PRIME MINISTER REQUESTS SECURITY FOR BORDER TEAM;

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001497 SIPDIS FOR SENIOR ADVISER JONES, NEA/ARP, NEA/I, AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2015 TAGS: PREL PBTS KTIA MARR KU IZ UN KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER REQUESTS SECURITY FOR BORDER TEAM; OFFERS PAYMENT FOR "INFILTRATORS" REF: A. 04 KUWAIT 2548 ¶B. LAPENN/DIBBLE/BERNS EMAILS Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During their April 9 meeting, Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah told visiting Senior Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq Policy, Ambassador Richard Jones, that the United Nations had agreed to return to the Kuwait/Iraq border to oversee border pillar maintenance, but would need some help with security from coalition forces. (Note: The Kuwaitis raised this issue at the UN; the UN is obligated to maintain the border by UNSC resolution.) ¶2. (C) On a separate matter along the border, the PM reiterated Kuwaiti willingness to compensate Iraqis who had "infiltrated" into Kuwaiti territory (i.e. those border dwellers whose land claims extended a reasonable distance inside Kuwait) would be financially compensated by the GOK for moving back across the UN demarcated border. (Note: The Kuwaitis have an escrow account with the UN to do this.) ¶3. (C) Comment: That the Prime Minister himself raised these border issues indicates the high level of GOK concern. Post understands that UN representatives have visited the border and documented the vandalism and damage to border pillars. Post recommends that USUN continue to engage the UN on this matter and press for a plan to meet UN obligations. Providing some security support would be desirable, especially given the support Kuwait has provided for coalition forces. ¶4. (U) Baghdad Minimize Considered. LEBARON