Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT1002
2006-03-22 04:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

ENERGY MINISTER AND COUNSELOR ZELIKOW DISCUSS

Tags:  ENRG PREL IR KU IZ KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7392
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 220413Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3612
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 001002 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR IE
NSC FOR RAMCHAND
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/IR
EB/ESC/IEC FOR GALLOGLY, DOWDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2016
TAGS: ENRG PREL IR KU IZ KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: ENERGY MINISTER AND COUNSELOR ZELIKOW DISCUSS
IRAN, IRAQ, ENERGY SUPPLY SECURITY AND DEMOCRATIZATION

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 001002

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR IE
NSC FOR RAMCHAND
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/IR
EB/ESC/IEC FOR GALLOGLY, DOWDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2016
TAGS: ENRG PREL IR KU IZ KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: ENERGY MINISTER AND COUNSELOR ZELIKOW DISCUSS
IRAN, IRAQ, ENERGY SUPPLY SECURITY AND DEMOCRATIZATION

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a March 19 meeting with DoS Counselor
Zelikow, Kuwaiti Energy Minister Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd
Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah said that Iran's strategies may have
changed over the years but that the underlying agenda remain
the same, to exert its influence throughout the region. He
alleged Iranian interference in Kuwait's internal politics,
and in Iraqi politics, especially in southern Iraq. The
Minister asked for "the end of (the America's) story" for
Iran, saying that it would help Kuwait properly invest in its
defense posture and security measures. He expressed GOK
fears of a migration of terrorists out of Iraq and into
Kuwait over the next few years, but saw a promising role for
the private sector in the development of Iraq, specifically
in the energy sector. He suggested that the USG "learn from
(America's) mistakes" in democracy-building efforts in the
region, citing the success of Hamas and the Muslim
Brotherhood in recent elections in the Palestinian Authority
and Egypt as examples of democratization efforts gone awry.
On energy supplies and policies, Shaykh Ahmed said that
Kuwait "is not far from the U.S." on policy matters and was
actively investing in increased production capacity. He
cited "geopolitical tensions" as the main reason for
sustained high oil prices and specifically noted his concern
for any disruptions in the shipping lanes in the Gulf.


2. (C) Comment: Shaykh Ahmed has close ties to the top
members of the ruling family and is often discussed as having
potential to hold higher office himself someday. He also has
close ties to the security apparatus within Kuwait, which
includes his brother, Kuwait State Security Director General
Athbi Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. In this conversation he
didn't shy away from sharing his thoughts on Iraq, Iran, and
numerous other issues outside of his current official

portfolio of energy issues. End Summary and Comment.

Iran: Strategies Changing but Motivations Are the Same
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Counselor Zelikow met with Kuwait Energy Minister
Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah on March 19. The
Counselor shared USG views on developments in Iran and Iraq
with the Minister, outlining the points that he discussed in
separate meetings with Kuwait's Foreign Minister and
Interior/Defense Minister (reported septel).


4. (C) Shaykh Ahmed agreed with the Counselor's assessment
of the Iranian regime as problematic. He noted that "when
Iran started the revolution, they wanted to export it, but
Saddam fought with them." He said he thought the Iranian
leadership had "changed (its) strategy, but not (its)
causes." He added that Iran is "still using their
influence," and that the Iranians "have their people
throughout the region supporting them." He alleged that the
Iranian government "is contacting some Kuwaiti MPs to support
them in the next election." (He did not identify the MPs or
specify who he believed to be in contact with them.)


5. (C) The Minister said that "Iranian groups are working in
Kuwait now" and that these groups "represent Khamenei." If
Kuwait continues to support its local Shi'a, he added, "we
can solve this problem." He said that many Kuwaiti Shi'a
already recognize that "Iran is not the dream they thought it
was."

Iran: "Making Lots Of Problems" In Iraq
--------------


6. (C) Shaykh Ahmed said that Iran was "making lots of
problems" in Iraq, because Iran felt threatened by the
growing power of important Iraqi Shi'a centers such as Najaf
and Karbala. He said the Iranians were afraid these cities
"would take the place of Qom" and other important Iranian
Shi'a holy places. He also believed SCIRI leader Abdul Aziz
Al-Hakim, the Badr Organization, and others were "making
trouble in Iraq because of Iran."


7. (C) The Minister went on to say that he believed that
Iran is "trying to control the south of Iraq for their

KUWAIT 00001002 002 OF 004


benefit." He claimed to have inside information that "people
in Kuwait believe that all of the staff of Sistani comes from
Khamenei." He later added that "Sistani himself is OK, but
the people around him are Iranian-influenced."

Iran: "We Need to Know the End of Your Story"
--------------


8. (C) Without asking directly, Shaykh Ahmed was obviously
looking for a clearer picture of USG plans concerning Iran.
"We need to know the end of your story (for Iran)," he said.
"If we don't know the end of the story," he added, "it is
hard for us to participate and invest in our defense posture
and security measures."


9. (C) The Minister said Iran's nuclear program was "a big
headache for us" because Iran was "very close." He said that
Kuwait was following the UN Security Council deliberations on
the Iranian nuclear issue and that Kuwait saw the issue as
its "main problem" with Iran. "Iranians are clever people,"
the Minister said, "and will not budge from their position
until faced with force." He suggested the USG work with GCC
foreign ministers "to craft a strategy on Iran."

