UPDATE ON CWC HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT WITH KUWAIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003263 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI AND AC; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2015 TAGS: PARM MARR PGOV PREL KU SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CWC HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT WITH KUWAIT REF: A. BROWN/HANLINE E-MAIL DATED 7/12/05 ¶B. STATE 81767 ¶C. 04 STATE 199661 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1. 4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (C) PolChief met July 24 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legal Department Director Ghanim Al-Ghanim to discuss progress toward concluding a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with Kuwait on Challenge Inspections. Al-Ghanim reported that his office had compared the text provided ref c to previously negotiated language and found no significant changes. He said the Defense Ministry had also reviewed the agreement and, in principle, found it to be acceptable. Nevertheless, the GOK requested, orally and by diplomatic note, additional information before it could agree to an exchange of notes. Commenting that it was "difficult to be the first one to sign," Al-Ghanim asked for an update on the status of negotiations with other GCC countries. The GOK is also interested in knowing why discussions on the HCA stalled in 2002. ¶3. (C) Action requested: Ref b reports that no HCAs have been concluded with Middle East countries and advised post of the possible autumn travel of a delegation to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. Please provide information, releasable to Kuwait, on the status of HCA discussions with these countries and whether other GCC states will be approached. Post would also appreciate background, again releasable to Kuwait, on why HCA discussions stalled in 2002 and the importance of immediately concluding an agreement. ********************************************* 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 ********************************************* TUELLER