U/S DOBRIANSKY'S MEETINGS IN KUWAIT: WOMEN IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 KUWAIT 000081

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NOFORN
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FOR NEA/ARP, G/EX FOR ACUTRONA, AND EB/TRA/OTP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2017
TAGS: EAIR PGOV PHUM PREL KSCA KWMN KU
SUBJECT: U/S DOBRIANSKY'S MEETINGS IN KUWAIT: WOMEN IN
SCIENCE, DEMOCRATIZATION, TIP, POLIO, AND GCC PLUS TWO

REF: KUWAIT 0039

Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky visited
Kuwait January 9 to participate in the Women Leaders in
Science, Technology, and Engineering Conference (reftel).
She also met with key Kuwaiti governmental and
non-governmental figures. Dr. Ma'asouma Al-Mubarak, the
first and only female minister in Kuwait's history, told U/S
Dobriansky that USG support has been beneficial to the
promotion of women,s rights but that USG intervention in
Kuwaiti domestic politics was an extremely sensitive topic
and therefore the involvement of non-governmental groups was
essential. Al-Mubarak also noted an upcoming meeting she had
with the Minister of the Interior and Kuwaiti airlines in
response to security concerns at the airport that had been
raised by United Airlines security staff.


2. (C) Summary Continued: Kuwait Foundation for the
Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) Director Ali Al-Shamlan
described current areas of cooperation with U.S. institutions
and expressed a will to expand such cooperation. MP Mohammad
Jassem Al-Sager warned that direct support of
democracy-building would be seen as unwelcome meddling in
Kuwaiti internal affairs, and called for dialogue between
conflicting parties in Iraq and Lebanon, as well as between
Iranians and Arabs. Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammad
Al-Sabah Al-Sabah noted that the GCC 2 countries were
concerned that Iraq's government was ruling on a sectarian
basis. He said he was willing to support U.S. objectives on
polio eradication, TIP, UNSCR 1737, and supporting the
Lebanese government. Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammad
Al-Sabah told the U/S and a group of other high-level
participants from the conference that he supported the
conference and its goals fully and encouraged follow-up
activities. Finally, in a lunch held at the Ambassador's
residence, a group of six women's rights activists lamented
the influence of Islamists and called for improvements in
education as well as women's political training. End summary.

Dr. Ma'asouma Al-Mubarak, Communications Minister
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Under Secretary Dobriansky met with Minister of
Communications Dr. Ma'asouma Al-Mubarak to discuss the Women
Leaders in Science, Technology, and Engineering conference
that Kuwait hosted January 8 - 10. Al-Mubarak expressed her
gratitude for U.S. assistance and noted that networking was
especially important for women scientists in the Middle East.
She said our two governments should expand cooperation in
advancing women in science rather than being satisfied with
one conference. Al-Mubarak noted that the Prime Minister's
sponsorship of the conference is a strong signal that Kuwait
attaches great importance to the support of women in science.
The Under Secretary asked for Al-Mubarak's ideas about
productive next steps. Al-Mubarak said conferences such as
this one and professional scientific exchanges were
especially important.


4. (C) Al-Mubarak under-scored the usefulness of working
though NGOs citing Kuwaiti sensitivity to explicit U.S.
involvement in areas related to domestic Kuwaiti politics.
Too much outside interference in a particular candidate's
activities can taint her and open her up to political
attacks. Therefore, she said, cooperation in non-overtly
political activities, like this science conference, were
especially useful. Al-Mubarak thanked the U/S for the help
that the USG provided to encourage women's participation and
improve female candidates' effectiveness in the 2006
elections. In particular, Kuwaiti women need training to
improve their effectiveness in campaign management and media
relations. The Ambassador affirmed that the USG always tries
to find local partners to take the lead on democracy
promotion efforts to avoid offending local political
sensibilities.


