C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003127

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015
TAGS: PBTS PREL IR KU IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI PM ON KUWAIT BORDER INCIDENTS

REF: A. KUWAIT 3287

B. KUWAIT 3331

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In two meetings on July 26 , Prime Minister Ibrahim
Jafari raised with the Ambassador the increased tension
between Kuwait and Iraq. The PM has received reports from
Iraqi officials that Kuwaitis penetrated 25 kilometers into
the no-man's land between Iraq and Kuwait. He said the
incursion into the territory (still disputed since the 1990-1
Gulf War) is related to water rights. (Comment. the latest
MNF-I reporting suggests the disputed territory is actually
only a few dozen meters. End comment.)


2. (C) Jafari claimed that about 800-900 Iraqis demonstrated
against this alleged Kuwaiti incursion. The PM reported that
the Kuwaitis, angered by the demonstrations, are considering
stopping oil shipments to Iraq. Jafari nonetheless claimed
that the Kuwaiti PM promised him this would not occur.


3. (C) Jafari is concerned that these alleged reports portray
Iraq as weak, and could serve to undermine the Coalition, if
it does not respond appropriately. This, in Jafari's
thinking, would bolster the anti-Coalition insurgency.


4. (C) The Ambassador promised Jafari to review the latest
information with U.S. military and intelligence personnel and
report back to him.


5. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.
Khalilzad