SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SUCCESSION IN KUWAIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000217

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STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN,
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TAGS: OPRC KPAO PREL KDEM IZ KMDR KU

SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SUCCESSION IN KUWAIT

Selected Headlines
--------------


1. Monday, January 23, 2006

-- Al-Qabas front-page "Oath-taking session on Tuesday; The
Government 'activation' letter was handed over to the National
Assembly"; "Goodwill endeavors without any result"; "Al-Khorafi
optimistic that wisdom will ultimately prevail"; "Amir received
Speaker Al-Khorafi. Al-Khorafi stated that National Assembly
welcomed request by the Amir to hold a special oath-taking session";
"Amir asks for special swearing-in session on Tuesday"; "Council of
Ministers proceeded with procedures for activating Article 3 of the
succession law"; "There were attempts by all parties to reach a
reconciliatory solution"; "Al-Khorafi met Sabah Al-Ahmad met and
hoped that more time would be given to reconciliatory efforts";
"Salem Al-Ali received a number of MPs"; "A number of senior royal
family members met Salem Al-Ali"; "Meeting failed"; "Salem Al-Ali:
Comprehensive settlement covering all posts is needed"; "National
Assembly received letter from Government in the evening. National
Assembly decides which of the two requests should be given
precedence"; "Speaker Al-Khorafi: The two issues are separate but
connected"; "Council of Ministers drafted its letter on activation
of article 3 and authorized Minister Sharar to refer it to the
National Assembly at the appropriate time"; "Statement by political
powers affirmed necessity of cohesion of ruling family. Seven
political powers issue statement on constitutional standoff"

-- Al-Qabas p. 9 "Judicial verdicts carry the name of Shaykh Saad"

-- Al-Qabas p. 12 "Speaker Al-Khorafi denied receiving Council of
Ministers' letter"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam front page "The Kuwaiti democratic experiment will
pass through one of its toughest trials tomorrow"; "Climate
yesterday indicated imperativeness of collision"; "Race between
options of constitutional steps"; "Speaker Al-Khorafi: If it is our
destiny to shoulder our responsibility, we will"; "Meeting between
Shaykh Saad and Al-Khorafi took only five minutes. Meeting was
attended by Salem Al-Ali, Fahd Al-Salem and Salman Al-Sabah. Ahmad
Salem Al-Ali, Fahd Salem Al-Ali, Hamad Jaber Al-Ali and Saud Nasser
Al-Sabah were outside the meeting room"; "Salem Al-Ali received
Speaker Al-Khrafi at the Shaab Palace"; "It was rumored yesterday
that Shaykh intended to dissolved the Parliament and the
government"; "Speaker: We will try to coordinate between the two
requests"; "A medical report will be attached to the government's
letter"; "Salem Al-Ali received Al-Saadoun, Al-Saqer and Al-Sane"

-- Al-Watan front page "Council of Ministers' letter will be sent to
the National Assembly today"; "Al-Khorafi: Committed to
constitutional procedures"; "Good efforts by Shaykh Mubarak
Al-Abdullah to heal rifts"; "Al-Watan editorial expresses vigorous
support to Sabah Al-Ahmad"; "Shaykh Saad summoned Al-Khorafi
yesterday"; "Saud Al-Nasser seeks to meet Sabah Al-Ahmad";
"High-level government source: Deadlock will be over tomorrow
(today)"

-- Al-Watan p. 40 "Al-Khorafi: Different views on special session";
"Shaykh Saad's signature may not be real"

-- Al-Anba front page "Sabah Al-Ahmad to Ministers: I do not accept
infringement on the status of Shaykh Saad and we hope to avoid
presenting medical reports to MPs"; "Oath-taking session on Tuesday
will be preceded by 'activation' session"; "Last minute endeavors -
which failed- lead by Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad, Salem Sabah
Al-Salem, Nawaf Al-Ahmad and Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem"; "National
Assembly Speaker receives today request by Council of Ministers to
hold a closed-door session to complete constitutional procedures";
"Why did reconciliatory efforts fail?"; "Silent Brain Infarction";
"Speaker received by fax copy of Council of Ministers' request
yesterday"; "Government received detailed report from Health
Minister"

