GOK INFORMED OF ARB DETERMINATION; FM DISAPPOINTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003293 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP AND S/WCI E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KAWC KU SUBJECT: GOK INFORMED OF ARB DETERMINATION; FM DISAPPOINTED THAT GOK EFFORTS TO REHABILITATE DETAINEES NOT RECOGNIZED REF: A. STATE 120311 ¶B. KUWAIT 2558 ¶C. STATE 100105 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) During an August 14 meeting, the Ambassador informed Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah of the recent Administrative Review Board (ARB) determination that detainee Fouzi Al-Awda continues to pose a threat to the interests of the U.S. and its allies, and will remain detained at Guantanamo Bay. The FM was troubled by the decision and said that based on his correspondence with Secretary Rice (refs B and C),the GOK had expected that the remaining six detainees would be returned to the GOK prior to the Amir's September visit to Washington. He commented that the decision was particularly disappointing since other nationals had been returned to their countries. ¶2. (C/NF) The FM asserted that detainees previously returned to Kuwait were subject to strict monitoring and accused the U.S. of not recognizing progress made. He said all detainees were behaving well and being prevented from resuming contacts with extremist groups. Given recent developments in the region, the GOK was particularly proud that the former detainees have maintained a low-profile. He noted his own successful efforts with the detainees and Kuwaiti media to resist the demands to use stories of Kuwaiti detention for propaganda purposes. He claimed the former detainees presented neither a physical nor propaganda threat to the U.S. and its allies, and was confident the GOK would have the same success with the remaining six detainees. The Minister also said that the father of detainee Al-Awda had been particularly helpful in managing the low-profile of the families and thus it was problematic that the ARB had maintained Al-Awda's son's status as an enemy combatant. The Ambassador welcomed the report on how the GOK was dealing with former detainees and recommended that the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the U.S. share this information directly with his regular Department and DOD contacts, as well as any further details about monitoring of returnees. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * LeBaron