TFUS01: MINISTER SAYS GOK WAS OBLIGED TO HELP,

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004029 SIPDIS ALSO FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV US KU AMER KATRINA AID SUBJECT: TFUS01: MINISTER SAYS GOK WAS OBLIGED TO HELP, FUNDAMENTALIST WRITINGS DO NOT REFLECT VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY REF: A. KUWAIT 4019 ¶B. KUWAIT 3970 ¶C. KUWAIT 3961 ¶D. KUWAIT 3960 ¶E. KUWAIT 3957 ¶F. KUWAIT 3947 ¶G. STATE 163405 During a September 12 meeting with Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Faisal Al-Hajji, the Ambassador again conveyed deep appreciation for Kuwait's generous donation of $500 million for hurricane Katrina relief efforts. He noted it was one of the most generous contributions made and said Americans were grateful for the support. Al-Hajji replied that Kuwait had a responsibility to help the U.S. and despite the editorials of a few fundamentalists, whom he said did not even have the support of their organizations, most Kuwaitis sympathized with Americans affected by the storm and backed the GOK decision to offer assistance. ********************************************* 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