KUWAIT MFA "UNAWARE" OF LIBERIA PARTNERS' FORUM

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000170 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/IFD/ODF - EMILY WAECHTER, AF/W - PETE DAVIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN LI PREL KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT MFA "UNAWARE" OF LIBERIA PARTNERS' FORUM REF: A. STATE 13309 ¶B. STATE 9925 ¶C. 06 STATE 201818 ¶1. (SBU) On February 4, Econoff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director for Africa and Asia Ambassador Mohammed Al-Bader to discuss the scope and purpose of the upcoming Liberia Partners' Forum (reftels) and to encourage high-level Kuwaiti attendance at the conference in Washington on February 13-14. Post informed the MFA of the event via diplomatic note on December 27, but Al-Bader maintained that he was unaware of it. He also asked why the U.S. has chosen not to pay off Liberia's arrears but seemed satisfied with Econoff's outline of U.S. contributions to Liberia to date (ref B). Post later contacted MFA's International Organizations Department and MFA's Economic Affairs Department, neither of which claimed any knowledge of the Forum. ¶2. (SBU) Given the apparent lack of focus on Liberia within the GOK, the Department may wish to reinforce our demarches with the Kuwait Embassy in Washington. Post will report any subsequent discussions with the GOK septel. ******************************************** For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/index. cfm?cables Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** TUELLER