SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: KUWAITI OPINION ON IRANIAN

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002893

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KISL PHUM PINR KU
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: KUWAITI OPINION ON IRANIAN
ELECTIONS


1. Summary: The election of Iranian president-elect Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad has stirred unease among Kuwaiti observers.
While few voices predict Iranian foreign policy will
substantially change under the new president, the perceived
continuation of the status quo has prompted calls for GCC
unity and warnings of possible confrontation. Writing in
pro-government daily Al-Anba, Columnist and Media Advisor
to the Prime Minister Sami Al-Nisif wrote, "This may bode
for a heated confrontation in an already tense region,
where a barrel of oil may eventually reach the hundred-
dollar mark." End summary.


2. Writing in pro-government daily Al-Anba on June 25,
Columnist and Media Advisor to the Prime Minister Sami Al-
Nisif wrote, "Competition in the Iranian elections is black
and white, represented by Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani, with
no gray which represents real openness toward the world and
neighbors. The outcome will result in limited change of
Iran's policy toward Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, the Gulf
counties, and the nuclear file and not least toward the
International community. This may bode for a heated
confrontation in an already tense region, where a barrel of
oil may eventually reach the hundred-dollar mark."


3. Writing in pro-government daily Al-Anba on June 26,
Columnist Salah Al-Sayer wrote, "There is an Arabic
saying: when a wolf howls, scared sheep stick together.
After reformists gained power in Iran, and after the fall
of the Ba'ath regime in Iraq which put an end to Saddam's
crazy adventures, the GCC countries were beset by weakness.
The collective 'dream' no longer became a common goal. The
Free Trade Agreements signed with the United States, in
addition to pending border disputes within the GCC
countries, further weakened this regional entity. However,
the result of the Iranian elections, which have brought
conservative hardliners back to executive power, may in
turn scare the region into uniting once again just as the
saying goes."


4. Writing in independent daily Al-Qabas on June 27,
Liberal Columnist Fuad Al-Hashem wrote, "A female Iranian
citizen responded to a news agency, that the new [Iranian]
president would impose on them a Taliban regime. Another
citizen commented that the new president would deal with
his people similar to the way the Khmer Rouge treated
Cambodians. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not in need of
an ultra-conservative leader at this particular juncture.
It is in need of a man like Rafsanjani. I don't believe
the Iranian people played any role in delivering the
'mayor' to the seat of power, given that around a million
Iranian soldiers and revolutionary guards received orders
from the highest echelons of power to vote for Ahmadinejad.
I fully concur with the opinion of the Iranian opposition
abroad, that the results of this election are disastrous
for this current regime."


5. Writing in Arabic daily Al-Qabas on June 27,
Conservative Former MP Dr. Abdel Muhsin Yousef Jamal wrote:
"Iran today is facing a forceful line-up of nations,
represented by the United States, France, England and
Germany, whose aim is to prevent Iran from utilizing
nuclear power albeit for peaceful purposes. Despite
western media attempts to classify candidates as
conservative and reformist, people have chosen the
candidate who spoke to them about their domestic concerns
and not to the outside world. That is why President
Ahmadinejad won. His policy will focus on domestic issues
greatly, such as elevating living standards and fighting
corruption. However, no changes are anticipated on the
foreign policy arena, particularly the nuclear file. Iran
has the support of most world counties, except the United
States and Israel."

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