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. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON