NEA DAS GRAY ENGAGES GOK ON AID, IRAN, IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 005063 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM EAID KDEM KPAO CVIS KU FREEDOM AGENDA SUBJECT: NEA DAS GRAY ENGAGES GOK ON AID, IRAN, IRAQ, U.S.-KUWAIT RELATIONS, AND VISAS REF: A. KUWAIT 5031 ¶B. KUWAIT 4905 ¶C. KUWAIT 4624 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: NEA DAS Gordon Gray met with Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Acting Undersecretary Ambassador Khaled Al-Babtain, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Faisal Al-Hajji on December 6 during his visit to Kuwait. Al-Bader reviewed GOK assistance to Iraq, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Al-Babtain and Al-Hajji expressed frustration with U.S. visa policies. Al-Khorafi was cautiously optimistic about the situation in Iraq, but Al-Babtain said it was "not yet" time for Kuwaiti diplomatic representation in Iraq. Al-Khorafi and Al-Babtain encouraged more open USG dialogue with Iran and criticized the USG's timing in confronting Iran over certain issues. ¶2. (C) Despite their criticism, however, Kuwaiti officials were very positive about U.S.-Kuwait relations; Al-Khorafi said the bilateral relationship "couldn't be better" and Al-Babtain was at a loss to provide any suggestions on improving ties. DAS Gray expressed concern about the decline in the number of Kuwaiti students studying at American universities and encouraged more visa applications, a message he repeated during a successful roundtable with local media on U.S. regional policy that received front-page coverage in several dailies on December 7. End summary. Kuwait Fund Assistance to Iraq, -------------- ¶3. (C) DAS Gray met December 6 with Director General of the Kuwait Fund Al-Bader who reviewed funding currently being administered by KFAED. On assistance to Iraq, Al-Bader said KFAED is the "executing agent" for a $60 million GOK grant: $30 million to build schools in northern Iraq, which he predicted would be ready for contracting in early-March 2006 after a joint feasibility study was finished by the Kuwaiti Pan Arab and the Iraqi Al-Jarrah consultancy groups; and another $30 million to provide medicine storage facilities and a mobile hospital for the Iraqi Ministry of Health. 
Al-Bader said the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) wanted to use part of another $60 million GOK grant approved in June for schools in/around Baghdad and a sewage project, possibly in Sadr City, but predicted it would likely take a year to finalize the project and disburse the funds. ¶4. (C) KFAED is responsible for $440 million in concessionary loans for development projects in Iraq, and is negotiating with the ITG on projects to fund, Al-Bader said. At ONE point, the ITG suggested using all $440 million for a power plant in northern Iraq, but the GOK would prefer to diversify funding. Al-Bader blamed the security situation and ITG inaction for disbursement delays and complained KFAED had yet to receive information it requested on projects. (Note: MFA Undersecretary Al-Jarallah told the Ambassador that during his November 26 visit ITG Planning Minister Barham Saleh would "soon" present KFAED with funding proposals. End note.) Al-Bader expressed confidence in Saleh and explained that KFAED had asked that ITG assistance requests come solely from the Ministry of Planning. Earthquake Aid to Pakistan, -------------- ¶5. (C) KFAED is also administering a $50 million, 25-year concessionary loan at ONE percent interest as part of the GOK,s $100 million assistance package to Pakistan for earthquake relief, Al-Bader said. He noted, however, that despite advance approval for project funding from the KFAED Board, the Pakistani government had yet to identify specific projects. And the Palestinian Territories -------------- ¶6. (C) Al-Bader said aid to the Palestinian territories was "totally different." KFAED administers two $25 million GOK grants for education and HEALTH sector projects, but cannot grant concessionary loans because of the territories' legal status. In a separate conversation addressing Palestinian issues, Al-Khorafi urged DAS Gray to "help Abu Mazen KUWAIT 00005063 002 OF 004 (Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas) and do not let the Israelis embarrass him." He argued that the U.S. should not let the fanatics on both sides influence the majority. DAS Gray noted the President's invitation to Abbas to visit the White House and stressed that the U.S. was committed to working with Israeli and Palestinian political leaders. He also highlighted U.S. support for "tangible results" in the Palestinian territories to demonstrate that the peace process works. Other Development Projects -------------- ¶7. (C) On Afghanistan, Al-Bader said the Fund had already administered ONE grant, but an old unresolved Afghanistan government debt was blocking additional funding. Al-Bader hoped a long-term repayment plan could be agreed upon to resolve Afghanistan's pending bilateral arrears related to an old project (ref C) and open the way for further KFAED funding. (Note: U.S. Treasury has advised the GOA to resolve Russian debt issues before closing the arrears issue with Kuwait.) Al-Bader said KFAED was also considering a new project in Lebanon and was starting to reconsider funding projects in Yemen. DAS Gray emphasized the importance of assistance to Lebanon at this critical juncture. Al-Bader agreed that Lebanon "needs a lot of assistance." KFAED Funding Criteria -------------- ¶8. (C) Al-Bader said the Fund uses two criteria when deciding to fund projects. The first and primary criterion is the readiness of the project. The second is the regional allocation of projects: at least 50% of projects must be in Arab countries; the Fund also tries to maintain 20-25% of projects in Asia and 20-25% in Africa. He downplayed political motivations for funding, though he acknowledged that political support could help speed the approval process. Al-Badar Encouraged to Visit Washington -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The Ambassador and DAS Gray encouraged Al-Bader to travel to the U.S. to visit aid agencies, like USAID, the World