Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT1756
2007-12-26 13:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
AMIRI DIWAN MINISTER ON GOVERNMENT-PARLIAMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO9445 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1756 3601304 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 261304Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0468 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001756
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT,NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR KOLEVAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017
TAGS: ASEC EPET KCIP KU PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: AMIRI DIWAN MINISTER ON GOVERNMENT-PARLIAMENT
RELATIONS AND CEIP
REF: KUWAIT 1718
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001756
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT,NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR KOLEVAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017
TAGS: ASEC EPET KCIP KU PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: AMIRI DIWAN MINISTER ON GOVERNMENT-PARLIAMENT
RELATIONS AND CEIP
REF: KUWAIT 1718
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: CDA met with Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs
and eldest son of the Amir, Shaykh Nasser Al Sabah, on
December 11 and discussed a range of issues including
Kuwait's participation and contribution at the Paris Donor
Conference (Ref. A),Kuwaiti domestic politics and Critical
Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP). In terms of internal
political dynamics, Shaykh Nasser told CDA repeatedly that
the political situation in Kuwait is "very healthy". END
SUMMARY.
THE MOST STABLE COUNTRY IN THE GULF
--------------
2. (C) CDA asked Shaykh Nasser about his views on the
current tensions between the government and the National
Assembly. According to the Minister, the domestic situation
in Kuwait is "very healthy" and democracy is working as it
should by forcing compromise between differing factions,
namely the government and the various political trends in the
National Assembly. Shaykh Nasser dismissed the rumors of a
pending Amiri decision to dissolve the National Assembly. He
emphasized that the Amir believes strongly in both the
Constitution and democracy and clarified that if the Amir
were to take any action to dissolve parliament it would be
constitutional (NOTE: If the Amir were to dissolve the
National Assembly, per the Constitution, elections must be
held within 60 days. END NOTE). Shaykh Nasser said he hoped
that this National Assembly would finish out its term, which
ends in 2010. However, he stressed that if the Amir did
dissolve Parliament, then the MPs selected through elections
under the new electoral system, would perhaps be better
equipped to deal with the needs of Kuwait (NOTE: Kuwait
changed the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to
five in July 2006 END NOTE).
3. (C) Shaykh Nasser noted that much of the criticism
previously directed at the government has now shifted towards
the National Assembly. He lauded the free nature of the
press in Kuwait and said that media attention was putting
pressure on MPs to become more responsible in their actions.
Shaykh Nasser added that the people of Kuwait need to get
their MPs in line. He added that "Kuwait is the most stable
country in the Gulf" and that current internal dynamics will
have no impact on the bilateral Kuwait-US relationship.
(COMMENT: The political situation is not as rosy as portrayed
by Shaykh Nasser. Other informed sources suggest that the
Amir remains "fed up" with the political climate and may now
view the impending Eid holiday (December 14-22) as the
threshold for a further discussion on constitutional
dissolution of Parliament. END COMMENT)
NO IDEA WHO WILL TAKE LEAD ON CEIP
--------------
4. (C) CDA briefed the Minister on USG efforts to provide
support to enhance protection of Kuwait's critical
infrastructure. CDA specifically raised the CEIP draft
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USG and Kuwait,
stressing the need for a decision on which GOK entity will
take the lead and sign the MOU. The Minister said that he
was unaware of CEIP issues but would seek to educate himself.
He gave no indication as to who would be the lead on the GOK
side.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
MISENHEIMER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT,NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR KOLEVAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017
TAGS: ASEC EPET KCIP KU PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: AMIRI DIWAN MINISTER ON GOVERNMENT-PARLIAMENT
RELATIONS AND CEIP
REF: KUWAIT 1718
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: CDA met with Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs
and eldest son of the Amir, Shaykh Nasser Al Sabah, on
December 11 and discussed a range of issues including
Kuwait's participation and contribution at the Paris Donor
Conference (Ref. A),Kuwaiti domestic politics and Critical
Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP). In terms of internal
political dynamics, Shaykh Nasser told CDA repeatedly that
the political situation in Kuwait is "very healthy". END
SUMMARY.
THE MOST STABLE COUNTRY IN THE GULF
--------------
2. (C) CDA asked Shaykh Nasser about his views on the
current tensions between the government and the National
Assembly. According to the Minister, the domestic situation
in Kuwait is "very healthy" and democracy is working as it
should by forcing compromise between differing factions,
namely the government and the various political trends in the
National Assembly. Shaykh Nasser dismissed the rumors of a
pending Amiri decision to dissolve the National Assembly. He
emphasized that the Amir believes strongly in both the
Constitution and democracy and clarified that if the Amir
were to take any action to dissolve parliament it would be
constitutional (NOTE: If the Amir were to dissolve the
National Assembly, per the Constitution, elections must be
held within 60 days. END NOTE). Shaykh Nasser said he hoped
that this National Assembly would finish out its term, which
ends in 2010. However, he stressed that if the Amir did
dissolve Parliament, then the MPs selected through elections
under the new electoral system, would perhaps be better
equipped to deal with the needs of Kuwait (NOTE: Kuwait
changed the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to
five in July 2006 END NOTE).
3. (C) Shaykh Nasser noted that much of the criticism
previously directed at the government has now shifted towards
the National Assembly. He lauded the free nature of the
press in Kuwait and said that media attention was putting
pressure on MPs to become more responsible in their actions.
Shaykh Nasser added that the people of Kuwait need to get
their MPs in line. He added that "Kuwait is the most stable
country in the Gulf" and that current internal dynamics will
have no impact on the bilateral Kuwait-US relationship.
(COMMENT: The political situation is not as rosy as portrayed
by Shaykh Nasser. Other informed sources suggest that the
Amir remains "fed up" with the political climate and may now
view the impending Eid holiday (December 14-22) as the
threshold for a further discussion on constitutional
dissolution of Parliament. END COMMENT)
NO IDEA WHO WILL TAKE LEAD ON CEIP
--------------
4. (C) CDA briefed the Minister on USG efforts to provide
support to enhance protection of Kuwait's critical
infrastructure. CDA specifically raised the CEIP draft
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USG and Kuwait,
stressing the need for a decision on which GOK entity will
take the lead and sign the MOU. The Minister said that he
was unaware of CEIP issues but would seek to educate himself.
He gave no indication as to who would be the lead on the GOK
side.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
MISENHEIMER