Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT608
2007-04-25 10:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

MALIKI STRESSES DEBT RELIEF, ARAB IDENTITY ON

Tags:  PREL PGOV IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS 
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VZCZCXRO6289
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0608 1151045
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 251045Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8884
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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)

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