Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT1321
2006-04-17 14:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: UNNEIGHBORLY IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO5310 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKU #1321 1071413 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 171413Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3994 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001321
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: UNNEIGHBORLY IRAN
Block Quotes
--------------
-- On the front page under the headline "Welcome Rafsanjani, but..."
Al-Qabas published on April 16, 2006: "Our position on the Iranian
nuclear program is closer to that of Tehran than that of Washington.
Washington did not take the same stance on the Israeli nuclear
program and it did not seek a fair settlement for the Palestinian
issue, but... And we say 'but' because Iran put us on the front line
of the confrontation without our permission and against our will,
although we may become the main victims. Tehran has threatened to
close the Straits of Hormuz if any military action is taken against
it. It also threatened to bomb hundreds of locations within our
countries in retaliation against any attack on its nuclear
facilities. GCC countries should try to convince Iran to move the
Bushehr reactor away from the waters of the Gulf, even it they will
split the cost with Iran, because the first problem will be the
last. That is why we say to President Rafsanjani 'welcome' and we
add to it a 'but'."
-- On the front page Al-Rai Al-Aam, a daily political newspaper
published an Op-Ed on April 16, 2006 titled "Kuwait wants Iran an
'strategic ally' for the 'Gulf' and wants 'tools for cooperation' to
maintain stability in the region" wrote: "Ahead of President
Rafsanjani's visit, Kuwait called on Iran to tie its strategic
interests with those of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation
Council in order to maintain stability in the region. The largest
country in the Gulf region should be a 'strategic ally' not a
'strategic threat.' Kuwait also expressed its concern over the
latest developments and calls for the matter to be dealt with under
Chapter Seven of the United Nations charter. In light of Mr.
Rafsanjani's statements about Qalliance with Syria and Iraq,
Kuwait stated that GCC member states should be part of any strategic
alliance in the region and that its interests are much closer to
Iran's than those of Iraq and Syria."
-- Al-Seyassah front page editorial by Ahmed Al-Jarallah titled
"Iran threatens the interests of the region" on Monday April 17,
2006 read: "Rafsanjani right now is trying to calm the Gulf States'
leaders down and to get them to not feel threatened by the prospect
of Iran's alliance with Syria and Hezbollah. If Rafsanjani is full
of good intentions, then he should sit at the negotiating table with
the Emirates and solve the issue of the three occupied islands. He
should also discuss the massacres taking place in Iraq and how to
not interfere in the political process there. Surely, Rafsanjani who
claims that Iran is serving the interests of the region will hear
words in Kuwait and from the rest of the GCC member states because
Iran's actions do not serve the region's interests at all. Iran's
policies bring tension to the region. This is being said with all
transparency, especially when it comes to GCC member states'
security."
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: UNNEIGHBORLY IRAN
Block Quotes
--------------
-- On the front page under the headline "Welcome Rafsanjani, but..."
Al-Qabas published on April 16, 2006: "Our position on the Iranian
nuclear program is closer to that of Tehran than that of Washington.
Washington did not take the same stance on the Israeli nuclear
program and it did not seek a fair settlement for the Palestinian
issue, but... And we say 'but' because Iran put us on the front line
of the confrontation without our permission and against our will,
although we may become the main victims. Tehran has threatened to
close the Straits of Hormuz if any military action is taken against
it. It also threatened to bomb hundreds of locations within our
countries in retaliation against any attack on its nuclear
facilities. GCC countries should try to convince Iran to move the
Bushehr reactor away from the waters of the Gulf, even it they will
split the cost with Iran, because the first problem will be the
last. That is why we say to President Rafsanjani 'welcome' and we
add to it a 'but'."
-- On the front page Al-Rai Al-Aam, a daily political newspaper
published an Op-Ed on April 16, 2006 titled "Kuwait wants Iran an
'strategic ally' for the 'Gulf' and wants 'tools for cooperation' to
maintain stability in the region" wrote: "Ahead of President
Rafsanjani's visit, Kuwait called on Iran to tie its strategic
interests with those of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation
Council in order to maintain stability in the region. The largest
country in the Gulf region should be a 'strategic ally' not a
'strategic threat.' Kuwait also expressed its concern over the
latest developments and calls for the matter to be dealt with under
Chapter Seven of the United Nations charter. In light of Mr.
Rafsanjani's statements about Qalliance with Syria and Iraq,
Kuwait stated that GCC member states should be part of any strategic
alliance in the region and that its interests are much closer to
Iran's than those of Iraq and Syria."
-- Al-Seyassah front page editorial by Ahmed Al-Jarallah titled
"Iran threatens the interests of the region" on Monday April 17,
2006 read: "Rafsanjani right now is trying to calm the Gulf States'
leaders down and to get them to not feel threatened by the prospect
of Iran's alliance with Syria and Hezbollah. If Rafsanjani is full
of good intentions, then he should sit at the negotiating table with
the Emirates and solve the issue of the three occupied islands. He
should also discuss the massacres taking place in Iraq and how to
not interfere in the political process there. Surely, Rafsanjani who
claims that Iran is serving the interests of the region will hear
words in Kuwait and from the rest of the GCC member states because
Iran's actions do not serve the region's interests at all. Iran's
policies bring tension to the region. This is being said with all
transparency, especially when it comes to GCC member states'
security."
********************************************* *
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