MEDIA REACTION: AMIR'S HEALTH, FOREIGN MINISTER

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002199

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, PA, INR/R/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OIIP PGOV KMDR XF KU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: AMIR'S HEALTH, FOREIGN MINISTER
VISITS WASHINGTON


1. Summary: Kuwaiti media reported on the visit of the
Amir, Shaykh Jabir Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to the United States
for "pre-planned" medical check-ups with assurances that
the Amir's health was good. All Newspapers reprinted the
Kuwait News Agency's (http://www.kuna.net.kw ) reports on
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Al-Sabah's meetings
with Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rice. Most
headlines focused on the granting of full political rights
for Kuwaiti women and the strong relationship between the
U.S. and Kuwait. End summary.

"A Great Step"
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2. Al-Qabas (Arabic-language daily, circ. 65,000),May
22, 2005, p.4: Kuwait is determined to continue its reform
plans: "the United States is pleased with Kuwait's decision
to give women their full political rights," quoting Vice
President Cheney.


3. Al-Anba (Arabic-language daily, circ. 40,000) front-
page headline on May 23, 2005: Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed
[Kuwait's Prime Minister]: The Amir is in good health; he
will soon come back to us safe; Women's rights were not
imposed from the outside; No one tells us what to do. The
Prime Minister was quoted as saying: "I would like to tell
everyone that our Amir's health is very well. Kuwaiti
women got their rights in a democratic process which
reflected the wish of HRH Amir Sabah, and the public's will
translated that wish into reality."


4. Al-Anba (Arabic-language daily, circ. 40,000) front-page
headline on May 22, 2005: Cheney: Giving Kuwaiti women
their full rights was done through pure internal will: "The
U.S. Vice President Cheney told me [FM Shaykh Muhammad]
that the decision [women's rights] was a great step,
because it was an exclusive Kuwaiti initiative." Speaking
to an audience of more than 1,300 people at the World
Economic Forum in Jordan, First-Lady Laura Bush also
congratulated Kuwait on its achievement on women's rights."

"Committed to continuing our reform plans"
--------------


5. Al-Watan (Arabic-language daily, circ. 65,000),May 21,
2005, p. 4: Muhammad Al-Sabah, "We are committed to
continue political and economic reforms in our country":
Secretary Rice told reporters that negotiations with Shaykh

SIPDIS
Muhammad Al-Sabah were excellent. She said that Kuwait and
the U.S. share a strong friendship. The U.S. Secretary of
State reiterated the United State's appreciation of the
decision to grant women their full political rights.


LEBARON