KUWAITI FM TO CAIRO TO CONSULT ON RECONCILIATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004774

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2015
TAGS: PREL KU IZ
SUBJECT: KUWAITI FM TO CAIRO TO CONSULT ON RECONCILIATION
CONFERENCE; OFFER SUPPORT TO SUNNI MODERATES

REF: STATE 207921

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) In a brief aside at luncheon on 15 November, Kuwaiti
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem
Al-Sabah told the Ambassador he would travel to Cairo on
Saturday to be present for some of the preparatory work for
the Iraqi reconciliation conference. He said he expected
that some of the senior Iraqi leadership would be there as
well. Dr. Mohammed said he would be in Cairo to offer a show
of support for moderate Sunnis. He contended that the Sunni
agenda has been hijacked by the a small minority of radicals
on either end of the political spectrum -- the Baathists on
the left and the Zarqawi people on the right. He believes
the vast majority of Sunnis want an end to the violence so
they can get on with their lives. He went on to say that
Sunni states in the region had not done enough and they need
to do more to assist the political process in Iraq.


2. (C) When queried, Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said he did not
expect to participate formally in the meetings, beyond
perhaps some sort of brief formal opening session. The main
purpose of his visit would be to be available for informal
consultations with the parties with a view to helping them
make progress.


3. (C) We will make sure Dr. Mohammed has reftel points
containing U.S. views on the conference before he travels to
Cairo.

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LEBARON