5. (C) The U/S thanked the Minister for her help in
resolving a long-standing billing dispute with AT&T.
Al-Mubarak said negotiations were almost complete on
augmenting AT&T's network between Kuwait and the UAE. She
added that on January 3 the Ministry received a memo from the
AT&T office in Abu Dhabi confirming that the issue of linkage
between Kuwait and Fujaira had been settled. She noted that
outside carriers usually pay linkage charges, but the GOK had
settled the issue and paid the charges itself. Everything is
now ready for business, she said, and the GOK is eager to
move forward.


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6. (C) The U/S also expressed U.S. appreciation for the
Ministry's cooperation in facilitating United Airlines'
establishment of non-stop service from Washington.
Al-Mubarak said she hoped that other U.S. airlines could also
establish service under the Open Skies agreement. She noted
that she would be meeting with the Ministry of Interior, the
Civil Aviation Authority, and Kuwait Airways later in the day
to improve security shortcomings at the airport that had been
noticed by United Airlines. She criticized the Ministry of
Interior for its laxity in addressing these concerns but
assured the U/S that there would be improvements "within
days, not weeks."

KFAS Director Ali Al-Shamlan: Continued Science Cooperation
-------------- --------------


7. (C) After thanking the Kuwait Foundation for the
Advancement of Science (KFAS) for its financial backing of
the conference, the U/S asked KFAS director Dr. Ali
Al-Shamlan what next steps he envisioned in order to continue
the momentum that the conference had built. Al-Shamlan
pointed to a number of areas in which KFAS already cooperates
with US institutions, citing partnerships with Harvard
University for exchange programs in business, public health
and education and his plan to expand these exchanges in the
coming year. He also pointed to KFAS efforts to establish
programs (with Harvard and/or the University of Miami) to
study diabetes, which has become an epidemic in Kuwait. The
Ambassador suggested that specific programs for science and
math education for girls would be especially useful.
Al-Shamlan noted that the Amir had mentioned improving
education in his October speech to parliament and had tasked
KFAS to play an important role. The U/S urged Al-Shamlan to
lead the effort to ensure that there were actionable
follow-on activities to the conference. She also expressed
her hope that KFAS could continue its long-standing
cooperation with the National Science Foundation, and look
into creating new relationships with the National Academy of
Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of
Science and other U.S. scientific institutions.

MP Al-Sager: Reform is Slow, but USG Should Tread Lightly
-------------- --------------


8. (C) The U/S met with self-described liberal MP Mohammad
Jassem Al-Sager, the chairman of the parliament's Foreign
Relations Committee and the head of the Arab Parliament. She
noted recent developments in Kuwaiti democracy and asked the
MP about future reform. Al-Sager said the Government
stubbornly resists change and only relents as a result of
intense pressure from the parliament and the media. He went
on to say that economic reform should precede political
reform, criticizing the lack of progress on privatization,
development of Project Kuwait (an $8.5 billion project to
develop oil fields in the North of the country; it is
politically sensitive because it involves heavy foreign
investment),and an international investment law. Al-Sager
said the Government was more concerned with telling the
public what it wants to hear than taking wise decisions based
on the country's long-term interest. For instance, after
failing to pass women's voting rights in 1999, the Government
stalled for another six years before it mustered the
political will to pass the law. In 2006, the Government
opposed the revamping of Kuwait's electoral district but then
supported the exact same law after new elections proved that
the government's position was unpopular.


9. (C) Al-Sager went on to say that the legalization of
political parties is the most important political reform.
The Ambassador raised the possibility that this might lead to
increased Islamist control of politics since the Islamists
are better organized than other political groups. Al-Sager
responded that the Islamists would benefit initially, but
that people would quickly tire of them once they came into
office and the liberals would surge.


10. (C) The U/S asked how the USG could help to encourage
political reform. In the Kuwaiti context, Al-Sager urged the
USG to stay out of Kuwaiti domestic affairs because American
policies in Iraq and Israel/Palestine had tarnished the image
of the U.S. He expressed skepticism whether even
non-official assistance (e.g. through NGOs) would be
beneficial. On the regional level, Al-Sager suggested
symposia between parties to Middle Eastern conflicts would be
useful. He suggested a session in Kuwait to bring together
Iranians and Arabs, a session in Qatar to bring Iraqi
factions together, and a session in Saudi Arabia to gather
Lebanese parties. Lastly, he added that including Americans
not currently in Government, such as James Baker and Lee

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Hamilton, in these symposia might also be helpful.


