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.
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