INTERAGENCY BRIEFING TEAM ON GUANTANAMO ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001078 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/WCI E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015 TAGS: PTER KAWC PINR PREL PGOV PHUM KU SUBJECT: INTERAGENCY BRIEFING TEAM ON GUANTANAMO ISSUES REF: STATE 45507 Classified By: DCM Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Embassy Kuwait would welcome the visit of a senior-level interagency team provided that team is empowered to answer direct questions on the 11 Kuwaitis currently detained at Guantanamo. The Kuwaitis have an active legal team in Washington and are familiar with U.S. policies. They would expect from a visiting delegation detailed information on the crimes allegedly committed by the detainees; prospects for their repatriation to Kuwait, including a discussion of any legal requirements Kuwait would have to satisfy; and why detainees have been returned to other countries in greater numbers than the one detainee released to GOK authorities in January. In addition, they would look for comprehensive information on the four reported Kuwaiti nationals detained in Iraq, specifically the charges against them, whether they will be tried and when, whether they could be transferred to Kuwaiti authorities for prosecution and detention, and an overview of the procedures for notifying governments of the detention of their nationals in Iraq. ¶2. (C) Post would seek to arrange meetings with Ministry of Foreign Affairs office responsible for detainee issues, the Public Prosecutor, Ministry of Defense officials, the National Security Bureau, and Ministry of Interior officials. We would also recommend an exclusive, on-the-record interview with a U.S.-friendly paper. LEBARON