PRIME MINISTER HOSTS FIRST OFFICIAL RAMADAN DINNER

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004729

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KWMN KU
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER HOSTS FIRST OFFICIAL RAMADAN DINNER
FOR WOMEN

REF: A. KUWAIT 2924

B. KUWAIT 2900


1. (U) On October 31 Prime Minster Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosted a 'Ghabqa' traditional Ramadan late
night dinner for a group of Kuwaiti women, marking the first
time an official dinner has been held for women by the Prime
Minister. The Ghabqa was held at the Prime Minister's
residence, Dar Salwa, with press, female ruling family
members, and leading Kuwaiti female professionals in
attendance. Attendees were effusive in their praise for the
event, many saying that it marked the opening of a chapter in
government-to-women dialogue which they had long sought. The
PM said that the Amir's leadership was responsible for
allowing women to take part in the political process and that
he was grateful to be able to host such an event, coming on
the heels of the historic May 16 decision to grant women
their full political rights.


2. (SBU) The Prime Minister invited almost 100 women to the
event, although a handful of men were also included. The
evening celebrated women's accomplishments. Female ruling
family members, including two of the PM's granddaughters,
stood in the receiving line next to the PM as the guests made
their entrance. Islamists and moderates as well as veiled and
uncovered women, among them princesses, engineers, writers,
lawyers, artists, entrepreneurs, activists, academics,
journalists mingled as the PM shook each and every hand. The
dinner itself lasted over an hour and was marked by the PM's
informal chatting with his guests. Several of his guests
later told the Political Assistant that they "felt as if he
(the PM) was like their father."


3. (U) Among the attendees were Shaykha Amthal Al-Ahmad, the
Amir's full sister and the Chairperson of the Voluntary
Action Committee, which coordinates volunteer groups within
Kuwait. Shaykha Hussa Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah,
the Crown Prince's daughter also attended. She was joined by
recently appointed Minister of Planning and Minister of State
for Administrative Affairs Dr. Ma'souma Al-Mubarak, who
thanked the Prime Minister for the dinner, stating that it
signaled "the great attention that the Kuwaiti leadership
grants to women." Also included were Fatima Al-Sabah, one of
the two recently appointed members of the Municipal Council,
and Sarah Al-Duwaisan, a former undersecretary in the
Ministry of Planning.


4. (U) Other notables in attendance included Lulwa Al-Mulla,
Secretary General of the Women's Cultural Society; Suad

SIPDIS
Abdullah, a leading Kuwaiti actress; Bibi Al-Marzouk,
editor-in-chief of Al-Anba newspaper; Suad Al-Humaidi,
economist; Fawzia Al-Baher, Municipal Council member and
engineer; Mariam Al-Saleh, artist; Maha Al-Barges, Human
Rights Society board member; Dr. Farida Al-Habib, Head of
Cardiology at the Military Hospital and the PM's physician;
and Dr. Haila Al-Mekaimi, political science professor at
Kuwait University.

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