AMBASSADOR URGES SUPPORT FOR LEBANON, CONFIRMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003697

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON IZ KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SUPPORT FOR LEBANON, CONFIRMS
UNSC VOTE FOR GUATEMALA WITH ACTING MFA U/S


Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) During a meeting on a variety of topics with the
senior official in country at the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry,
the Ambassador urged the Kuwaiti authorities to respond
quickly to the GOL's request for security equipment, noting
that support for LAF deployment in the South is critical,
along with measures to stop the flow of weapons through
Syria. Al-Roumi said Kuwait will continue to make every
effort to meet the needs of Lebanon and support UNSCR 1701.
Ambassador thanked the Kuwaitis for their generous
humanitarian and development support directed to the Lebanese
government.

UNSC Vote
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2. (C) The Ambassador also confirmed with Al-Roumi that the
GOK will support Guatemala for the UNSC. (Note: We suggest
USUN and NEA make sure the GOK commitment remains firm in
conversations with USUN PermRep and with senior Kuwaiti
officials present in New York now.)

Iraq
--------------


3. (C) On the Iraq Compact, Al-Roumi said Kuwait will be
represented by the Minister of Finance and Central Bank chief
at the IMF/WB meetings in Singapore, and by the Foreign
Minister at the UN meeting in New York.


4. (C) Al-Roumi noted the recent series of incidents along
the Iraq-Kuwait border (three exchanges of gunfire, initiated
on the Iraqi side, over the past several weeks though with no
casualties). He said he discussed the issue twice with the
Iraqi Charge d'Affaires in Kuwait, and said the GOK is
"waiting for an answer" from Iraq. He said Kuwait believes
that Iraqi police were involved in the last incident, and
said Kuwait is worried "who is behind it." Ambassador
offered to look at ways the USG can further help with border
security issues and told Al-Roumi the issue was prominent on
the agenda of the recent Gulf Security Dialogue session held
in Washington with GOK senior officials. (Note: In an
earlier meeting with PolChief, Iraqi CDA al-Sharifi
characterized his conversations with al-Roumi as "polite" but
said he sensed very clearly that the Kuwaitis suspect Iranian
meddling. End note).

Visit by Kuwaiti Amir to Washington
--------------


5. (C) Al-Roumi noted the very positive reports he had heard
about the Amir's recent visit to Washington. Ambassador said
Washington took an equally positive view of the visit, noting
that in addition to the very warm and constructive meetings
at the White House, the two sides had also held the first
formal session of the Gulf Security Dialogue and had a useful
session of the TIFA Council during the Amir's presence in
Washington.


6. (C) The Ambassador reviewed the discussion in Washington
of a potential GOK refinery investment project in the U.S.
He noted that KPC CEO Hani Hussein has been invited to
Washington to meet with Energy Secretary Bodman, and
suggested that this would be a good opportunity to discuss
how the U.S. can facilitate investment in new refinery
capacity.


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For more EMBASSY Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/cables

Or Visit EMBASSY Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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LeBaron