Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT1104
2007-07-10 15:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAITI AMIR ON GUANTANAMO AND IRAQ/IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO8179 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1104/01 1911510 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101510Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9593 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001104
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: CVIS ECON IZ KU PREL PTER
SUBJECT: KUWAITI AMIR ON GUANTANAMO AND IRAQ/IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 1097
B. KUWAIT 1094
C. KUWAIT 1072
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 001104
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: CVIS ECON IZ KU PREL PTER
SUBJECT: KUWAITI AMIR ON GUANTANAMO AND IRAQ/IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 1097
B. KUWAIT 1094
C. KUWAIT 1072
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) Summary: During a July 10 farewell meeting, the
Ambassador and the Amir of Kuwait Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad
Al-Sabah discussed Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo, Iraq and
Iran, GCC security, and visa issuances. The Amir said he
planned to write President Bush soon to provide assurances
that Kuwaiti detainees released from Guantanamo would be
prevented from causing harm. He pressed for further dialogue
between the U.S. and Iran as a way of mitigating deeper
Iranian interference in Iraq, suggesting Kuwait would
increase its own engagement with Iran despite the recent
difficulties over beating of a Kuwaiti diplomat in Iran. The
Ambassador thanked the Amir for Kuwait's extensive support
for stability in Iraq and said he hoped the SecDef and other
senior officials would visit Kuwait soon to consult on next
steps on Iraq. The Amir pledged Kuwait's continued support
for OIF. The Amir agreed that the recent meeting of GCC
foreign and defense ministers and security advisors in Riyadh
had been useful. He urged the U.S. to do more to facilitate
visas for students and tourists. End Summary.
Guantanamo Assurances
--------------
2. (C/NF) The Ambassador conducted his farewell call with
Kuwaiti Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on July 10. The
Amir was joined by Crown Prince Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Amir had three issues on his mind:
Guantanamo detainees, the importance of U.S. dialogue with
Iran to help blunt Iran's regional meddling, and U.S. visas.
On Guantanamo the Amir told the Ambassador he planned to
draft a second letter to President Bush with assurances that
detainees released to Kuwait would be tried and prevented
from causing harm, as was the case with previous returnees.
The U.S. Should Keep Talking to Iran
--------------
3. (C/NF) The Amir stated the letter to the President would
also urge the U.S. to continue to talk to Iran. The Amir
said Kuwait was very concerned by Iranian interference in
Iraq. U.S.- Iranian dialogue, even if limited, could help
mitigate Iranian behavior. Kuwait was also ready to talk to
Iran to help curb Iranian extremism in the region, and as a
way to pressure the Iranians to engage seriously with the
U.S. This engagement was essential for a solution in Iraq,
the Amir insisted. He said talking to the Iranians was not
such a heavy step to take in light of the other burdens the
U.S. shouldered in Iraq. The talks could be confidential if
need be, the Amir said, and in any venue.
4. (C/NF) The Ambassador said the President valued the
Amir's advice, and he would convey these views to the White
House and Secretary Rice. Engagement with Iran was
difficult, the Ambassador observed, in light of Iran's
support for the insurgency in Iraq. The U.S. had seen recent
evidence of Hizballah activity in Iraq. The U.S. needed
better behavior from Iran if there was to be any hope for a
serious dialogue. The Amir responded that Iranian
interference would be worse without engagement with the U.S.
5. (C/NF) The Ambassador expressed surprise that Kuwait was
considering an expanded dialogue with Iran in light of the
tension caused by the recent beating of a Kuwaiti diplomat in
Tehran. The Amir downplayed the incident, saying the Kuwaiti
press had inflated it. The Amir added that he had not met
with Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Jannati, even though
they knew each other from Jannati's previous posting to
Kuwait. Jannati had presented his credentials to the Crown
Prince. The Amir said he planned to ask the Iranian
Ambassador to come see him to discuss the regional situation.
