KUWAITIS DENOUNCE IRAQI MPS' COMMENTS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003446 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA, USUN FOR LAPENN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015 TAGS: PBTS PGOV PREL ASEC IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: KUWAITIS DENOUNCE IRAQI MPS' COMMENTS ON ANNIVERSARY OF INVASION REF: A. KUWAIT 3396 ¶B. KUWAIT 3331 ¶C. KUWAIT 3287 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary and comment: Kuwaiti newspapers reported that Iraqi Shi'a MPs claimed Kuwait destroyed a sand berm on the Iraq-Kuwait border and penetrated Iraqi territory on the 15th anniversary of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. The August 2 comments come one day prior to a previously scheduled visit to Kuwait of an ITG delegation to discuss border issues. The GOK called for moderation and calm in response although some MPs lashed out at their Iraqi counterparts for making such allegations. ¶2. (C) While both sides reportedly intend to resolve the dispute peacefully, the Iraqi comments, and the July 25 attack on Kuwaiti border demarcations by Iraqi civilians (reftels),come at an inopportune time: the National Assembly must still consider Iraqi debt forgiveness along Paris Club terms, the GOK and ITG are working on the details of $60M humanitarian assistance to Iraq, and formal GOK announcement of an ambassador to Iraq is pending. The Government is committed to these measures, but their approval will be difficult if Parliament, which already had reservations about some aid, is further provoked by reckless Iraqi statements and actions regarding an issue with huge historical, political, and emotional content. Embassy recommends that USG public statements be clear and categorical: the border has been set and confirmed by UNSC resolution. Kuwait is fully justified in taking measures to ensure the security of its borders. We encourage dialogue between Kuwaiti and Iraqi authorities to sort out questions related to administration of their mutual border. (Note: There is no rationale whatsoever for any discussion on location of the border, and we should avoid any comments which leave this ambiguous. End note.) End summary and comment. ¶3. (U) Banner headlines in Kuwaiti newspapers on August 3 summarized antagonistic rhetoric from Iraqi parliamentarians accusing Kuwait of destroying a sand berm on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border and penetrating one kilometer inside Iraqi territory. Saddam Hussein propagated a similar charge to defend his invasion of Kuwait 15 years ago to the date. 
Iraqi Shi'a MP Jawad Al-Maliki led the contentious, televised debate August 2 during which he said, according to press reports, that Kuwait has "crossed the border to install oil derricks on our agricultural land, destroyed buildings in Umm Qasr with bulldozers and installed new border demarcations." The conservative Shi'a, and reported number two man in the Al-Jaafari Party, also denounced Kuwait for allegedly violating Iraq's sea and airspace. Fellow Shi'a MP Karim Al-Mahamadwi labeled the supposed Kuwaiti incursion as premeditated. The comments preceded a previously scheduled August 3 visit of Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Haji Hmoud and three MPs to Kuwait to discuss border issues. ¶4. (U) The GOK urged moderation in responses to the Iraqi allegations. The media quoted Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salim Al-Sabah as saying, "Calm is the best approach." Islamist MP Nasser Al-Sane advised his colleagues to "open new communication channels with Iraq MPs to clear any misunderstanding." Muslim Brotherhood MP Mohammed Al-Boussari called the Iraq-Kuwait border "protected and respected according to international agreements." Independent MP Musallam Al-Barrak, however, indirectly reminded Al-Maliki that "without Kuwait's support and effort, which freed (the Iraqis) from Saddam's grip, they would have been tortured and killed by the former dictatorial regime by this time." In the same vein, Islamist MP Faisal Al-Muslallam urged the GOK to immediately end its assistance to Iraq. ¶5. (C) PolChief queried Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director of International Organizations Abdullah Al-Murad on the Iraqi MPs' accusations and the poor timing of their remarks. Al-Murad said the MPs were using the recent border incidents as propaganda. He restated that the Iraq-Kuwait border was properly demarcated and accepted according to UN Security Council Resolution 833, and that it was unfortunate that the MPs were "ignorant" of this decision. He said the barrier pipe was important to the mutual security of Kuwait and Iraq and it was important to the convince the Iraqi people of this fact. Referring to Iraqi farms/homes on the Kuwait side of the border, he accused the farmers of moving into Kuwaiti territory while the border was being demarcated and as a result of the installation of the pipe, their lands now appeared to be divided. Kuwait remained ready to compensate the farmers for their losses and Al-Murad complained that at the time of the border demarcation, the GOK deposited funds with the UN to redress the farmers, which Saddam Hussein squandered. ¶6. (C) Al-Murad emphatically stated, "We will resolve this matter," explaining that MFA and other GOK officials would meet with an ITG delegation later on August 3. He added that MFA Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah would also address the press on the border situation. Responding to PolChief's question about the reaction of Kuwaiti MPs to the statements of their Iraqi counterparts, Al-Murad commented, "The Kuwaiti MPs are no different from the Iraqi," calling them ignorant of international agreements and only interested in "agitating" their constituencies. He called for educating both citizenries on the border and UNSCR 833, and said if there was a "real, central authority" in southern Iraq, it would help to maintain order. ********************************************* 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