MOI READ-OUT OF JEDDAH MEETING OF INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003992 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PREL IZ IR KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: MOI READ-OUT OF JEDDAH MEETING OF INTERIOR MINISTERS OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) During a September 30 meeting, Major General Dr. Khaled Al-Osaimi, the Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, gave PolChief a brief read out of the September 18-19 meeting of the Interior Ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Al-Osaimi, who accompanied Kuwait's Interior Minister to the Jeddah conference, said Iraq border security was the top agenda item at the meeting. Commenting on the recent Iraq-Kuwait border incidents, Al-Osaimi said he did not think smugglers were responsible, as some have argued. Rather, he speculated that "maybe the (Iraqi) government or some Shi'a parties" were behind the incidents. Al-Osaimi said Kuwait has provided vehicles and portable houses to Iraqi border guards to help them perform their duties. The Iraqi Minister of Interior, however, told the Kuwaitis at the conference that he "cannot control the border incidents," Al-Osaimi reported. ¶2. (C/NF) With regard to Iraqi security, Al-Osaimi said, "Iran is the problem." Noting that Iraqi Shi'a were "close" to Iran and that southern Iraq was predominantly Shi'a, he expressed concern about the possible emergence of a "Hizballah-like" group in the south that could pose a threat to Kuwait. He described the Iraq-Iraq border as "open," and asked whether the U.S. has a plan for addressing the issue. Al-Osaimi said the Iraqis were entirely unequipped to secure their borders, and was not hopeful that even with stepped up cooperation the neighbors group would have much impact. He commented on the appearance of Iraqi MOI personnel in Jeddah, noting disapprovingly that they wore Badr Corps insignia on their uniforms. ¶3. (C/NF) At the conclusion of the Jeddah conference, the Ministers signed a protocol in which they promised to "support and assist the Iraqi government in the field of training police and security forces in order to boost Iraqi security and stability and safeguard its unity and territorial integrity," according to open source reporting. (Comment: Al-Osaimi promised to send PolChief a copy of the protocol, but has yet do so despite repeated calls to his office. End comment.) Al-Osaimi said Kuwait will host the next meeting of Interior Ministers sometime in 2007. ********************************************* * 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