Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KUWAIT5099
2005-12-12 13:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR PITCHES COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER ON
VZCZCXRO1793 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKU #5099 3461301 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 121301Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2125 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 005099
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ANET KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PITCHES COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER ON
CUTTING AL MANAR OFF ARABSAT
REF: A. KUWAIT 5083
B. KUWAIT 5061
C. STATE 216186
UNCLAS KUWAIT 005099
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ANET KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PITCHES COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER ON
CUTTING AL MANAR OFF ARABSAT
REF: A. KUWAIT 5083
B. KUWAIT 5061
C. STATE 216186
1. (SBU) Ambassador ran into the Kuwait Communications
Minister, Shaykh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the
evening of December 11 and made a strong pitch to pull Al
Manar from ARABSAT programming. The Minister replied that
ARABSAT is a jointly owned company and therefore others would
need to be approached as well. Ambassador noted that we are
making the same strong pitch to other owners of ARABSAT,
including Saudi Arabia, as well as to satellite owners around
the world, and that we have had some success. The Minister
inquired about the Saudi reaction; Ambassador replied that he
had not seen a response from Riyadh. (We will supply the
Minister with a non paper on the topic.)
2. (U) Ambassador made a similar pitch to Information
Minister Dr. Anas Al-Rasheed on December 7 and NEA DAS Gray
conveyed U.S. concerns to Acting Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Khalid Al-Babtain on December 6. (refs A and
B).
LEBARON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ANET KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PITCHES COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER ON
CUTTING AL MANAR OFF ARABSAT
REF: A. KUWAIT 5083
B. KUWAIT 5061
C. STATE 216186
1. (SBU) Ambassador ran into the Kuwait Communications
Minister, Shaykh Ahmed Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the
evening of December 11 and made a strong pitch to pull Al
Manar from ARABSAT programming. The Minister replied that
ARABSAT is a jointly owned company and therefore others would
need to be approached as well. Ambassador noted that we are
making the same strong pitch to other owners of ARABSAT,
including Saudi Arabia, as well as to satellite owners around
the world, and that we have had some success. The Minister
inquired about the Saudi reaction; Ambassador replied that he
had not seen a response from Riyadh. (We will supply the
Minister with a non paper on the topic.)
2. (U) Ambassador made a similar pitch to Information
Minister Dr. Anas Al-Rasheed on December 7 and NEA DAS Gray
conveyed U.S. concerns to Acting Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Khalid Al-Babtain on December 6. (refs A and
B).
LEBARON