Kuwait. He added that
America's reputation as a country founded on the rule of law
had been restored and strengthened. He urged the U.S. to
take maximum advantage of these developments by highlighting
them in its public diplomacy efforts in Kuwait and the region.
MORAN