Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT1063
2007-07-04 08:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAITI DEPUTY PM SAYS KUWAITI DEMOCRACY SETTING
how-toVZCZCXRO3063 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1063/01 1850806 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 040806Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9545 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 1841 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1055
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001063
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2012
TAGS: KU PGOV PINR PREL GCC
SUBJECT: KUWAITI DEPUTY PM SAYS KUWAITI DEMOCRACY SETTING
BAD EXAMPLE FOR REGION
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001063
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2012
TAGS: KU PGOV PINR PREL GCC
SUBJECT: KUWAITI DEPUTY PM SAYS KUWAITI DEMOCRACY SETTING
BAD EXAMPLE FOR REGION
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a July 4 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Moahammed
Al-Hajji Boukhadour, the Minister commented that the recent
performance of the Kuwaiti parliament was leading others in
the region to question the efficacy of democracy. Coming off
a bruising battle with Parliament resulting in the
resignation of two ministers, Al-Hajji lamented that the mix
of tribal, Islamist, and selfish financial interests
personified by the opposition in Parliament was damaging
Kuwait's image and its reputation as being a progressive
state in the GCC region. He lamented that liberals are not
well-organized, unlike the opposition Islamists, who organize
around parochial objectives rather than national ambitions.
Asked about the impact of the reduction of the number of
electoral constituencies from twenty to five for the next
election, Al-Hajji said it was difficult to predict an
outcome, and noted the uncertain impact of the women's vote
combined with the larger districts. He claimed that women in
the last election did not focus their support on candidates
who supported their enfrancisement but rather voted for those
who they believed were best positioned to obtain more
government economic benefits on their behalf. Haaji
recounted his youthful political roots as a "radical"
supporter of democracy in leading the National Union of
Kuwaiti Students and the Kuwaiti Graduates Society, and said
he remained fully committed to democracy, but he was very
worried about the present course of Kuwait's parliament.
TIP and Labor Issues
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador recounted that he had first met
Al-Haaji in the his role as Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs discussing labor and trafficking in persons issues.
The Ambassador said that the recent Tier Three trafficking
rating of Kuwait reflected lack of movement on specific
measures to provide minimum protections for domestic labor.
Al-Haaji said the language of the U.S. report had been harsh
and elicited defensive reactions. He opined that the problem
of mistreatment of domestics is a limited to a very small
minority of the half million household employees in Kuwait,
but stated that even a small number is a problem and that the
GOK needs to address it. The Ambassador noted that the
Justice Ministry was working on a draft law on TIP and
encouraged Al-Haaji to help shepherd it through the cabinet
and parliament.
Iraq and Israel/Palestine Key to Stability in Region
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Al-Haaji urged U.S. determination in Iraq, noting
that it could have taken forty years for the Iraqi people to
get rid of Saddam Hussein's regime. He said that some
Kuwaitis who supported and applauded his removal now complain
about the emergence of a new and different government, but
they should expect that the regime will be different.
Al-Haaji also emphasized the critical U.S. role in solving
the Israeli/Palestinian issue, and commented that removing
this issue from the regional list of sore spots will help
strengthen U.S. influence and protect U.S. friends in the
region.
Bio Note
--------------
4. (C) Al-Haaji is a soft-spoken progressive, who clearly
does not relish dealing with a Kuwaiti parliament that is
currently being manipulated by the least progressive elements
in the society. While he has long experience as a diplomat,
government official and minister, he does not have a high
profile as a leader of the liberal camp, or seemingly the
potential to lead the charge against the forces of reaction.
One of his daughters just finished her first year at
Georgetown University where he says she is an "A" student.
Another daughter is a graduate of the George Washington
University and employed by the Kuwait Investment Authority.
A son is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington D.C.
and runs his own advertising/marketing firm.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
KUWAIT 00001063 002 OF 002
LeBaron
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2012
TAGS: KU PGOV PINR PREL GCC
SUBJECT: KUWAITI DEPUTY PM SAYS KUWAITI DEMOCRACY SETTING
BAD EXAMPLE FOR REGION
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a July 4 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Moahammed
Al-Hajji Boukhadour, the Minister commented that the recent
performance of the Kuwaiti parliament was leading others in
the region to question the efficacy of democracy. Coming off
a bruising battle with Parliament resulting in the
resignation of two ministers, Al-Hajji lamented that the mix
of tribal, Islamist, and selfish financial interests
personified by the opposition in Parliament was damaging
Kuwait's image and its reputation as being a progressive
state in the GCC region. He lamented that liberals are not
well-organized, unlike the opposition Islamists, who organize
around parochial objectives rather than national ambitions.
Asked about the impact of the reduction of the number of
electoral constituencies from twenty to five for the next
election, Al-Hajji said it was difficult to predict an
outcome, and noted the uncertain impact of the women's vote
combined with the larger districts. He claimed that women in
the last election did not focus their support on candidates
who supported their enfrancisement but rather voted for those
who they believed were best positioned to obtain more
government economic benefits on their behalf. Haaji
recounted his youthful political roots as a "radical"
supporter of democracy in leading the National Union of
Kuwaiti Students and the Kuwaiti Graduates Society, and said
he remained fully committed to democracy, but he was very
worried about the present course of Kuwait's parliament.
TIP and Labor Issues
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador recounted that he had first met
Al-Haaji in the his role as Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs discussing labor and trafficking in persons issues.
The Ambassador said that the recent Tier Three trafficking
rating of Kuwait reflected lack of movement on specific
measures to provide minimum protections for domestic labor.
Al-Haaji said the language of the U.S. report had been harsh
and elicited defensive reactions. He opined that the problem
of mistreatment of domestics is a limited to a very small
minority of the half million household employees in Kuwait,
but stated that even a small number is a problem and that the
GOK needs to address it. The Ambassador noted that the
Justice Ministry was working on a draft law on TIP and
encouraged Al-Haaji to help shepherd it through the cabinet
and parliament.
Iraq and Israel/Palestine Key to Stability in Region
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Al-Haaji urged U.S. determination in Iraq, noting
that it could have taken forty years for the Iraqi people to
get rid of Saddam Hussein's regime. He said that some
Kuwaitis who supported and applauded his removal now complain
about the emergence of a new and different government, but
they should expect that the regime will be different.
Al-Haaji also emphasized the critical U.S. role in solving
the Israeli/Palestinian issue, and commented that removing
this issue from the regional list of sore spots will help
strengthen U.S. influence and protect U.S. friends in the
region.
Bio Note
--------------
4. (C) Al-Haaji is a soft-spoken progressive, who clearly
does not relish dealing with a Kuwaiti parliament that is
currently being manipulated by the least progressive elements
in the society. While he has long experience as a diplomat,
government official and minister, he does not have a high
profile as a leader of the liberal camp, or seemingly the
potential to lead the charge against the forces of reaction.
One of his daughters just finished her first year at
Georgetown University where he says she is an "A" student.
Another daughter is a graduate of the George Washington
University and employed by the Kuwait Investment Authority.
A son is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington D.C.
and runs his own advertising/marketing firm.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
KUWAIT 00001063 002 OF 002
LeBaron