FM EXPRESSES CONTINUED CONCERN OVER KUWAIT-IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003565

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: FM EXPRESSES CONTINUED CONCERN OVER KUWAIT-IRAQ
BORDER, REQUESTS SATELLITE IMAGERY

REF: A. KUWAIT 3523

B. KUWAIT 3446

C. KUWAIT 3396

D. KUWAIT 3331 (NOTAL)

E. KUWAIT 3287 (NOTAL)

F. 04 KUWAIT 4426

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Contrary to recent local press reports
declaring the border issue with Iraq "finalized" (ref A),
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah was
privately more pessimistic in a meeting with the Ambassador
August 9. While he was glad "the ITG chose the proper
channels" to solve the dispute, the FM was skeptical that the
border issue was fully resolved given ongoing problems in
Iraq. The FM expressed concern that Iraqi PM Ibrahim
Al-Jaafari's successors would not react as diplomatically to
a future border crisis. FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed admitted that
the head of an Iraqi "fact finding" delegation, Khaled
Al-Attiya, said "all the right things" during his visit to
Kuwait, but he questioned whether Al-Attiya's views were
representative or authoritative. Emphasizing the need for
greater UN involvement, the FM said the UN had responded
positively to a GOK request for a UN team to maintain the
border as stipulated in UN Security Council Resolution
(UNSCR) 833 (well before the recent events). He asked for
the U.S. to expedite a UN request for updated satellite
imagery of the border, as promised by Deputy Secretary of
Defense England when he met with the FM in Washington in May.
End summary.

Doubts Border Issue Resolved
--------------


2. (C) Despite Kuwaiti press reports heralding a "New
chapter in relations between Iraq and Kuwait," the FM doubted
that the border issue was completely resolved given ongoing
problems in Iraq. While praising PM Al-Jaafari's handling of
the border issue, FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed was concerned that
his successors may not react the same way. The FM found
recent statements by some Iraqi MPs to be "worrisome," adding
that elements of Iraqi society want to "take us back to
square one." He commented that denying the validity of UNSCR
833 "flies against everything we - Kuwait and the U.S. - have
worked for." He continued, "This is not the new Iraq we
hoped for. This isn't even the old Iraq; it is an uglier
version."


3. (C) The FM said he was "surprised" by Iraqi ignorance
about the border, which was clearly demarcated by UNSCR 833.
An Iraqi "fact finding" delegation in Kuwait to discuss the
border seemed surprised that pillars along the border were
not moved by Kuwait, he commented. After a visit to the
border, the delegation concluded that the barrier being
installed by Kuwait was on Kuwaiti territory, and that Kuwait
was not trying to "grab" Iraqi land or steal Iraqi oil.
Kuwait must do more to educate Iraqis about the border, the
FM said.


4. (C) Asked by the Ambassador about the optimistic comments
of Khaled Al-Attiya, FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed admitted he said
"all the right things" during the Iraqi delegation's trip,
but pointed out that Al-Attiya was a "lightweight" who did
not represent any Iraqi political party. "He speaks for
himself," the FM said, doubting that Al-Attiya's views were
necessarily representative of all Iraqi political parties and
factions. The Iraqi delegation left Kuwait August 9 after
spending six days in the country.


5. (C) FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed told the Ambassador that he
raised his concerns with Al-Jaafari, who understood the GOK's
position and was committed to resolving the issue peacefully.
The FM hoped for an apology from the Iraqi MPs responsible
for recent inflammatory statements, but they have shown no
remorse, he said. "This is a very serious issue," the FM
remarked. FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed expressed concern that
future Iraqi leaders might not handle another border crisis
as diplomatically as PM Al-Jaafari.

UN Team Requested
--------------


6. (C) FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed emphasized the importance of a
UN role along the border. He reminded the Ambassador that
Kuwait had some time ago requested a UN team to maintain the
borders (ref F),as provided for under UNSCR 833. The UN
responded "positively" to the Kuwaiti request and formed a
preliminary team, he reported. According to the FM, the GOK
has already paid its share of the UN team's financial costs
and is now waiting for the ITG to pay. The Iraqis need to
see UN blue helmets or technical expert equivalents along the
border to demonstrate that Kuwait is not encroaching on Iraqi
territory, the FM argued.

Request for Satellite Imagery
--------------


7. (C) The FM requested that the U.S. expedite its response
to the UN request for updated satellite imagery of the
border. FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said he raised the issue with
the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Secretary Rice during his
May trip to Washington. U.S. assistance was vital for the UN
team to do its job, he emphasized. (Note: Embassy is working
this issue with OMC-K and requests an expedited CENTCOM
response. End note.)

Acting NA Speaker Expresses Similar Concerns
--------------


8. (C) Acting National Assembly Speaker Mohammed Jassem
Al-Sager echoed the FM's concerns in a separate meeting with
the Ambassador August 9. The border was going to continue to
be a problem, Al-Sager said. He blamed the GOK for not doing
more to educate the Iraqi people about the border after the
fall of Saddam Hussein. He also criticized Kuwaiti media and
some MPs (ref A) for inflaming the issue claiming their
"irresponsible" criticisms of Iraq hurt Kuwaiti-Iraqi
bilateral relations.


9. (U) Basrah minimize considered.

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