FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001124 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016 TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL KU TIP SUBJECT: FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, OPTIMISM ON TIP REF: KUWAIT 1099 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Timothy A. Lenderking for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Dr. Ahmed Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's Chief of Staff, told Charge during a July 15 office call that Kuwait viewed the prospect of an "early" U.S. withdrawal from Iraq with great concern. He said such a withdrawal would be bad for the U.S. image in the region and bad for regional security. While understanding American domestic political pressures and the need for the GOI to demonstrate results, Shaykh Ahmed said a withdrawal or drawdown of U.S. forces in the near future would embolden Iraqi insurgents and provide an opportunity for terrorists to claim victory. "We stand shoulder to shoulder" with the U.S., Shaykh Ahmed said, and an American "defeat" in Iraq would be a defeat for Kuwait as well. ¶2. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed noted that Kuwait continued to be a voice of moderation within GCC in its attitude toward the Maliki government in Iraq. "This is a new Iraq," Shaykh Ahmed said, "and that is what we are trying to tell our Gulf neighbors, some of whom do not share our sense of optimism" about the future of Iraq. He said Iraq must not be allowed to return to tyranny, whether military domination or strong-man rule. Most of the Iraqis we talk to, he said, oppose the withdrawal of U.S. forces. ¶3. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed added that progress on Middle East peace would contribute substantially toward lessening tensions both in Iraq and throughout the region. TIP --- ¶4. (C/NF) Charge raised trafficking in persons, reiterating the importance of Kuwait's taking concrete steps to address concerns spelled out in the recent TIP report. Charge noted the urgency of action in light of the upcoming 60-day review slated for mid-August. Charge noted that progress in the following priority areas would be especially meaningful: establishing a shelter for trafficking victims, carrying out prosecutions, taking steps to pass an anti-TIP law, issuing a decree banning the withholding of passports from domestic laborers, raising awareness, and directing social workers to work with women arrested in brothels. Charge said the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) appeared to be "taking the bull by the horns," based on a July 9 meeting with the Ambassador, and while this expression of commitment and activism was welcome, the key was concrete action. ¶5. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed said Kuwait was a transparent society and a democracy and could not condone trafficking in persons and the abuses associated with domestic labor in Kuwait. He believed MOSAL Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid was serious about taking action against TIP abuses and anticipated we would be seeing positive changes very quickly. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * Lenderking