SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SUCCESSION IN KUWAIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000217 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN USAID/ANE/MEA LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A 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." ********************************************* 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