KUWAIT OPEN SKIES UPDATE: CABINET APPROVAL MOVES

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000779

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TRA/AN THOMAS COLEMAN AND NEA/ARP BELINDA
JACKSON
PARIS FOR NOURI LARBI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR BEXP PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT OPEN SKIES UPDATE: CABINET APPROVAL MOVES
FULL IMPLEMENTATION A STEP CLOSER

REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 3536

B. KUWAIT 95


1. (SBU) On May 16, A/DCM and Econoff met with Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) Legal Department Counselor Nameer
Al-Quraini to discuss full implementation of the U.S. -
Kuwait Open Skies Agreement (OSA),signed August 30, 2006
(Ref A). Al-Quraini acknowledged receipt of post's
diplomatic note dated January 22 (Ref B) which stated the
USG's readiness for full implementation and requested GOK
reciprocation. (Note: Per the agreement, the OSA
provisionally came into force upon signing, but requires an
exchange of diplomatic notes for full implementation.)
Al-Quraini said Kuwait's Council of Ministers approved the
agreement the week of May 5th, and that the OSA will soon be
published in full in the Kuwait Gazette (the GOK's official
newspaper). After this publication, which he said is for the
public's information only and does not represent a period of
public comment, the MFA will reciprocate with a diplomatic
note, bringing the OSA into full force.


2. (SBU) Comment: Approval by the Council of Ministers was
the last major hurdle to full implementation of the Open
Skies Agreement. We expect publication in the Kuwait Gazette
to occur in the next few weeks, after which post will follow
up with the MFA for swift issuance of the reciprocal
diplomatic note.

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LeBaron