11. (C) U/S Dobriansky encouraged the Kuwaiti parliament to
take up the issue of Trafficking in Persons (TIP). With
clarification of the U.S. definition of TIP, Al-Sager agreed
that TIP was a crucial issue and offered several examples of
abuse faced by maids in Kuwait. Al-Sager assured the U/S
that he would push anti-TIP legislation in the parliament.

FM Helps on Conference Visas, Inquires about Student Visas
-------------- --------------


12. (C) The Foreign Minister expressed his support for the
conference and inquired as to whether visa problems for the
Turkish participants had been solved. The U/S said they had,
but that Iraqi participants were having trouble. The Foreign
Minister said he would look into it. (Note: several hours
later, an Iraqi participant received a visa. End note.) The
Minister added that he hoped there would be significant
follow-up activities to the conference. Returning to the
issue of visas, the Minister raised what he called "overly
harsh treatment" by the Department of Homeland Security of
Kuwaiti students studying in the U.S., citing an example of
two Kuwaitis in custody on technicalities, and said it was
discouraging Kuwaitis from wanting to study in the United
States.

FM: GCC 2 will Express Concern over Maliki Sectarianism
-------------- --------------


13. (C) The Minister said he was looking forward to
President Bush's upcoming speech on a revised strategy for
Iraq as well as to seeing Secretary Rice at the GCC 2
meeting on January 16. He said there were some minor issues
with the text of the joint communique but that the GOK was
pleased with it overall. He informed the U/S that Secretary
Rice should expect to hear concerns about where democracy was
leading Iraq. Some of the GCC 2, he said, see the current
Maliki government as a sectarian regime rather than a
democracy. The U/S said she would convey this message and
that Secretary Rice would provide a full readout of the
President's new policy. On Iraq, the Foreign Minister noted
Kuwaiti interest in an LA Times interview with Henry
Kissinger, in which he said the President had to choose
between democracy and stability, and that the U.S. could not
impose its values on other countries. The U/S cited the
Secretary's Egypt speech, which rejected the

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stability/security dichotomy and emphasized that democratic
transitions take time and are not without their ups and downs.


14. (C) On the execution of Saddam Hussein, the Foreign
Minister noted the strong statements by Kuwaiti MPs in a
special session of parliament which were critical of the
reaction of the Arab street and the governments of Jordan,
Yemen, and Libya for what they called the glorification of
Saddam. In particular, he pointed to liberal MP Meshari
Al-Anjari's statement as especially significant. Al-Anjari
said there is something seriously wrong with Arab culture to
see a "thug" like Saddam as a hero. He called for reform of
educational curricula and a reconsideration of what kind of
people are held up as role models in the region. This
reaction by the "Arab Street," the Foreign Minister said, was
evidence of frustration, and he cited an Arab proverb: "When
matters are calm, wise men are heard. When matters are
unsettled, evil rules." He said the President's
determination to create a two-state solution to the
Palestinian-Israeli crisis and his appointment of Secretary
Rice to spearhead the effort were an especially important
tool in eliminating that frustration.


Polio, Trafficking and Lebanon
--------------


15. (C) At the close of the meeting U/S Dobriansky raised
three points. First, she urged that Kuwait contribute
additional funds to global efforts to eradicate polio,
offering to provide the Foreign Minister with a point of
contact at UNICEF. The Foreign Minister believed Kuwait had
already contributed but was amenable to further
contributions. Second, she asked that the GOK look into
improving anti-TIP legislation and providing a shelter for
trafficking victims. The FM said he was very familiar with
the issue from his time in New York and said he would pass
the shelter issue on to the Minister of Social Affairs and
Labor. Finally, the U/S expressed the USG's hope for Kuwaiti
support on UNSCR 1737 and for continued support for the
government of Lebanon. The FM said Kuwait was "100%" behind
UNSCR 1737 and that he would tell this to the Iranians in a

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visit to Iran next week. He was optimistic that there would
be progress at the next review of the mandate set out in
UNSCR 1737 currently scheduled for March 2007.

