AMBASSADOR PRESSES FM ON KUWAIT BECOMING A

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 005125 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/APRI AND NEA/PI E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015 TAGS: PREL KDEM EAID ECON KMPI KU SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES FM ON KUWAIT BECOMING A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE REF: A. KUWAIT 4902 ¶B. STATE 212974 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (SBU) Following up on his November 27 meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah, the Ambassador stressed during a December 14 meeting with Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah the importance of Kuwait joining fellow Gulf states Bahrain and Qatar and becoming a founding member of the Foundation for the Future. The FM replied that Kuwait was interested in supporting the Foundation, but had concerns, which were raised in Bahrain, about the possible funding of "illegal" organizations. He stressed the importance of transparency and legitimacy, and said the GOK did want any funds to be used by illegal organizations or for terror activities. The Ambassador responded that the U.S. had heard these concerns and strongly believed such reservations were best addressed through active participation and an open dialog within the context of the Foundation's planning, and urged Kuwait to become a part of the process. Belaboring the obvious, the Ambassador noted that the USG had no interest in the Fund supporting terrorists either. ********************************************* 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