Consultation on Iraq
--------------
6. (C/NF) The Ambassador noted the vigor of the debate in
the U.S. about Iraq. Whatever course lay ahead, consultation
between the U.S. and Kuwait would be vital. The Ambassador
noted that he had sent a note recently to the U.S. Secretary
of Defense recommending a visit to Kuwait. The Amir said
SecDef would be welcome. He said he understood the U.S. was
considering withdrawing its forces from Iraq. The Amir
believed there were many Iraqis who opposed such a move since
KUWAIT 00001104 002 OF 002
it would increase prospects for civil war. The Ambassador
stressed the U.S. continued to try to create the space for
the GOI to make progress on the political front and to
produce results for the Iraqi people.
7. (C/NF) The Ambassador thanked the Amir for Kuwait's
sustained and generous contributions to the effort in Iraq.
The U.S. recognized there were financial and political costs
for Kuwait associated with this support. Kuwait played a
unique and important role, the Ambassador said. The Amir
said Kuwait would continue to do its part to support
stability in Iraq.
GCC
---
8. (C/NF) The Ambassador noted his previous discussions with
several Kuwaiti ministers on the recent GCC security meeting
in Riyadh (reftels). The meeting appeared to be
well-focused. The Ambassador asked whether divisions within
the GCC would obstruct cohesion on regional security. The
Amir said GCC countries were singularly focused on their
security, and differences between the countries' leaders were
not pronounced. The Ambassador said the U.S. valued its
regional dialogue with the GCC, which complemented the strong
bilateral relationships the U.S. enjoyed.
Visas
--------------
9. (C/NF) The Amir hoped the U.S. could do more to
facilitate visas for Kuwaiti students and tourists. The
Ambassador responded that visa processing in Kuwait had shown
marked improvement. The backlog for visa appointments was
down to two weeks, and students were getting appointments
within 24 hours of their requests. The Ambassador noted the
importance of people-to-people exchanges and hoped more
Kuwaiti students and business people would apply for visas to
the U.S. The Amir noted that an investment bill now before
parliament would stimulate greater interest in Kuwait by
foreign investors.
Amir's Travel
--------------
10. (C/NF) The Amir noted that he would travel to Mongolia
in the coming weeks and then on to the U.S. in a private
capacity.
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: CVIS ECON IZ KU PREL PTER
SUBJECT: KUWAITI AMIR ON GUANTANAMO AND IRAQ/IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 1097
B. KUWAIT 1094
C. KUWAIT 1072
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) Summary: During a July 10 farewell meeting, the
Ambassador and the Amir of Kuwait Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad
Al-Sabah discussed Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo, Iraq and
Iran, GCC security, and visa issuances. The Amir said he
planned to write President Bush soon to provide assurances
that Kuwaiti detainees released from Guantanamo would be
prevented from causing harm. He pressed for further dialogue
between the U.S. and Iran as a way of mitigating deeper
Iranian interference in Iraq, suggesting Kuwait would
increase its own engagement with Iran despite the recent
difficulties over beating of a Kuwaiti diplomat in Iran. The
Ambassador thanked the Amir for Kuwait's extensive support
for stability in Iraq and said he hoped the SecDef and other
senior officials would visit Kuwait soon to consult on next
steps on Iraq. The Amir pledged Kuwait's continued support
for OIF. The Amir agreed that the recent meeting of GCC
foreign and defense ministers and security advisors in Riyadh
had been useful. He urged the U.S. to do more to facilitate
visas for students and tourists. End Summary.
Guantanamo Assurances
--------------
2. (C/NF) The Ambassador conducted his farewell call with
Kuwaiti Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on July 10. The
Amir was joined by Crown Prince Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Amir had three issues on his mind:
Guantanamo detainees, the importance of U.S. dialogue with
Iran to help blunt Iran's regional meddling, and U.S. visas.
On Guantanamo the Amir told the Ambassador he planned to
draft a second letter to President Bush with assurances that
detainees released to Kuwait would be tried and prevented
from causing harm, as was the case with previous returnees.
