KUWAIT FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT IRAN - FEBRUARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000173 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017 TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL KU IRAN SUBJECT: KUWAIT FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT IRAN - FEBRUARY 13-14, 2007 REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 4702 ¶B. 06 KUWAIT 4537 Classified By: Acting DCM Timothy Lenderking for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (C/NF) On February 4, MFA Director for Africa and Asia Ambassador Mohammed Al-Bader confirmed to Econoff that Kuwait Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah will visit Iran from February 13-14, 2007. (Note: The Foreign Minister traveled to Iran twice in 2006 - once in June and again in September.) ¶2. (C/NF) First Secretary Mansour Alolaimi, a specialist on Kuwait's bilateral relations with Iran that Al-Bader called into the meeting, first stressed that the GOK remains concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions. He then acknowledged that the FM's visit will lay the groundwork for a still unscheduled visit to Iran by Amir Al-Sabah later this year. The Foreign Minister's visit, he continued, will conclude with the signing of enhanced bilateral treaties in the areas of double taxation, tourism, and travel between the two countries. ¶3. (C/NF) Econoff asked if the visit was contingent upon forward movement on any one issue, such as the continental shelf. Alolaimi indicated that it was not, and believed that the Amir's visit would likely happen regardless of the specific outcomes of the FM's visit. (Background: Kuwait and Iran continue to dispute ownership of the gas-rich al-Dorra offshore gas field in the continental shelf region of the northern gulf. The dispute dates back to the 1960s when Kuwait and Iran awarded overlapping concessions in the northern part of the gas field. Kuwait signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia in July 2000 to share the offshore resources but has been unable to reach a similar accord with Iran. GOK contacts have previously told Emboffs (ref A) that the Amir will seek movement on this long-standing issue before he agrees to travel to Tehran. End background.) Alolaimi promised a detailed read-out of the visit when the Kuwaiti delegation returns from Iran. ******************************************** 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