GOK REMAINS UNDECIDED REGARDING DOHA ROUND

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004962 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KPAO OIIP PGOV PREL KU WTO SUBJECT: GOK REMAINS UNDECIDED REGARDING DOHA ROUND POSITION ON AGRICULTURE REF: A. STATE 209236 ¶B. STATE 211956 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered ref b points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah on November ¶27. He stressed the need for sustained engagement and noted that the European partners needed to be pushed on their proposals regarding access to agricultural markets. Al-Jarallah noted the USG position without further comment. ¶2. (SBU) On November 26, Econ Counselor delivered ref b demarche and followed up on ref a points (delivered by dip note on November 20) with Hamid Al-Ghanim, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs, and Nefal M. Al-Doesari, Director of International Organizations, both of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Al-Ghanim said that the Minister of Commerce would head the Kuwaiti delegation to the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference scheduled for December 13-18. Other members of the delegation would include Al-Ghanim, Al-Doesari, representatives of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry and officers from the Ministries of Energy and Foreign Affairs. Al-Doesari said the individuals from these other organizations would be selected within the next week. ¶3. (SBU) Al-Ghanim reported that Kuwait would "adopt the still-to-be-determined consensus Arab opinion" regarding ref b talking points. He and Al-Doesari welcomed the ref a invitation to participate at Hong Kong in USG-organized briefings and discussions on trade development assistance and development issues. Al-Ghanim offered to contact the U.S. delegation after arrival to schedule the ref a requested bilateral meeting in Hong Kong. TUELLER