Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KUWAIT3903
2005-08-30 14:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ISOLATING SYRIA AT THE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003903
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SY LE KU UNGA UN
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ISOLATING SYRIA AT THE
UNGA; KUWAIT-LEBANON GAS DEAL CONCLUDED
REF: SECSTATE 159137
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Isolating Syria at the UNGA
----------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003903
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SY LE KU UNGA UN
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ISOLATING SYRIA AT THE
UNGA; KUWAIT-LEBANON GAS DEAL CONCLUDED
REF: SECSTATE 159137
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Isolating Syria at the UNGA
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche August 30 in
a meeting with Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah. He urged Kuwait to avoid playing into
Syrian attempts to burnish its image at the UNGA, absent
progress on key issues of regional stability. Shaykh Dr.
Mohammed acknowledged the U.S. request, but did not indicate
if he would comply.
Kuwait-Lebanon Gas Deal Concluded
--------------
2. (C) Shaykh Dr. Mohammed told the Ambassador that the
three-year gas-oil deal between Kuwait and Lebanon, signed by
Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on August 29 in Kuwait,
would save Lebanon between 70 million and 100 million USD.
The deal was a boon to Lebanon, which could not buy gas-oil
at market prices since it was deemed a credit risk, the FM
said, adding that Lebanon would no longer be at the mercy of
the Lebanon "oil mafia." When asked if Lebanon would receive
oil at a concessionary price, the FM said no, but that the
gas-oil (mazout) would be priced at international oil company
prices, and would come from Kuwaiti plants in Europe. The
savings would come from eliminating middle men.
3. (C) The FM reported that PM Siniora told him during the
PM's recent trip to Kuwait that the truck companies affected
by Syrian border closures with Lebanon were owned primarily
by Arabs from countries other than Lebanon, including Saudi
Arabia, but that small produce growers in Lebanon were being
hurt. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed added that PM Siniora had told him
Syria promised to lift the ban, with no time frame specified.
*********************************************
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
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SY LE KU UNGA UN
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ISOLATING SYRIA AT THE
UNGA; KUWAIT-LEBANON GAS DEAL CONCLUDED
REF: SECSTATE 159137
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Isolating Syria at the UNGA
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche August 30 in
a meeting with Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah. He urged Kuwait to avoid playing into
Syrian attempts to burnish its image at the UNGA, absent
progress on key issues of regional stability. Shaykh Dr.
Mohammed acknowledged the U.S. request, but did not indicate
if he would comply.
Kuwait-Lebanon Gas Deal Concluded
--------------
2. (C) Shaykh Dr. Mohammed told the Ambassador that the
three-year gas-oil deal between Kuwait and Lebanon, signed by
Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on August 29 in Kuwait,
would save Lebanon between 70 million and 100 million USD.
The deal was a boon to Lebanon, which could not buy gas-oil
at market prices since it was deemed a credit risk, the FM
said, adding that Lebanon would no longer be at the mercy of
the Lebanon "oil mafia." When asked if Lebanon would receive
oil at a concessionary price, the FM said no, but that the
gas-oil (mazout) would be priced at international oil company
prices, and would come from Kuwaiti plants in Europe. The
savings would come from eliminating middle men.
3. (C) The FM reported that PM Siniora told him during the
PM's recent trip to Kuwait that the truck companies affected
by Syrian border closures with Lebanon were owned primarily
by Arabs from countries other than Lebanon, including Saudi
Arabia, but that small produce growers in Lebanon were being
hurt. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed added that PM Siniora had told him
Syria promised to lift the ban, with no time frame specified.
*********************************************
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