PM URGES ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAN, SYRIA; CALLS FOR

S E C R E T KUWAIT 003775


DEPT FOR G/TIP, NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER KU
SUBJECT: PM URGES ENGAGEMENT WITH IRAN, SYRIA; CALLS FOR
RETURN OF GUANTANAMO DETAINEES

REF: A. KUWAIT 3699

B. KUWAIT 3585

C. KUWAIT 3580

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


1. (S) Summary: During Ambassador's 30-minute conversation
with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah at Sief Palace August 23, the PM urged the U.S. to
heed his advice and engage Iran and Syria. He provided
updates on GOK progress in counterterrorism and human
trafficking issues. The PM reiterated support for the
Palestinian leadership and discussed Sunni participation in
the Iraqi constitution-drafting process. He also requested
the return of remaining Kuwaiti Gitmo detainees and addressed
a GOK anti-corruption campaign. End summary.

Follow up from PM's U.S. Visit: Iran, Syria
--------------


2. (C) Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad, who spoke in
English with only occasional help from an interpreter,
expressed his pride to have received a warm welcome from the
President, Vice President, Secretary of State and other
Administration officials during his July 1 U.S. visit. First,
the PM reconfirmed his offer made at the White House for
Kuwaiti participation in potential refinery construction in
the U.S. The de facto ruler of Kuwait then discussed letters
he sent to the Iranian and Syrian leaders after his return
from Washington. He began the conversation by stating that
"the region is not stable. ... We need to have stability for
our interests." The PM added that Iran is interfering in
southern Iraq and that the threat of potential Iranian
nuclear weapons is a "big danger for us." In a conciliatory
tone, however, the PM suggested that "we have to talk with
them as friends." Ambassador then asked, "But are they
listening?" to which Sabah Al-Ahmad responded, "I hope so."


3. (C) Regarding new Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
the PM repeated a description he provided to local newspapers
last week, saying that Ahmadinejad's "wisdom will never allow
him to do something" sinister. "Don't blame him," he added,
because during the elections every politician says things
that he does not mean. "You have to keep trying," the PM
urged Ambassador.


4. (C) Turning to Syria, the PM said that during GOK
discussions with President Bashar Al-Asad, Al-Asad said that
he had agreed to comply with any U.S. demands and asked what
more was expected. Shaykh Sabah tasked Foreign Minister
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah to convey that
message during an August 9 meeting with Ambassador (ref C).
To date, the PM stated, and repeated several times, the GOK
has not received feedback from Washington. He urged the U.S.
to provide him additional points to make to Al-Asad.

Strengthening Counterterrorism, Human Trafficking Legislation
-------------- --------------


5. (S/NF) Ambassador praised increased bilateral cooperation
between intelligence agencies on counterterrorism issues in
the past six months but added that Kuwaiti laws need
strengthening to increase penalties and close loopholes in
money laundering/terror finance laws. The PM responded that
terrorists are not against only the U.S. but against the
whole world. Shaykh Sabah was pleased by the enhanced
bilateral cooperation.


6. (C) Regarding trafficking in persons (TIP),Ambassador
highlighted the need for Kuwait to bolster the legal
framework regarding the treatment of domestic workers. The PM
said that some people do not care about other human beings
but that the Government is "serious" about this issue. "You
will see this in the coming months," he reported. With
respect to Kuwait's Tier 3 rating, the worst category in the
annual TIP Report, the PM emphatically stated, "Believe me,
we are not on the bottom." According to the PM, Kuwait sent
two widebody aircraft full of repatriated trafficking
victims, one to Indonesia and one to the Philippines, in

2004. Ambassador noted the need to offer alternatives short
of deportation.

Regional Issues: Palestinians, Iraq
--------------


7. (C) In response to Ambassador's request for the GOK to
expedite donations to the Palestinians, Shaykh Sabah reported
that the GOK transferred funds after the Arab League meeting
in Algeria (ref B). The PM reported that Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently called him to
schedule a visit to Kuwait. The PM said that Abbas is welcome
in the emirate anytime and that further aid would be
discussed at that time. Shaykh Sabah spoke positively of
Abbas but cautioned, "God help him...not from the Israelis
but from the Palestinians."


8. (C) While discussing the new Iraqi constitution, the PM
blamed the news media for fostering negative sentiment
against the Sunnis. He believes the media are
mischaracterizing the Sunnis and are not allowing them to
present their viewpoint. According to the PM, the Iraqi
Sunnis want to accept the new constitution but are afraid. He
said that he is surprised by the number of ex-regime Iraqis
in Jordan, including one of Saddam Hussein's daughters who
plans to launch a satellite news station. The PM added that
Saddam sent a letter for public release via the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) even though they are not
permitted to carry politically-related messages. (Note:
August 21 media reports indicate the note was censored by
detaining authorities prior to delivery to the ICRC. End
note.)

Gitmo: Send the Kuwaitis Home
--------------


9. (S) The PM spoke frankly about the GOK's position
regarding Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo. "I am not happy,"
he said, "that you sent us only one prisoner." Shaykh Sabah
mentioned that multiple detainees had been returned to Saudi
Arabia and other countries, but Kuwait only received one.
Kuwaitis are asking why, he reported, after everything that
Kuwait has done for the U.S (ref A). In his words, the
continued detentions are creating more hatred for the U.S.
among the detainees' family and friends. He urged that the
next four scheduled for release should happen in weeks, not
months. "Send us all of them. We know how to take care of
them," he said.

Priorities for the Fall
--------------

10. (C) When asked about legislative priorities for the fall,
the PM expressed his confidence that the GOK has secured
enough votes to authorize Project Kuwait, a major expansion
of northern oil fields employing foreign companies'
expertise. Ambassador noted the GOK's announcement of a
large-scale anti-corruption campaign. Shaykh Sabah said, "we
want to see where corruption is and stop it." He added that
the Government will follow corruption trails wherever they
may lead.


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LEBARON