GOK REMOVES BAN ON THIRD-COUNTRY DRIVERS TO IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003590



SIPDIS



E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2014

TAGS: PK, IN, IZ, MOPS, ELAB, PREL

SUBJECT: GOK REMOVES BAN ON THIRD-COUNTRY DRIVERS TO IRAQ



REF: A. SECSTATE 223266

B. KUWAIT 03547



Classified By: Ambassador LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (d)



1. (C) In an October 18 meeting with Foreign Minister Shaykh

Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the Ambassador told

the FM that coalition forces rely on Kuwaiti companies being

able to employ third country nationals to drive to Iraq and

that driver bans severely complicate supply efforts for the

multinational force. The Ambassador said that Post has been

in touch with and has asked the concerned embassies to talk

to their citizens to inform them that those who choose to

work will be protected and treated properly.



2. (C) The FM agreed that the ban "cannot continue," and

asked for a letter from the Ambassador saying that coalition

forces are doing their best to ensure security for the

drivers. He said that he needed that commitment in writing,

"to prove that I've dealt with their concerns." (Text at

para 5.) He added that the GOK might also have the drivers

sign disclaimer letter saying that they were not coerced into

driving into Iraq by the trucking companies.



3. (C) The Foreign Minister's Chief of Protocol called DCM

on October 20 to say he met October 19 with the Indian,

Filipino and Pakistani Ambassadors to tell them Kuwait would

not enforce any driver bans, and that the decision has been

disseminated within the GOK. The Chief of Protocol asked

that the U.S. military take particular care to ensure that

drivers working for subcontractors have proper Kuwaiti work

visas. He said that Post should meet with the various

embassies to advise them of "what they should do," and DCM

promised we would remain in touch with driver embassies to

answer any questions.



4. (SBU) As of October 20, no Pakistani drivers had been

stopped at the border, according to CFLCC Brigadier General

Johnson. Also on October 20, the prime vendor contractor for

supply of coalition forces, PWC, reported that it had been

given a message that the MFA had instructed the MOI that all

restrictions had been lifted on any nationalities going to

Iraq. PWC confirmed this by successfully sending Filipino,

Indian and Nepalese drivers into Iraq on October 19 and 20.



5. (SBU) Per the FM's request, the following letter was

developed with CFLCC and sent by the Ambassador:



Text of October 19 Letter

--------------



Your Excellency:



I am writing in follow up to our meeting yesterday in which

we discussed the measures the U.S. Government has taken to

provide for the safety and security of all foreign personnel

working in our common mission of support for Operation Iraqi

Freedom.



As part of the U.S. Embassy's continuing efforts to address

concerns about the safety and well-being of foreign nationals

working for U.S. military contractors, I would like to

provide you the enclosed list of measures that the U.S.

military has taken to protect all foreign nationals employed

by our contractors. This list was provided to me by Major

General Gary D. Speer, Deputy Commanding General, Coalition

Forces Land Component Command. This list has previously been

provided to a number of diplomatic missions in Kuwait whose

nationals have been involved in transport into Iraq.



These actions are intended to rectify shortcomings that some

countries have identified in meetings with the U.S. Embassy

and military. You will note that we require that U.S.

military contractors in Kuwait extend applicability of

Kuwaiti labor protections to their employees while in Iraq.



In addition to the established compensation benefits and

employee identification measures outlined by General Speer,

our military has undertaken several new convoy security

measures. For example, we now require a minimum of one armed

military escort vehicle for every ten civilian convoy

vehicles with additional escorts if the threat analysis

dictates. All civilian drivers receive the same level of

security protection, access to medical support, and use of

convoy rest facilities that are provided to U.S. military

escorts and drivers accompanying the convoys.



As we also discussed yesterday, an early agreement on the

border memorandum of understanding now under discussion

between our governments would facilitate the collection of

affidavits from foreign national drivers attesting to their

understanding of the risks involved in their service and the

benefits outlined in the enclosed list of measures.



We would like to note that since April, when military convoy

security procedures were upgraded to ensure that foreign

national drivers travel only with armed escorts, no foreign

nationals employed by U.S. military contractors have been

kidnapped in Iraq while part of a U.S. military convoy.

Brigadier General William Johnson, Commander, 143rd TRANSCOM,

the parent unit for enforcement of these security and safety

procedures, informs me that he is prepared to brief you, your

staff and any other concerned authorities at a time of your

convenience regarding his operations.



I trust this information will be helpful to you. I am at

your disposal for any additional information or

clarifications you may require.



Sincerely,

Richard LeBaron

Ambassador



End text of letter.

LeBaron