KUWAITI FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004702 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED NOFORN CAPTION) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS KU IR SUBJECT: KUWAITI FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA REF: STATE 202585 KUWAIT 00004702 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: During back-to-back meetings on 12/24 with a Congressional delegation and the Ambassador, The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said that the key issues facing the coalition in Iraq are transferring security responsibility to Iraqis and checking Iranian influence. He said we are in a "new stage" with Iran following passage of UNSCR 1737. The FM will likely visit Iran in February to discuss the Kuwaiti/Iranian maritime boundary dispute, in an area of a significant gas field. The Amir will hold off on accepting the Iranian invitation to visit until he is in a position to bring home a win on that issue. The FM argued for U.S. engagement with Syria, differentiating between Syrian misbehavior and "legitimate interests." He counseled against U.S. engagement with Iran. The Abbas-Olmert meeting is an important step, but the GOI should release more funds to Abbas. The FM expressed concern that Kuwaiti students may be frightened off of study in the U.S. by publicity surround several recent cases where Kuwaiti students fell out of status and had difficulty resolving their cases with DHS. End Summary ¶2. (C/NF) Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Mohamed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah met 12/24 with a visiting Congressmen Ike Skelton, Michael Conaway, and Jon Porter. The FM then met separately with the Ambassador to address several additional issues. The FM welcomed the delegation to Kuwait, assuring them that American troops stationed in Kuwait "are in friendly territory." Asked what the U.S. could be doing better in the region, the FM urged more consultation on major decisions. In this regard, he said Kuwait and others have been pleased with a recent series of visits to the region by Secretary Rice, marked by an open exchange of views, and especially a renewed sense of engagement of Israeli-Palestinian issues. Iraq: Train and Transfer Responsibility -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) Asked for his thinking on Iraq, the FM said the coalition needs to "expedite training," and quickly shift security responsibility to Iraqi units. "No one will know whether the training has been effective, he explained, "until they are forced to assume responsibility." The FM said Maliki had "started off on the wrong foot" by governing on a sectarian basis, but seems to have begun correcting his course in the wake of his meeting with the President in Amman. The FM stressed the importance of success in the reconciliation process, noting the "South African model" would be a useful approach. At the same time, the FM said Maliki must disarm militias. "Militias are an extension of Iranian influence," he explained, "there is no way of getting around that. Iran: "New Stage" following 1737 -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) He noted that Iran enjoys a degree of regional hegemony with or without nuclear weapons: "they can devastate us with their conventional weapons." Therefore, he said, there should be no unreasonable expectations of GCC states carrying "a disproportionate burden" in the international community's confrontation with Iran. The resolution, even in its "watered down" form, is an important statement that Iranian behavior in unacceptable. Recent election results that seemed a repudiation of the government are an indication that there are "dynamics we can take advantage of" inside Iran. The FM said the Iran issue is in a "new stage" following the passage of UNSCR 1737. Reading from a text of the resolution and its annexes provided by the Ambassador (along with reftel points),the FM showed particular interest in the list of names of sanctioned individuals, although he noted wryly that it seemed to go after the "janitors" and give the executives a pass. ¶5. (C/NF) The FM described Iran-Kuwait relations as "correct," noting that Kuwait has particularly strong concerns about what the Iranians are doing in Southern Iraq. He said he will visit Iran in February for a meeting of the joint Iran-Kuwait commission, where the focus will be on trying to resolve a bilateral dispute over the Kuwait/Iran boundary on the the continental shelf, where there are significant gas fields. In his later meeting with the Ambassador, the FM said the Amir has accepted an invitation to visit Iran, but will not go until it is clear he can bring back something positive on the continental shelf issue. The Ambassador said the U.S. would welcome indefinite delay of the Amir's visit. KUWAIT 00004702 002.2 OF 002 Syria: Need a "Differentiated Approach" -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) Asked what the U.S. should do with the Syrians, the FM argued for additional engagement, noting that Syria has some legitimate concerns in addition to its unacceptable activity. He argued that the Syrians bring a "merchant mentality" to negotiations, and that therefore we need to take a "differentiated approach" that recognizes areas where deals can be made. This is in contrast to Iran, he said, where the utility of negotiation is far less clear. The Foreign Minister said that U.S. willingness to put all issues on the table with Iran if it would suspend enrichment was widely interpreted by Arab governments as offering Iran a free hand in Iraq in exchange for a deal on nuclear matters. He said that such engagement should take place on all issues of contention, and noted that Kuwait's greatest concern is Iranian meddling in Iraq, particularly in Southern Iraq. Olmert-Abbas Meeting -------------- ¶6. (C/NF) Ambassador pointed to the Olmert-Abbas meeting as an important step, and noted that the Secretary intends to remain actively engaged in attempting to make progress on the Israeli/Palestinian issues. The FM agreed on the importance of continued focus on the issue, saying it was critical to release more funds to Abbas. Ambassador encouraged Kuwait to supply additional support to President Abbas, and noted the return of Salam Fayaad to a position of influence working with Abbas. Kuwaiti Students: Getting the Numbers Back Up -------------- - ¶7. (C/NF) Asked by the CODEL whether there is anything the U.S. can do for Kuwait, the FM made a plea to clarify and improve handling of Kuwaiti students in the U.S. The FM noted that a number of Kuwaiti students had trouble recently with immigration authorities in the U.S. He said these issues are frightening students into looking elsewhere for higher education. As a strong supporter of U.S. education, this is a particular concern for the FM. (Note: The FM's son in May will become only the second student from an Arab country to graduate from West Point.) Ambassador said this issue is a significant priority for the U.S. Embassy, and pointed out that many of these problems occurred when Kuwaiti students inadvertently fell out of status. He noted that after a significant post 9-11 drop, the numbers have started to climb again, but that the State Department will continue to work with DHS to bring greater transparency to the student visa process. ********************************************* * 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