The U.S. Should Keep Talking to Iran
--------------
3. (C/NF) The Amir stated the letter to the President would
also urge the U.S. to continue to talk to Iran. The Amir
said Kuwait was very concerned by Iranian interference in
Iraq. U.S.- Iranian dialogue, even if limited, could help
mitigate Iranian behavior. Kuwait was also ready to talk to
Iran to help curb Iranian extremism in the region, and as a
way to pressure the Iranians to engage seriously with the
U.S. This engagement was essential for a solution in Iraq,
the Amir insisted. He said talking to the Iranians was not
such a heavy step to take in light of the other burdens the
U.S. shouldered in Iraq. The talks could be confidential if
need be, the Amir said, and in any venue.
4. (C/NF) The Ambassador said the President valued the
Amir's advice, and he would convey these views to the White
House and Secretary Rice. Engagement with Iran was
difficult, the Ambassador observed, in light of Iran's
support for the insurgency in Iraq. The U.S. had seen recent
evidence of Hizballah activity in Iraq. The U.S. needed
better behavior from Iran if there was to be any hope for a
serious dialogue. The Amir responded that Iranian
interference would be worse without engagement with the U.S.
5. (C/NF) The Ambassador expressed surprise that Kuwait was
considering an expanded dialogue with Iran in light of the
tension caused by the recent beating of a Kuwaiti diplomat in
Tehran. The Amir downplayed the incident, saying the Kuwaiti
press had inflated it. The Amir added that he had not met
with Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Jannati, even though
they knew each other from Jannati's previous posting to
Kuwait. Jannati had presented his credentials to the Crown
Prince. The Amir said he planned to ask the Iranian
Ambassador to come see him to discuss the regional situation.
Consultation on Iraq
--------------
6. (C/NF) The Ambassador noted the vigor of the debate in
the U.S. about Iraq. Whatever course lay ahead, consultation
between the U.S. and Kuwait would be vital. The Ambassador
noted that he had sent a note recently to the U.S. Secretary
of Defense recommending a visit to Kuwait. The Amir said
SecDef would be welcome. He said he understood the U.S. was
considering withdrawing its forces from Iraq. The Amir
believed there were many Iraqis who opposed such a move since
KUWAIT 00001104 002 OF 002
it would increase prospects for civil war. The Ambassador
stressed the U.S. continued to try to create the space for
the GOI to make progress on the political front and to
produce results for the Iraqi people.
7. (C/NF) The Ambassador thanked the Amir for Kuwait's
sustained and generous contributions to the effort in Iraq.
The U.S. recognized there were financial and political costs
for Kuwait associated with this support. Kuwait played a
unique and important role, the Ambassador said. The Amir
said Kuwait would continue to do its part to support
stability in Iraq.
GCC
---
8. (C/NF) The Ambassador noted his previous discussions with
several Kuwaiti ministers on the recent GCC security meeting
in Riyadh (reftels). The meeting appeared to be
well-focused. The Ambassador asked whether divisions within
the GCC would obstruct cohesion on regional security. The
Amir said GCC countries were singularly focused on their
security, and differences between the countries' leaders were
not pronounced. The Ambassador said the U.S. valued its
regional dialogue with the GCC, which complemented the strong
bilateral relationships the U.S. enjoyed.
Visas
--------------
9. (C/NF) The Amir hoped the U.S. could do more to
facilitate visas for Kuwaiti students and tourists. The
Ambassador responded that visa processing in Kuwait had shown
marked improvement. The backlog for visa appointments was
down to two weeks, and students were getting appointments
within 24 hours of their requests. The Ambassador noted the
importance of people-to-people exchanges and hoped more
Kuwaiti students and business people would apply for visas to
the U.S. The Amir noted that an investment bill now before
parliament would stimulate greater interest in Kuwait by
foreign investors.
Amir's Travel
--------------
10. (C/NF) The Amir noted that he would travel to Mongolia
in the coming weeks and then on to the U.S. in a private
capacity.
********************************************* *
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