AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH NEW IRAQI CHARGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004683 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ KU SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH NEW IRAQI CHARGE Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador met 12/13 with new Iraqi Mission Charge d'Affaires Fadel Hamad Khudair Al-Azawi. Al-Azawi, a career diplomat, arrived in Kuwait in early November, replacing outgoing Charge Hamad Al-Sharifi. Al-Azawi requested the meeting as a courtesy call, noting his interest in maintaining the close relationship the Iraqi mission here has enjoyed with Embassy Kuwait. He said he was pleased with his initial round of GOK meetings, and expressed optimism that the Iraqi-Kuwaiti relationship would continue to strengthen over the coming months. Ambassador welcomed Al-Azawi, and made clear his own and Embassy Kuwait's readiness to assist the Iraqi mission and its small staff at any time. ¶2. (C) Ambassador noted that one immediate issue we are working on with the GOK is reinstating the exception that allows Iraqi SOMO fuel convoys to pass through the NAVISTAR crossing used for military convoys. Ambassador suggested to Al-Azawi that he double-track U.S. efforts with his Iraqi contacts and keep in close contact with the Embassy as he does so. Al-Azawi was familiar with the issue, and said he would coordinate closely. ¶3. (C) Bio Note: Al-Azawi joined the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in 1964, and worked there through 1981, when he ran afoul of Baath party officials. He was reassigned to the Awqaf Ministry, and worked there as an administrator until the fall of the regime in 2003. At that time, according to Al-Azawi, the Foreign Ministry brought back a number of career diplomats in situations similar to his own that had been removed from the Ministry for POLITICAL reasons. Azawi served in Yemen for 18 months from 2004 to mid-2005, then in Amman as Charge and DCM until his transfer to Kuwait in November. Al-Azawi grew up in Baghdad, though his family has roots in Basra. He is a Sunni, married to a Shia. His grown children now live in Amman. ********************************************* * 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