-- Al-Anba p. 7 "Al-Khorafi: At least one minister should attend the
oath-taking session"; "Closed-door session within 48 hours"

-- Al-Seyassah front page "Issue has become complicated.... Two
sessions tomorrow and 'activation' before 'oath taking'"; "Failure
of goodwill endeavors and significant statement by Sabah Al-Ahmad in
the morning session"; "National Assembly's Bureau will hold
extraordinary session today"; "Al-Feeli: Dissolving both authorities
prior to oath-taking is not permissible"; "Medical report on Amir's
health is ready and signed by three physicians"

KUWAIT 00000217 002 OF 002



-- Al-Seyassah p. 4 "Al-Khorafi: Request by Amir for oath-taking
session cannot be turned down"

Block Quotes
--------------


2. Monday, January 23, 2006

-- Khloud Abdullah Khamis wrote in the progressive daily newspaper
Al-Qabas under the title "The best ruler": "After the hysteria of
predictions and expectation that has taken place in Kuwait, someone
should speak publicly and make clear statements not innuendos mixed
with his opinion about the successive ruler of Kuwait. We are saying
clearly, Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed is the best qualified to run the
State of Kuwait at this point in time. The pledging of allegiance by
the majority of the Al-Sabah family to him concluded the matter. And
if there are writers and politician-wannabes are trying to make it
seem like Kuwait is at a constitutional crossroads and are blowing
the disagreement out of proportion, we say Kuwait is in no danger.
There is no huge disagreement within the ruling family, yes there is
disagreement, and everyone knows that. We call on Kuwaitis not to
believe these people they stand behind out of the light and beg for
any microphone to enlarge their ugly voices and a screen to display
their even uglier faces."

-- Nabil Al-Fadl wrote in the moderate daily newspaper Al-Watan
under the title "A whale and peacocks": "The ability to rule is not
linked to the ability to swear the oath, while it is important it is
only a formality. The ability issue comes into play after the oath;
can the Amir perform his duties with his own will and strength? Or
will orders coming from be those of the people surrounding him?
Declaring what they want under his name and forbidding what they do
not want under his name? It is very nice to take advantage of the
communication age; rather we insist that advantage be taken of the
information age. Why do they not have His Highness Shaykh Saad
appear on television to assure the citizens of Kuwait that he is in
good health and demonstrate his ability to perform his duties? Then,
our society will regain its sense of security that has been blown
away by the wind. We challenge them to show us our Amir so that we
can rest assured and close the door in the face of rumors. If he is
unable to do so or unable to perform his duties then we should all
resort to logic and to the constitution which in such cases calls
for the implementation of paragraph 3 of the succession law. They
should respect His Highness the Amir and his long history and place
him above the cheap aspiration of those wanting to advance
themselves through him."

-- Sami Abdul Latif Al-Nesf, editor-in-chief of Al-Qabas newspaper
wrote in the moderate daily newspaper Al-Anbaa under the title "How
old is anger?": "No one can claim to oppose His Highness Shaykh
Sabah Al-Ahmed taking over power and at the same time claim that it
is for the good of the country. The good of the country and its
citizens as we approach turbulent times in the Northern Gulf demand
that the leadership be qualified and able in order to steer in the
direction that best serves the interests of the country. His
Highness Shaykh Saad Al-Abdullah was one of the founding gathers of
the constitution as he was a member of the committee charged with
writing it. His Highness declared his absolute agreement, at that
time, on the Amir's oath. The very same which some
constitutionalists are attempting to alter. He also demanded that
the succession law be included in the constitution. We hope that the
matter is settled soon so the people can mourn their departed Amir
and cheer for the coming one."

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