MALIKI STRESSES DEBT RELIEF, ARAB IDENTITY ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000608 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/I AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS SUBJECT: MALIKI STRESSES DEBT RELIEF, ARAB IDENTITY ON VISIT TO KUWAIT Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary and Comment: In April 24 discussions with Kuwaiti officials and in press statements, visiting Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki stressed the importance of debt relief and Iraq's desire for "bridge building" based on Kuwait's close family and tribal ties to Iraq, and a common Arab identity. Defense and Interior Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak said Maliki was responsive to his requests for action on border security issues. Al-Maliki reportedly was pleased with the GOK position on debt relief, but the National Assembly will remain a significant obstacle. Kuwaiti FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said the two sides agreed on a mutual exchange of Ambassadors, but security concerns continue to make the opening of an embassy in Baghdad problematic. There was no announcement on debt forgiveness and we do not expect one. The Kuwaitis are unlikely to stir up domestic opposition with a statement similar to the recent Saudi declaration just as they are unlikely to ever pursue the Iraqi debt. End Summary and Comment ¶2. (C) Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki held talks with the Kuwaiti Amir and Prime Minister April 24. In a press conference following the meetings, Al-Maliki said he had a "good" response from the government on debt forgiveness, and hoped that Kuwait's National Assembly would be "generous" in considering the issue, particularly in the wake of Saudi Arabia's recent decision. Al-Maliki also met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense/Interior Minister Shaykh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mohammed Al-Sager. (Note: Al-Sager told visiting Senior Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq David Satterfield April 23 that opposition to debt forgiveness remains very strong in the National Assembly.) Iraqi Charge d'Affaires Fadhil Hamad Kedhair in an April 25 conversation with Emboff described the Iraqi delegation as pleased with the GOK response on the debt issue, as well as the tone of the meetings as a whole. ¶3. (C) In an April 25 meeting with the Ambassador, the Defense/Interior Minister said he raised four points with Al-Maliki: 1) extending the operating hours of the "Safwan Center" (apparently a facility on the Iraqi side of the Kuwait-Iraq commercial border crossing) to ease processing of food cargo and humanitarian assistance; 2) "random firing" on Kuwaiti border patrols; 3) attacks on Kuwaiti boats by smugglers operating from Iraqi waters; and 4) Kuwait-Iraq border issues. Al-Maliki promised to address the border issue, but said Iraq did not have the resources to stop attacks at sea. Shaykh Jaber agreed with the Ambassador on the need to support Al-Maliki's government as a national rather than sectarian government, and said he was impressed by Iraqis' eagerness for democracy. ¶4. (C) Al-Maliki in his public statements cited the "endless adventures" of Saddam's regime, including Saddam's "aggression" against Kuwait. He said Iraq wants to "build bridges," noting in particular the close relationship between Kuwaiti and Iraqi tribes and families. He said Iraq faces two problems on security: Al-Qaeda and the "remnants of the Baath party," neither of whom differentiate between Sunni and Shia. He also stressed Iraq's Arab identity (a theme Satterfield pressed him to focus on in a meeting earlier in the day),and thanked Kuwait for its role in "getting rid of the Iraqi tyrant." ¶5. (C) In a separate press interview, Kuwaiti FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah said the debt issue would be one for the National Assembly to decide. He said the real problem in Iraq is not debt but security, and noted that Kuwaiti reconstruction pledges have not been spent. He also said Kuwait and Iraq had agreed to a mutual exchange of Ambassadors, but security issues remain an obstacle to opening an Embassy in Baghdad. ********************************************* * 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