KUWAIT DEMARCHE ON LEBANON DELIVERED FOR ARAB

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003369 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/RA ELDER AND NEA/ARP JACKSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016 TAGS: PREL LE IS KU DEMARCHE SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE ON LEBANON DELIVERED FOR ARAB LEAGUE MEETING REF: A. STATE 136507 ¶B. KUWAIT 3309 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref A demarche to Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Sabah, the President of the National Security Bureau, during an August 19 meeting. Shaykh Ahmed said he believed the Arab League would fully support UNSCR 1701 in its upcoming ministerial meeting and agreed that Syrian and Iranian efforts to spin the conflict into a victory for Hizballah needed to be countered. Shaykh Ahmed urged the U.S. to "be strict with Syria," noting that the Syrian regime backed down under pressure. "If Syria is under control, Iran cannot reach Hizballah (in Lebanon)," he concluded. ¶2. (SBU) PolChief also delivered August 19 ref A demarche to Shaykh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah, Office Manager for Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Shaykh Dr. Nasser welcomed the demarche, noting GOK appreciation for continued U.S. interest in the situation in Lebanon. He agreed on the need for continued humanitarian assistance. (Note: The GOK has pledged $800 million to Lebanon; $500 in the form of a direct grant deposited in the Lebanese Central Bank for GOL use and another $300 which requires parliamentary approval (ref B). End note.) He further stressed that Hizballah should not have access to arms and requested more information on the attendees at the planned August 31 conference in Sweden. He said he would immediately convey the U.S. message to the FM and welcomed any additional information on U.S. engagement to maintain the ceasefire. ********************************************* * 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