KUWAITIS NEAR UNANIMOUS IN PRAISE OF IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000416

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KISL KU IZ
SUBJECT: KUWAITIS NEAR UNANIMOUS IN PRAISE OF IRAQI
ELECTIONS

REF: KUWAIT 00404

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary and Comment: All Kuwaiti dailies hailed the
January 30 elections in Iraq as a success. Several
rank-and-file Kuwaitis unanimously characterized the
elections to PolOff as legitimate and historic, and in
separate discussions, Kuwaiti banking executives told the
Ambassador that the elections represented a positive
development for Iraq. Although there are likely to be some
Islamists who feel the Iraqi Sunnis were marginalized during
the electoral process, most saw the election as an
unquestionable success. Some conservative Sunnis, still wary
of a Shi'a controlled Iraq however, will continue to closely
watch the constitutional process unfold to see that an Iraqi
constitution protects the rights of Sunnis. End Summary and
Comment.


2. (SBU) During January 31 conversations with PolOff, several
rank-and-file Kuwaitis at the National Assembly all
independently agreed that the elections in Iraq were a
success and signaled the start of a new era in Iraq. The
Kuwaitis with whom PolOff spoke ranged from liberals to
Muslim Brotherhood Islamists. All agreed that the elections
were legitimate and marked a great success for the Iraqis.
One Sunni Muslim Brotherhood office director, who was
sympathetic to Iraqi Sunnis who opposed it, did agree that
the election was legitimate and hoped the new Iraqi National
Assembly would draft a fair constitution that protected the
basic rights of all Iraqis. Many other Kuwaitis, mostly
liberal, publicly announced their praise and support for the
elections:

- Liberal Shia Al-Watan columnist Khalil Haider called the
elections a turning point in the history of Arab democracy.

- Newspaper editor-in-chief of English-language Arab Times
and Arabic-language Al-Seyassah Ahmed Al-Jarallah described
the election success saying the courage of the Iraqis led to
the defeat of terrorism.

- Dr. Moudi Al-Amoud, President of Arab Open University and a
prominent Kuwaiti academic/activist, congratulated the U.S.
on the success of the elections during a meeting with the
Ambassador. She said the pictures of Iraqis voting after so
many years of repression were moving. She said she
monitored the reaction of several Arab satellite stations the
night before the election and then the night of the vote.
The stories on the eve of the election were very negative,
while many of the channels clearly didn't know what to say in
the face of the obvious success of the vote the next day.


3. (C) During separate January 31 meetings with the
Ambassador, Chairman of the Bank of Kuwait and the Middle
East Hamad Al-Marzouq and Chairman of the Commercial Bank of
Kuwait Abdulmajeed Al-Shatti said they saw the Iraqi
elections as a positive development and one which they hoped
would lead to an improved security situation in Iraq. (Note:
Both banks are exploring business opportunities in Iraq and
are hoping to open branches or initiate joint ventures. End
Note.) Al-Marzouq expressed concern over possible Shi'a
political domination, adding that a continued U.S. presence
in Iraq would provide a check on Shi'a power and possible
Iranian influence. Al-Shatti described the Iraqi elections
as a "good thing" which "brought tears to (his) eyes."


5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

*********************************************
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