Iraq: A Problematic South, And Possible Terrorist Migration
-------------- --------------


10. (C) The Minister said Kuwait's first concern was the
south of Iraq, and added that it was "one of the main
problems we will face in the future." He said that he and
others within the GOK "believe five to ten thousand
terrorists will leave Iraq" in the next few years for other
countries, such as Kuwait. He gave as one example the
"Peninsula Lions" group that had links to groups recruiting
fighters for Iraq, saying that just two of them "were able to
build a group (in Kuwait) quickly." Without elaborating on
specifics, he said that there is a "need for a short-term
solution to some of these problems, not a long-term
solution." Shaykh Ahmed provided his view on the future
political situation in Iraq, saying "We believe Iraq will
become a federal system, divided into regions." He said that
the Iraqis "will always be against (a central) government, on
a traditional basis."

Iraq: Looking For A Large Role For Private Sector
-------------- --------------


11. (C) The Counselor briefed Shaykh Ahmed on the
international compact idea proposed for the eventual new
Iraqi government and the need for greater assistance from the
GCC, and told the Minister that a "decisive move" would be
needed by neighboring countries to support Iraq. The
Minister said that this overall topic could be discussed by
the GCC foreign ministers at their next meeting. He added
that "if there was a reasonable government (in Iraq) with a
clear strategy (on development),then everyone should help,
including the private sector." Shaykh Ahmed saw great
promise in allowing a large role for the private sector in
Iraq, including the "private development of the oil, water,
electricity and housing sectors." He said that the
participation of foreign companies in the development of
these sectors would help provide security for their
investments. Shaykh Ahmed believed GCC governments "would be
less supportive than the private sector," but was still
optimistic that "a lot of cash" would be provided for
investment in Iraq from the public and private sector
throughout the GCC.

Greater Iraq-Kuwait Energy Cooperation On Horizon
-------------- --------------


12. (C) The Minister said he "would like to see more
investment in Iraq" by Kuwait and other neighboring countries
and believed that, with greater development of its oil
sector, "Iraq would be richer than Kuwait." He said that he
did not see Iraq as a threat, but rather as "an opportunity
for Kuwait."


13. (C) Kuwait and Iraq had established a joint team between
their oil ministries, to work on issues of joint development

KUWAIT 00001002 003 OF 004


and cooperation, Shaykh Ahmed explained. He said that, while
"the IOCs are not able to go into Iraq yet," there were "lots
of new private oil services companies in Kuwait" that would
be "willing to work in Iraq." These companies would still
need to work with "IOC partners" in order to be covered for
the financial risks involved.


14. (C) Shaykh Ahmed said that the Iraqi Oil Minister had
been in Kuwait the day before to talk to some local and
international companies about development of Iraq's oil
sector. "The companies can use Kuwait as a base" to work in
Iraq. He said once Iraq had rehabilitated enough of its own
infrastructure to export gas, Kuwait could either import and
use the gas itself or re-export it elsewhere. For crude oil,
however, he said that Kuwait "has an export capacity
shortage" and that the country needs to "expand our own
export capacity to four million bpd before offering it to
others."

Democracy-Building: "Learn From Mistakes"
--------------


15. (C) Shaykh Ahmed turned the discussion to U.S. efforts
to promote democracy throughout the region. He said that
"there were some mistakes" that needed to be studied,
including the success of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in
recent elections in the Palestinian Territories and Egypt.
"We're not just speaking of Al-Qaeda," he said, and went on
to explain that there are other "emotional" and "traditional"
elements of some regional societies that will be naturally
"religious" and "anti-Western." He added that "promises made
to Arafat and Abu Mazen were not felt on the street, so the
(recent PA election) vote was anti-Fatah."


16. (C) "The Middle East is going through changes," said
Shaykh Ahmed, "and you must have societies that are ready to
deal with these changes." "On the political front," he said,
"don't be too aggressive." "Not everybody will accept this
democratization," he added. He seemed to see Kuwait as an
exception though, saying that "whatever you are doing in
Kuwait, we have people here who are doing more."

Energy Supplies / Security: "Not Far from U.S. Policy"
-------------- --------------


17. (C) The Minister said that the GOK was "not far away
from the U.S. government on energy policy," and that Kuwait
was in the process of "increasing investment in production
capacity." He added that Kuwait was "re-investing all (of
its) profits" in increasing capacity in order to meet global
demand. Kuwait's policies are "in line with the
international community," he noted, adding that Kuwait was
also investing in its downstream sector, and was always on
the lookout for new reserves.


18. (C) Shaykh Ahmed repeated a position that he has made
before to the USG: that geopolitical tensions are the
greatest reason for the current high oil prices and that
these issues are "not in the hands" of Kuwait. He added that
"60% of the geopolitical events affecting oil prices are
here, in the Gulf." Speaking from his experience as OPEC
President throughout 2005, he said that he thought that,
between now and 2020, "production will reach demand, even in
exceptional circumstances."


19. (C) Turning back to Iran and the issue of energy supply
security, Shaykh Ahmed said that "if something happens in the
shipping lanes" in the Gulf, "this will be a big problem."
"All of us," he added, referring to the major oil producers
in the region,"depend on the Gulf." He also said that he is
concerned that Kuwait "doesn't have a missile defense system"
capable of fending off an attack, and that "missiles could
hit Kuwait's refineries." He listed the main problems with
any action in the Gulf as: the threat to the shipping lanes;
the concentration of all of Kuwait's downstream refining and
production facilities on the coast; and Kuwait's inability to
knock down Silkworm missiles.


20. (U) Counselor Zelikow cleared on this cable.


KUWAIT 00001002 004 OF 004


********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/

********************************************* *
LEBARON