Bank, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). DAS Gray noted the similarities between the Kuwait Fund and the MCC's development objectives and funding criteria, and suggested a meeting would be very beneficial. Kuwait-Iraq Relations: Cautiously Optimistic -------------- ¶10. (C) National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi was cautiously optimistic about the situation in Iraq. He was "very happy" with the President's November 30 speech, which he said came "at the right time and in the right place;" and, "very importantly," put an end to speculation on U.S. withdrawal. Al-Khorafi claimed that Iraq's leaders, many of whom have visited Kuwait, "know cooperation is essential, despite their differences." DAS Gray emphasized the importance of Iraqi stability to the region and expressed hope the December 15 elections would be a positive step. In a separate meeting at the MFA, Gray asked if the GOK was planning to re-open its embassy in Iraq, Acting U/S Al-Babtain said, "Not yet." GOK Officials Encourage USG Dialogue with Iran -------------- - ¶11. (C) Al-Babtain and Al-Khorafi encouraged the USG to engage in dialogue with Iran. Al-Khorafi argued that U.S. policies and poor timing undermined support for "moderates" within Iran. DAS Gray pointed out that the U.S. cannot select the timing of certain issues and said the U.S. had been very patient and hoped to return to negotiations on the nuclear issue. He emphasized, however, that the U.S. was looking for "actions, not promises." DAS Gray also said the U.S. was trying to reach out to the Iranian people and continued to be concerned about Iranian meddling in Iraq. ¶12. (C) Al-Babtain characterized Kuwait-Iran relations as "very frank, but friendly." He later qualified this statement, saying he should have used the word "flexible" rather than "friendly." Al-Babtain assured DAS Gray that "we have been very frank (with the Iranians) that we are against" the nuclear program due to the potential for environmental KUWAIT 00005063 003 OF 004 disaster. Al-Babtain acknowledged, however, that if Iran developed "certain nuclear power" it would "pose a threat." Al-Babtain said it was in the "benefit of the whole region not to confront Iran." U.S.-Kuwait Relations -------------- ¶13. (C) Asked to characterize U.S.-Kuwait relations, Al-Khorafi said, "It could not be better." He complained, however, that the USG gives Kuwait "too many lectures," particularly on human rights issues, which "embarrasses" the GOK. "In the end, it is our country," he commented. DAS Gray explained that human rights issues are a high priority for the USG. Al-Khorafi also complained that USG officials do not spend more time in Kuwait when visiting the region. DAS Gray encouraged him, as Speaker, to invite his counterparts in U.S. to Kuwait. Al-Khorafi concluded by emphasizing that there "should be no doubt of our friendship with the U.S." Al-Babtain offered no suggestions on improving relations. ¶14. (C) In his meetings, DAS Gray also expressed U.S. gratitude for the GOK's generous hurricane Katrina assistance, a message that was greatly appreciated by the Kuwaiti officials. Kuwaiti Students Encouraged to Apply for Visas -------------- - ¶15. (C) In his separate meetings with MFA Acting U/S Ambassador Khaled Al-Babtain and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Faisal Al-Hajji, DAS Gray expressed concern about the decline in the number of Kuwaiti students studying at American universities. "People-to-people contact is the best foundation for sustaining our good relationship," DAS Gray said. Al-Babtain and Al-Hajji expressed frustration with "complicated" U.S. visa procedures and said stories of harassment, particularly at airports, from Kuwaitis returning from the U.S. discouraged others from traveling there. DAS Gray noted that procedures are more transparent and efficient than in the initial period after September 11, and encouraged businessmen, tourists, and students to apply for U.S. visas. Next Steps in Female Political Participation -------------- ¶16. (C) Al-Hajji said the next steps in female political participation are: 1) encouraging female voter registration, and 2) sponsoring seminars/meetings to educate them on their new rights. (Note: Kuwaiti women were given the right to vote in May 2005. They can register to vote in Feb. 2006. National elections are scheduled to take place in 2007. End Note). He posited, however, that most women were neither aware of nor willing to exercise their political rights. The Minister predicted women's suffrage would primarily benefit Islamist political associations, like the Salafis. He believed many female candidates were not adequately preparing themselves for the 2007 parliamentary elections and would only run because "it is a fashion." Although he did not expect any female candidates to be elected, Al-Hajji said their participation in the elections would be a positive development. 100% GOK Control Over Charity Organizations? -------------- ¶17. (C) DAS Gray emphasized to Al-Hajji the importance of combating terrorist financing and asked what measures the GOK was taking to control charity organizations. Al-Hajji said the GOK exerted 100% control over charity organizations in Kuwait, though he acknowledged that "we cannot control" unofficial groups. He assured DAS Gray the GOK would act if any questionable activities were uncovered. Media Roundtable -------------- ¶18. (U) DAS Gray iterated U.S. policy positions on a range of issues, including visa policies, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in a very successful media-roundtable with Kuwaiti journalists and editors on December 6. DAS Gray also emphasized the close U.S.-Kuwait bilateral relationship and the two countries, shared strategic vision. The event received front-page coverage in the Arabic-daily Al-Rai Al-Aam and the English-daily Kuwait Times on December 7; other major dailies also had substantial KUWAIT 00005063 004 OF 004 coverage. A full transcript of the press conference will be placed on Embassy Kuwait's public website: www.kuwait.usembassy.gov. ¶19. (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS Gray. ********************************************* 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