FM REPORTS ON GCC GOODWILL TOUR, SAYS GOK OPPOSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002551 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015 TAGS: PREL PHUM EPET PBTS PGOV KU KGCC SUBJECT: FM REPORTS ON GCC GOODWILL TOUR, SAYS GOK OPPOSES HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND REASSERTS SUPPORT FOR ABU MAZEN REF: MANAMA 812 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: During a June 8 meeting, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed told the Ambassador he had been asked to visit Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE to calm the waters between these GCC states and identify areas for cooperation with fellow GCC member Saudi Arabia. He reported progress on some "first step" specific projects including a proposed gas pipeline between Kuwait and Qatar through Saudi territory. He said PM Shaykh Sabah would discuss GCC relations with the SAG during a June 11 visit to Saudi Arabia. The Ambassador also raised TIP issues, stressing that only concrete actions would prompt a change in Kuwait's rank. The FM said the GOK took the report seriously and had already identified areas for immediate action. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed also informed the Ambassador that Mahmoud Abbas would visit Kuwait June 14 and the PM would restate Kuwait's support for him. End Summary. Kuwait: The GCC Mediator -------------- ¶2. (C) During a June 8 meeting on regional and bilateral issues, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah briefed the Ambassador on his June 5-6 goodwill trip to GCC states Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. As he had advised the Ambassador earlier (and confirmed by reftel),the Kuwaitis were asked to try to improve relations between Saudi Arabia and the three small GCC states. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said that because of "friction" he had visited and identified areas for cooperation at the lowest common level. He described the Qatari-Saudi disagreement as very complex and said he pressed for agreement on one "small" issue having no long-term significance for their bilateral relationship: approval for a Kuwait-Qatar gas pipeline to transit Saudi territorial waters. He said UAE problems with Saudi Arabia were largely related to the Sheba oil field, a quarter of which was located in Emirati territory and which the UAE was forbidden to tap. The Foreign Minister also told the Ambassador that Saudi Arabia has a coastal border extending ten kilometers into the Gulf thereby blocking construction of a bridge between the UAE and Qatar. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed will seek Saudi approval to move ahead with the bridge (causeway). (Note: This proposal was not entirely clear to us. Embassy Abu Dhabi will liked be more familiar with it. End note.) Shaykh Dr. Mohammed added that Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah would travel to Riyadh on June 11 to further discuss relations between GCC states and the SAG and promote conciliatory measures. GOK Shares U.S. Concerns about Human Trafficking -------------- --- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador also raised the June 3 release of the 2005 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, advising the Minister that the citing of a close ally like Kuwait in the TIP report signaled the importance the U.S. placed on eliminating human trafficking. He said the goal of the report was not to embarrass or penalize Kuwait, but rather to identify problems and encourage their rapid solution. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed replied that the GOK took the report seriously and discussed it at the June 5 Council of Ministers of meeting where ministers identified areas they could quickly address. He said the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) was preparing a response to the report, which the FM said exaggerated the situation and failed to recognize existing government and non-government labor and human rights oversight bodies. He continued that MOSAL would take immediate action on the jockey issue and would work with the Ministry of Interior to establish minimum employment standards for domestic employees who are not covered by the labor law. The Ambassador said he welcomed MOSAL views on TIP, but advised that practical steps, not new reports or more committees, would be the measure of progress. He further suggested the GOK consult with the ILO and the International Organization for Migration on setting fair labor standards. GOK Restates Support for Abu Mazen -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador and Shaykh Dr. Mohammed also briefly discussed Israeli disengagement from Gaza and the need to support the peace process. The FM said that Mahmoud Abbas would visit Kuwait on June 13 as part of his Gulf tour and would meet with the Prime Minister. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed clearly stated, "We will support him." ********************************************* 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