NEW KUWAITI INFORMATION MINISTER AIMS TO CUT PUBLIC MEDIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002193

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, NEA/PA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR,
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO KU PINR FREEDOM AGENDA

SUBJECT: NEW KUWAITI INFORMATION MINISTER AIMS TO CUT PUBLIC MEDIA



1. Summary: Charg d'Affaires paid a courtesy call on Kuwait's new
Minister of Information Mohammed Nasser Al-Sanousi on June 7, 2006.
The Minister, who was sworn in by the Amir on May 16, is a
U.S.-educated businessman with extensive prior media experience in
both the public and private sectors. Considered a liberal,
Al-Sanousi discussed his aim to streamline and modernize the
Ministry, particularly the broadcast sector. Asked if he shared his
predecessor's goal of eventually eliminating the Ministry of
Information, he claimed to have provided the former Minister the
paper that led his adoption of that objective. Sanousi spoke of his
desire to reduce the number of channels on Kuwait public TV from
five to two. He also stressed the goal of making the production side
of broadcast more efficient by running it like a private-sector
company. He welcomed U.S. assistance in his endeavors to modernize
the Ministry. End summary.

Cuts Planned
--------------


2. During a June 7 courtesy call, new Information Minister Mohammed
Nasser Al-Sanousi stressed to the Charg his desire to modernize and
streamline the Ministry, in particular the broadcast sector. Kuwait
public television does not have a reputation for providing quality
content and so is not widely watched. The Minister spoke of his
desire to reduce the number of public TV channels from the current
five to just two. He envisions one Arab-language channel to deliver
news and one English-language channel for variety and entertainment.
He stated that the current five channels are a waste of money and
that it would be better instead to have just two "successful"
channels. He also stated his desire to make the production side of
TV more efficient by regrouping that department. He still envisions
government-owned companies providing these services, but "run like
the private sector." Al-Sanousi noted that the Ministry currently
has 6,000 employees, but in his opinion only 1,000 are needed. The
Charg, in wishing the Minister success in his endeavors, expressed
a willingness to explore ways that Embassy Public Affairs might be
of assistance. Al-Sanousi said that for Kuwait TV to modernize, no
one would be better positioned to help than the Americans.

New Political Satellite Channels - Not So Welcome
-------------- --------------


3. In office less than one month, the new Minister has attracted
considerable press attention on controversial issues. A satellite
news channel, the "We Want It Alliance," a reference to the
reformist slogan "We Want It Five [the number of constituencies],"
was due to air on June 6, but the signal was blocked. The channel
is backed by reformists, and was expected to air content in support
of liberal candidates in the upcoming June 29 elections, who support
reducing the number of electoral districts from 25 to five.
Al-Qabas daily quoted sources from the channel as saying that "a
minister" from the GOK had blocked the transmission because it was
"not in compliance with laws" and would be broadcasting
"controversial subjects." The ministry responsible for satellite
transmissions is the Ministry of Information. When asked about new
satellite channels springing up to cover elections, the Minister
skirted the issue and stated that the new channels are trying to get
advertising dollars from candidates.

Neutral on Elections
--------------


4. Al-Sanousi also received attention recently in the private print
media over his pronouncement of how the public media will cover the
National Assembly elections. The Minister is avidly seeking to
ensure that the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and the public TV news
channels and radio appear neutral on the subject. He gave strict
instructions for all public media not to interview candidates for
office. As a result, local TV news broadcasts on KTV1 are all but
devoid of any meaningful coverage on election events and issues. In
response, the public has turned to private TV and the print media
for election news. Al-Sanousi reiterated his position to the Charg
noting that to have candidates talk on public TV would be "selling
their product." He pointed out, however, that he hired a Canadian
graphics team to help make election-day TV coverage more lively and
modern. The consultants will create maps, graphics and other visual
aids for use on KTV1 news programs on Election Day.

IBB Broadcast Swap
--------------


5. The Charg raised the issue of IBB's request for a transmission
swap for USG-supported broadcasts such as VOA and Kuwait radio and
TV broadcasts. The Minister was unaware of the request from IBB,
which had been submitted during the tenure of his predecessor.
However, he agreed to review printed information that the Charg
handed to him related to the subject.

KUWAIT 00002193 002 OF 002



Background and Prospects
--------------


6. Information Minister Mohammed Nasser Al-Sanousi, age 68, is a
veteran media figure with decades of experience in both the public
and private sectors. He was educated in the United States at
University of Southern California where he attained a Bachelor of
Arts degree in 1969 in Media and studied film production. A former
senior MOI official, Al-Sanousi also worked for the private Kuwaiti
broadcaster Al-Rai TV. He is considered a liberal and a technocrat
due to his former government experience and his close associations
there. He came to his post following the sudden resignation of his
liberal predecessor Anas Al-Reshaid who resigned in protest over the
GOK's then plan to revise the Kuwaiti constitution in order to
reduce the number of electoral districts from 25 to ten. During
Al-Sanousi's May 16 swearing in, the Amir spoke of his confidence in
the new Minister by stating that he, "has a very long experience,
and his successes have proven his professionalism in the media."


7. Al-Sanousi heads a Ministry that consists of four principal
entities: The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA),which is the official news
service; the Foreign Press Centers (FPCs),which serve as resources
on Kuwait for foreign media; five public television stations; and 16
public radio stations. According to Embassy media contacts, the new
Minister is held in generally high esteem by his colleagues in the
field, although they see him more as a businessman rather than a
public servant. One editor-in-chief of a popular Arabic-language
daily who knows Al-Sanousi well commented that he does not expect
the Minister to last long in the position. He described Al-Sanousi
as too outspoken about his liberal views, a quality that will put
him at odds with conservative Islamist MPs. The editor went on to
note that the Minister of Information can be an easy target for
conservative groups because of the very visible nature of the
ministry's portfolio of TV and information services.

********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *

TUELLER