KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SECRETARY'S ORAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 005134 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE TO GCC MINISTERS REF: A. KUWAIT 5128 ¶B. STATE 224430 ¶C. STATE 223709 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador delivered December 14 reftel message and points to Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Regarding the Strategic Investment Initative, the Ambassador outlined the strategic approach to regional aid that was first raised by the Secretary in Manama on November 12, and further advised the FM of the December 13 meeting between Counselor Zelikow and Kuwaiti CDA Razouqi. Identifying the four target recipients (Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian Authority (PA),and Lebanon),the Ambassador reviewed the importance of developing a disciplined, systematic strategy for assisting each country and for coordinating international assistance efforts. The Ambassador added that Economic and Business Affairs Assistant Secretary Wayne planned to travel to Kuwait and the region in SIPDIS early January for more detailed talks. ¶2. (C) The FM recalled the discussion in Bahrain and reported that since then, the GCC states and Iraq have discussed the proposal and will address it again in Abu Dhabi at the GCC Summit. Shaykh Dr. Mohammed reported that the GCC had already received several other aid requests, among them a ten-year, $17 billion request from Yemen; an OIC proposal to establish an African Fund on poverty, hunger, and disease; the "usual requests" from the PA and Iraq; as well as an unspecified request from Somalia. ********************************************* 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