Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2299
2006-06-14 18:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BUILDING SUPPORT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO9018 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHKU #2299 1651821 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141821Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5179 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0026 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0015 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0004 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0022 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 0040 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0006 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0014 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3069
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002299
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP (BERNS),NE/RA (HILL),AND IO/UNP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BUILDING SUPPORT FOR
GUATEMALA'S UNSC CANDIDACY
REF: A. STATE 95360
B. KUWAIT 2067
Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002299
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP (BERNS),NE/RA (HILL),AND IO/UNP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BUILDING SUPPORT FOR
GUATEMALA'S UNSC CANDIDACY
REF: A. STATE 95360
B. KUWAIT 2067
Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) PolChief delivered June 13 ref A demarche seeking
support for Guatemala over Venezuela for a 2006 seat on the
UN Security Council to Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International Organizations Department Director Ambassador
Abdullah Al-Murad. Noting that NEA A/S Welch had recently
raised the issue with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
(ref B),PolChief stressed the importance of the issue to the
U.S. and drawing from ref A, outlined why Guatemala was a
better candidate for the GRULAC seat. Al-Murad informed
PolChief that shortly before her arrival, he had received a
phone call and diplomatic note from the Venezuelan Ambassador
to Kuwait complaining of the U.S. "campaign against
Venezuela" and seeking GOK support. Al-Murad said he told
the Ambassador that the GOK had not yet made its decision,
and confided in PolChief that this was "not 100% true,"
commenting that Kuwait shared U.S. concerns about Venezuela's
approach to "radical regimes." He added that when it's time
to vote on UNSC members, he will be the one to "push the
button." (Note: Al-Murad will depart Kuwait in mid-July to
succeed Nabila Al-Mulla as Kuwait's UN PermRep. End note.)
2. (C/NF) Al-Murad then spoke at length about the GOK's
disappointment in the Chavez government. He explained that
historically, Kuwait and Venezuela have had very close
relations stemming from Venezuela's support during the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait. In 1992, Venezuela was the first stop in
the southern hemisphere made by late Amir Shaykh Jaber.
Al-Murad was Kuwait's first Ambassador to Venezuela and
Kuwaitis maintained warm feelings for Venezuelans despite the
government's economic and political positions. Noting that
Venezuela has already served four times on the UNSC, he
rhetorically questioned why other GRULAC members --
specifically Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, and
Mexico -- have not stood up for Guatemala arguing there were
"more than one Chavez and one Castro in the region."
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP (BERNS),NE/RA (HILL),AND IO/UNP (HARRIS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BUILDING SUPPORT FOR
GUATEMALA'S UNSC CANDIDACY
REF: A. STATE 95360
B. KUWAIT 2067
Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) PolChief delivered June 13 ref A demarche seeking
support for Guatemala over Venezuela for a 2006 seat on the
UN Security Council to Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International Organizations Department Director Ambassador
Abdullah Al-Murad. Noting that NEA A/S Welch had recently
raised the issue with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
(ref B),PolChief stressed the importance of the issue to the
U.S. and drawing from ref A, outlined why Guatemala was a
better candidate for the GRULAC seat. Al-Murad informed
PolChief that shortly before her arrival, he had received a
phone call and diplomatic note from the Venezuelan Ambassador
to Kuwait complaining of the U.S. "campaign against
Venezuela" and seeking GOK support. Al-Murad said he told
the Ambassador that the GOK had not yet made its decision,
and confided in PolChief that this was "not 100% true,"
commenting that Kuwait shared U.S. concerns about Venezuela's
approach to "radical regimes." He added that when it's time
to vote on UNSC members, he will be the one to "push the
button." (Note: Al-Murad will depart Kuwait in mid-July to
succeed Nabila Al-Mulla as Kuwait's UN PermRep. End note.)
2. (C/NF) Al-Murad then spoke at length about the GOK's
disappointment in the Chavez government. He explained that
historically, Kuwait and Venezuela have had very close
relations stemming from Venezuela's support during the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait. In 1992, Venezuela was the first stop in
the southern hemisphere made by late Amir Shaykh Jaber.
Al-Murad was Kuwait's first Ambassador to Venezuela and
Kuwaitis maintained warm feelings for Venezuelans despite the
government's economic and political positions. Noting that
Venezuela has already served four times on the UNSC, he
rhetorically questioned why other GRULAC members --
specifically Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, and
Mexico -- have not stood up for Guatemala arguing there were
"more than one Chavez and one Castro in the region."
********************************************* *
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