SHARM EL-SHEIKH DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOK HOPES FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003397

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL KSUM KWBG KU
SUBJECT: SHARM EL-SHEIKH DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GOK HOPES FOR
REAL COOPERATION AND SERIOUS ACTION

REF: STATE 141247

Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In response to reftel demarche delivered
July 31 by the Charge d'Affairs (CDA),Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah said terrorism and
Iraq will be the main topics discussed at the August 3
summit. Al-Jarallah remarked that Arab rhetoric was not
enough: Arab states needed to do more to combat terrorism and
to support the political process in Iraq. He hoped the
summit would adopt concrete measures to address both issues.
Regarding Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,
Al-Jarallah anticipated an Arab League (AL) communique
welcoming Israel's "positive step," but emphasizing Israel
needed to do more. Al-Jarallah criticized Syria's border
closure with Lebanon saying the Lebanese people were
suffering as a result. Kuwait was also responding positively
to a Lebanese request for the provision of diesel fuel,
Al-Jarallah said, noting that the GOK was ready to support
any summit proposal for additional aid to the country. He
did not comment on demarche points on reform. End summary.

Terrorism
--------------


2. (C) CDA delivered reftel demarche July 31 to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah.
Al-Jarallah said the primary topic of the summit would be
terrorism. He said Mubarak's calling of the summit showed
his recognition of the seriousness of the threat of terrorism
to the region. "We have to do something as the Arab World,
as the Arab League, regarding the critical situation. Arab
countries need real cooperation and serious action,"
Al-Jarallah commented.

Iraq
--------------


3. (C) The summit presented an excellent opportunity to
discuss reconstruction in Iraq and to make a firm Arab
commitment to the Iraqi political process, Al-Jarallah said.
Noting that Arab pledges of support to Iraq have so far
lacked substance, he said Arab countries needed to more
concretely support the political process in Iraq. The
mechanism for delivering on pledges was not moving, he
stated. Iraq was still having problems providing basic
services. While Kuwait was providing daily electricity and
fuel to Iraq, Al-Jarallah expressed hope that other Arab
countries would help meet Iraq's basic services needs.
Al-Jarallah predicted Iraq would also request Arab countries
put more pressure on Syria to stop the flow of terrorists and
materials into Iraq.

Syria-Lebanon
--------------


4. (C) Al-Jarallah criticized Syria's closure of its border
with Lebanon saying the action was intended to prevent
Lebanese tribes from crossing the border, despite Syrian
claims to the contrary. The GOK supported Lebanese efforts
to solve its internal political problems, he said, adding
that the GOK recently received a request from the GOL to
provide the country with diesel fuel. The Kuwaiti Minister
of Energy and the Lebanese Minister of Oil were currently
working on a deal, which Al-Jarallah anticipated would be
made soon.

Israel and the Gaza Withdrawal
--------------


5. (SBU) Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip
was a "turning point" in the Middle East peace process,
Al-Jarallah said; however, it was not enough. He predicted
the AL would issue a communique welcoming the Gaza
withdrawal, but calling on Israel to do more. Al-Jarallah
added that a rapprochement between Kuwait and Israel was
unlikely before a peace agreement was signed between Israel
and a Palestinian state responsible for its own security.
Noting that Kuwait has delivered on its promises of aid to
the Palestinians, Al-Jarallah said the GOK would support any
summit proposals for additional aid.

Somalia: Another Possible Summit Issue
--------------


6. (C) Al-Jarallah said another topic that may be discussed
at the AL Summit was the situation is Somalia. "We do not
want an Afghanistan in Africa," he added. Al-Jarallah asked
for U.S. help and said the EU also needed to have a role,
without elaborating. The Arab world needed to do something
for the government and people of Somalia, he concluded.
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