IRAQI FM HOSHYAR ZEBARI VISIT TO KUWAIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003949 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID IZ KU SUBJECT: IRAQI FM HOSHYAR ZEBARI VISIT TO KUWAIT REF: A. KUWAIT 3948 ¶B. KUWAIT 3900 ¶C. KUWAIT 3851 ¶D. KUWAIT 1460 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a September 5 meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Head of International Organizations Ambassador Abdullah Al-Murad commented on the August 31 visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to Kuwait. (Note: Al-Murad attended the meeting and lunch hosted by the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister. End note.) The two main issues discussed during Zebari's visit were the Iraqi Constitution and bilateral relations, specifically Kuwaiti aid to Iraq. Al-Murad confirmed media reports that the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) would open an embassy in Kuwait "in a month." Kuwait and Iraq also agreed to establish a joint committee to oversee relations between the two countries. End summary. Iraqi Constitution Concerns; Predicting More Violence -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Commenting on the August 31 visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to Kuwait, MFA official Al-Murad said the trip was "very private;" FM Zebari only met and lunched with FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and his staff. One of the primary issues discussed was the draft Iraqi Constitution. Al-Murad said FM Zebari believed neither Sunni opposition to nor Kurdish support for the constitution was universal. FM Zebari explained that Sunnis objected primarily to the issue of federalism, which some of them believed threatened to divide the country into three states and exclude the predominantly Sunni region from oil resources. FM Zebari was optimistic that the constitutional referendum would be approved, expressing doubt that Sunni oppositionists, which FM Zebari characterized as remnants of the former regime, had enough votes to defeat the referendum in three provinces. Al-Murad commented, however, that a lot can happen between now and October 15. The Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. was doing everything it can to keep the Sunnis in the political process and address their needs regarding the constitution. ¶3. (C) Al-Murad said FM Zebari predicted violence would increase before the October 15 referendum, but expressed hope that, if approved, the referendum would provide greater political legitimacy to the Iraqi government. The insurgents' strategy was to continue attacking civilian targets in the hope of destabilizing the ITG and pressuring the U.S. to withdraw its troops, FM Zebari said. Al-Murad also reported that FM Zebari was "very furious" about the comments of Amre Moussa questioning lack of provisions in the constitution on Iraq's Arab identity. ¶4. (C) Al-Murad mentioned that FM Zebari appeared distracted during his visit, which coincided with the tragic bridge stampede in Baghdad on August 31, which killed hundreds of Shi'a pilgrims. "FM Zebari's mind was in Iraq," Al-Murad said. Kuwait Gives Aid; Iraq Gives Embassy -------------- ¶5. (C) Regarding bilateral relations, Al-Murad said FM Zebari had asked for reconstruction aid, which, according to Al-Murad, Kuwait was ready to disperse. FM Zebari suggested Kuwait give aid to southern Iraq, which was "quieter" and "closer" and as a "gesture of solidarity" with southern Iraqis. ¶6. (C) Al-Murad confirmed that Iraq would re-establish its embassy in Kuwait "in a month." Different Iraqi groups were "fighting to get their man" appointed ambassador to Kuwait, Al-Murad commented. He dismissed reports that Faeq Al Shaykh Ali would be named (ref D). Asked if Kuwait would reciprocate diplomatic representation, Al-Murad said "it is difficult for Kuwait to have an ambassador in Iraq." He added that Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ali Al-Mumin was often in Iraq essentially fulfilling the functions of ambassador, implying Kuwait was content with the current arrangement. (Note: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Al-Mumin was previously mentioned as a candidate for the job of Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq. End note.) ¶7. (C) Kuwait sent $10 million (USD) to Iraq to aid victims of the tragic stampede on August 31 (ref A),Al-Murad said; $5 million went directly to "the Iraqi people," and $5 million went to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. Al-Murad also reported that Iraqi Planning Minister Saleh would visit Kuwait in the next several weeks (ref B). Joint Committee to Be Established -------------- ¶8. (C) Although not mentioned by Al-Murad during the meeting, an MFA official told the Ambassador after the meeting that FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed and FM Zebari agreed to establish a joint committee to oversee all aspects of Kuwait-Iraq relations. (Note: This committee is different from the bilateral committee proposed by FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed to oversee border maintenance (ref C). End note.) They did not discuss details of the new committee. ¶9. (C) Comment: Despite the recent difficulties on the Kuwait/Iraq border, both sides seem satisfied with the state of their bilateral relations, not the case for other Sunni neighbors of Iraq. FM Zebari gave a press interview in Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas in Kuwait which tracked closely with Al-Murad's read-out. End comment. ********************************************* 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