Prime Minister: Committed to Women in Science
--------------


16. (U) The U/S, along with a small group of the most
prominent participants from the Women Leaders in Science,
Technology and Engineering Conference met with Prime Minister
Shaykh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah at his invitation. During
the meeting the women were direct and outspoken about the
need to continue to have conferences of this kind that
focused on women as leaders in the fields of science and
engineering. Several of the women said they were especially
disappointed by the lack of work opportunities available to
the many well-trained female science graduates in the Arab
world. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the
women's concerns and promised his full support for future
efforts. He noted his personal support for the current
conference and offered to host next year,s event and cited
the possibility of making this an annual conference in Kuwait.

Lunch Meeting with Female Activists
--------------


17. (C) The Ambassador hosted a lunch for the U/S along
with six of Kuwait's most prominent female activists:

* Dr. Rola Dashti, head of the Kuwait Economic Society;
* Dr. Badria Al-Awadhi, former Dean of Law at Kuwait
University;
* Dr. Fatima Abdali, Team Leader, Health, Safety, and
Environment Group, Kuwait Oil Company
* Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa, Professor, Political Science
Department, Kuwait University
* Dr. Moudhi Al-Hamoud, Rector of the Arab Open University;
* Dr. Farida Al-Habib, Head of Cardiology, Kuwait Military
Hospital

Comment: The discussion among this group of politically
active and diverse women was frank and at some times heated
(not all agree on where the problems are and how to fix them)
and was evidence of a maturing dialogue on these issues in
Kuwait. End Comment.


18. (C) Dr. Dashti started by saying that Kuwaiti women's
participation in the 2006 elections was impressive and cut
across all sectors of society. She said the elections have
changed the discourse on women,s issues causing male MPs to
"say more of the right things," but regretted that so far the
talk has not been translated into action. In particular,
Rola emphasized how crucial it was for the next election to
provide training so women could improve their use of the
media in support of their political activities. She also
noted that surveys she had carried out showed that 75% of
Kuwaitis did not know the political affiliation of the
candidates they voted for. She concluded that votes were
based on the personal qualities of the candidates rather than
their political leanings, and added that this provides a
major opportunity for women. She also noted that elections
like Egypt's and Palestine's were more of a protest than a
real vote for Islamists.


19. (C) Dr. Moudhi Al-Hamoud lamented the state of
education in Kuwait. She especially cited the influence of
the Islamists, who she said are squeezing educational
curricula and other areas of public life. She noted the
importance of legalizing political parties since Islamists
could fundraise through charities while liberals could not.


20. (C) Dr. Farida Al-Habib echoed the concerns about the
fundamentalists, noting that they pulled down posters for a
hypertension conference she was organizing due to their
resentment of a woman enjoying professional success. She
stated that she thinks the status of Kuwaiti women is
actually worse than it was at the time of Kuwait's
independence in 1961.


21. (C) Dr. Badria Al-Awadhi said that because of the focus
on political participation, other areas of women's rights are
being ignored. For example, there are erosions in women's
rights in areas such as personal status but women are not
paying attention to these threats. She noted that the
fundamentalists have been able to attract more support among
women than the liberals because they are more skilled in
making their appeals to Kuwaiti women.


22. (C) Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa stressed the importance of

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change coming from the highest levels of power. She
recounted a recent trip to Riyadh and how she did not have to
cover herself, attributing the change to King Abdullah's
reining in of the morality police. She also pointed out that
it was the personal involvement of then-Prime Minister (now
Amir) Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah that pushed women's political
rights through the parliament.


23. (C) Dr. Fatima Abdali, who like Rola Dashti ran a
widely-respected campaign for parliament in 2006, said she
favors the establishment of a quota to ensure women's
election to the parliament. Although she originally opposed
it on the grounds that women should win seats on their own
merits, she now thinks that women serving in the parliament
for a term or two is necessary to show men that women can
serve effectively.



24. U/S Dobriansky cleared this message.

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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/

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Tueller