KUWAIT COMMITTED TO ISTANBUL COOPERATION INITIATIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001175

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI - BERNS AND EUR/RPM - SHINAGEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR KU NATO
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COMMITTED TO ISTANBUL COOPERATION INITIATIVE

REF: NATO 171

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


1. (C) During a March 22 meeting with the Ambassador,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for International
Organizations Ambassador Abdullah Ahmed Al-Murad described
the March 18 NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)
meeting as "excellent." He welcomed NATO's outreach to Arab
nations and willingness to examine defense theory and
strategic thinking in a post Cold War and post 9/11
environment. NATO assistance to non-NATO countries and
increased cooperation was needed since today's enemy is often
hidden. He was particularly pleased that conference
participants discussed issues that were germane to Gulf
states, and that the GCC participants were asked for their
views. He was complimentary of Bahraini Crown Prince Shaykh
Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa's opening statement and
considered useful the discussions on Iran's nuclear
aspirations, how terror organizations spread their
philosophies, and promoting a real and comprehensive solution
for the Arab-Israeli conflict. He said the Gulf states
wanted the region to be completely free of WMD -- Israel
included -- and feared if Iran was successful in producing
nuclear weapons, it would turn into another North Korea. He
agreed on the need for identifying terrorists and their
financiers, but added that additional attention needed to be
given to how they disseminate their violent beliefs.


2. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's question about next
steps for the ICI and the Gulf, Al-Murad noted plans for NATO
visits to Gulf states and mentioned the need to bring Saudi
Arabia on board. He said a NATO team would visit Kuwait in
April for talks with the Ministry of Defense and the National
Security Bureau and agreed with the Ambassador's counsel that
the ICI relationship be broad and include all elements of
Kuwait's national security apparatus since political and
defense issues would be addressed.

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LEBARON