SHAYKH JABER RECEIVES AMBASSADOR,S CREDENTIALS

S E C R E T KUWAIT 003525

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2007
TAGS: PREL PINR KU
SUBJECT: SHAYKH JABER RECEIVES AMBASSADOR,S CREDENTIALS


Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron. Reasons 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) In a quick, well-choreographed October 12 ceremony,
the Ambassador presented his credentials to Shaykh Jaber at
the Amiri Diwan. The Ambassadors from Japan, Azerbaijan, and
Canada presented credentials in succession before the Amir
received the Ambassador and the six senior members of the
U.S. Mission. After presentation of the letters and
introduction of mission staff to the Amir, the three-minute
conversation over coffee with the Amir was somewhat
perfunctory, with the Amir offering, in almost a whisper, a
warm welcome and commenting that there could be no better
relations than those between Kuwait and the United States.
The Ambassador pledged to do whatever possible to improve
already strong ties with Kuwait, mentioning work towards a
free trade agreement, and a deeper dialogue on security and
terrorism. The Ambassador ended the meeting, on cue from the
protocol officer, by expressing his early best wishes for
Ramadan. Among the attendees on the Kuwaiti side were
Minister for the Amiri Diwan Shaykh Nasser and Foreign
Minister Shaykh Mohamed.


2. (S/NF) HEALTH OBSERVATIONS: We were told by officials
around the Amir that he is strongest early in the morning and
then tires quickly. (The four credentials ceremonies started
at 8 am and were over by 9:15.) At the meeting today, the
Amir,s gaze was steady, but his overall physical weakness
was obvious. However, he stood to receive the Ambassador and
the Embassy staff, and there was no evidence of the trembling
that accompanies Parkinson,s. He looked stronger to the DCM
than he had at the airport upon his recent return from New
York and Geneva, and one of the protocol officers opined in
the same vein that the Amir looked better than he had in
another recent appearance.

LeBaron