KUWAIT CALLS IRAQI PRESIDENT VISIT A SUCCESS:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003768

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN KU IZ
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CALLS IRAQI PRESIDENT VISIT A SUCCESS:
CANDID TALK ON DEBT, OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE AND SHARM
CONFERENCE


Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary/Comment: During a November 2 meeting,
Kuwaiti MFA U/S Ambassador Khaled al-Jarallah gave the
Ambassador a readout of IIG President Ghazi al-Yawar's
October 30 - November 1 visit to Kuwait. Jarallah said the
visit had been "very fruitful," though Yawar had not come
with a specific agenda, and it had set the scene for further
cooperation between the two governments. The two sides
discussed current UNCC compensation levels and Iraqi debt,
with both agreeing the final resolution of the debt issue
should be determined by the Paris Club. On security,
al-Yawar complained Iraq was suffering from interference from
Iran and Syria. He said the IIG had evidence of Iranian and
Syrian involvement in destabilizing activities in Iraq and
planned to present formal complaints to both the GOI and GOJ.
Regarding the planned Regional Conference on Iraq, Yawar
said Iraqis needed to hear that all of Iraq's neighbors,
including Kuwait, were supportive of efforts to move forward
wih the political process. The U/S said the GOK had received
the Egyptian draft of the final communique, and would be
proposing new language on Iraqi debt and adding a
condemnation of Saddam Hussein's regime. Comment: Kuwaiti
officialdom and the press were clearly pleased with
Al-Yawar's performance and words during his visit to Kuwait,
and according to al-Jarallah, al-Yawar felt at home in
Kuwait. Ambassador also heard good reviews of the visit from
the Minister of Public Works, who is a member of the same
tribe (Shammar) as al Yawar, and who said that al Yawar told
him he planned to run in the January elections. End
Summary/Comment.

Elections to be on Time; Syria and Iran Interfering in Iraq
-------------- --------------


2. (C) MFA Undersecretary Khaled al-Jarallah told the
Ambassador on November 2 that the GOK had been pleased with
the "very fruitful" 3-day visit of IIG President Shaykh
Ghazi al-Yawar, from October 30 - November 1. Jarallah said
Yawar reassured Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Sabah that elections would
occur in January 2005, despite the lack of security currently
plaguing the country. Speaking specifically of the situation
in Fallujah, Yawar said some Sunnis were "finding it
difficult to accept the new Iraq, and are trying to prevent
any positive developments." He lamented that convincing
newly trained security forces to remain engaged in this
environment was difficult. In addition, the IIG had evidence
that both Syria and Iran were interfering in Iraq, and had
decided it would confront both countries' governments with
the evidence. Yawar added that pressure brought to bear on
Syria by the United States only seemed to make things worse
for Iraqis. Jarallah said Yawar had not raised his
opposition to military operations in Fallujah, as reported in
the press, but had rather seemed in favor of tough actions.

Resolving Bilateral Issues: Progress on Debt and Power
-------------- --------------


3. (C) On bilateral issues, Yawar said the current 5% level
for UNCC payments was fair and manageable to both sides.
Regarding debt owed Kuwait by Iraq, he said he had confidence
that "brotherly Kuwait" would "cooperate positively" as the
issue was deliberated within the confines of the Paris Club
structure. In return, the PM said Kuwait would look
seriously at mutually amenable ways to solve the debt issue.


4. (C) Jarallah said al-Yawar and Shaykh Sabah created
various subcommittees to the joint Prime Ministerial
Committee which was established during IIG Prime Minister
Iyad Allawi's July 31 visit. He said both governments were
looking forward to using this mechanism to resolve
differences. In this vein, he added, the GOK had officially
decided it would build a power station near its northern
border to assist Iraq with its power needs. (Note: This
proposal has been in the works since Spring 2003, but has not
been implemented. End Note.)

Regional Conference on Iraq
--------------


5. (C) Yawar said participation by Iraq's neighbors in the
upcoming Regional Conference on Iraq would be crucial for the
Iraqi people, who need to be reassured of international
support in order to maintain their committment ot the
political process. Jarallah told the Ambassador that Kuwait
was very pleased that the conference would include the G-8,
as the message to the world would be that the situation in
Iraq was not just a regional problem, but one for the entire
international community. He said that Kuwait had rejected
the notion -- raised to him by the Russian Ambassador -- that
non-governmental actors should be participants in the
conference.

Kuwait Seeks Final Communique Changes
--------------


6. (C) Jarallah said the GOK had received a copy of the draft
final communique from Egypt, and would be proposing a few
changes. Specifically, Kuwait was not happy with the draft
language on Iraqi debt, and would seek to utilize UNSCR
language that would be "acceptable to all." He asked for USG
support for this position. Additionally, he said Kuwait
would propose the communique include language condemning the
killing of POWs and other crimes committed by Saddam
Hussein's regime.

Local Press Reaction
--------------


7. (SBU) Overall, Jarallah characterized the visit of
President al-Yawar, the first of an Iraqi President in over
four decades, as a success with which both sides were
pleased. Local dailes lauded the visit, and reported the
following developments, based on press interviews with
al-Yawar:

-- Yawar affirmed Iraq will honor the
internationally-demarcated border with Kuwait.

-- He publicly reaffirmed Kuwait has always been supportive
of Iraqi people.

-- He confirmed Iraq was considering appointing an Ambassador
to Kuwait, and would work with the GOK in this effort.

-- He said that a military assault was the wrong way to end
the standoff in Fallujah, and criticized the coalition for
its management of the crisis.

-- He reaffirmed Iraq's committment to equality and the rule
of law.


8. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered.

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LeBaron