Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KUWAIT1131
2005-03-19 13:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAIT DEMARCHE ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT DELIVERED

Tags:  PREL PGOV EAID SY IS IZ KU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001131 

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID SY IS IZ KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT DELIVERED

REF: A. STATE 45505

B. KUWAIT 942

C. STATE 31746

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001131

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID SY IS IZ KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT DELIVERED

REF: A. STATE 45505

B. KUWAIT 942

C. STATE 31746

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


1. (SBU) Ambassador raised reftel points with Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Khaled Al-Jarallah on March

19. Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem
Al-Sabah had already departed for Algiers to prepare for the
arrival of Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, who will head the Kuwaiti delegation to the Arab
League summit.


2. (C) The Ambassador stressed the U.S. is serious about
the full withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence service
personnel from Lebanon in accordance with UNSC 1559. He said
the Lebanese people must be free of intimidation, especially
in the run up to parliamentary elections. Al-Jarallah
expressed concern about general Syrian interference in the
region, but with regard to Lebanon, was more troubled about
the role of Hizballah. He said Hizballah was playing a dirty
role in Lebanon and the region, and would continue to create
problems in Beirut and southern areas. He described
Hizballah as difficult to contain, and recommended that some
thought be given to integrating Hizballah's fighters into the
Lebanese Army. He was critical of Hassan Nasrallah's
statements and said Hizballah was prepared to play an
extremely negative role in Lebanon if it felt it faced an
internal and/or external threat.


3. (C) On Israeli-Palestinian issues, the Ambassador
explained the presence of Lieutenant General Ward in the
region and spoke about the importance of promoting political,
economic, and security stability. He also asked Al-Jarallah
for an update on Kuwait's assistance to the Palestinian
people. Al-Jarallah reported that in the past week, the GOK
transferred USD 40 million to the PA, thus fulfilling the
pledge made at the Beirut summit. Al-Jarallah said the funds
were sent to the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cairo where they will be
transferred into PA accounts. Al-Jarallah also said that 2
years ago, the GOK honored a PA request for USD 45 million.
There were no immediate plans for other financial assistance,
but he expected new commitments may come out of the Algiers
summit.


4. (C) Commenting on the return of the Egyptian and
Jordanian ambassadors to Tel Aviv, the Ambassador encouraged
Kuwait to consider ways to open a dialog with Israel.
Al-Jarallah replied it was difficult to normalize relations
with Israel when a lasting peace seemed elusive. He noted
that the PA requested the GOK use the normalization of
relations as a bargaining tactic with Israel. The Ambassador
also encouraged the GOK support a diplomatic conference on
bringing Magen David Adom into Red Cross/Red Crescent
Movement and left ref C points with the Under Secretary.


5. (C) The Ambassador and Al-Jarallah also discussed the
March 16 meeting of the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly,
the importance of Iraqi sovereignty in the formation of its
government, and the need for neighboring countries to
normalize relations with the ITG.


5. (U) Baghdad: Minimize considered.
LEBARON