KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNDERCUTTING IRAN'S

S E C R E T KUWAIT 002673 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP AND INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2016 TAGS: PREL IR KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNDERCUTTING IRAN'S RE-SCHEDULED CONFERENCE OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS REF: STATE 107327 Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolChief delivered July 3 reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for Asia and Africa Ambassador Abdul Mohsen Al-Haroun. Al-Haroun said the GOK was aware of the proposed July 8 meeting, but he could not confirm whether the Kuwaiti officials had received an official invitation. No decision had been made on participation and with the July 1 resignation of the Government following parliamentary elections, the focus was on domestic issues and not international conferences. Al-Haroun took note of the U.S. recommendation that governments, if they decide to participate, send lower level officials to the meeting and said it was possible that Kuwait's Ambassador to Iran would represent the GOK. He agreed that the Iran was hosting the conference to divert attention from its nuclear program and failure to respond to proposals presented, but argued that the forum could also be used by Gulf states to pressure Iran to agree to a diplomatic dialogue with the U.S. ¶2. (S) PolChief also orally reviewed septel points on Iran with Al-Haroun. He offered no substantive comment, but remarked that Iran's unhelpful activities in the region were well known. In his view, an enduring resolution to the Palestinian conflict would create the necessary conditions to address other regional stability and security issues. ********************************************* * 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