(C) DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AMMO TO LAF; KUWAIT AN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000821 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/ELA FOR IRWIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2027 TAGS: PREL PTER MARR MASS LE KU SUBJECT: (C) DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AMMO TO LAF; KUWAIT AN UNLIKELY SOURCE REF: STATE 70449 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) The Ambassador made reftel demarche to the Defense and Foreign Ministries on May 23. The Ambassador sent a message to Defense Minister Shaykh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah requesting material or financial aid. He also advised MFA Acting Minister Faisal Al-Mashan of the importance of Kuwait and other allies providing ammunition and/or money to buy the same to the Lebanese Armed Forces. Al-Mashan, who is running the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the Foreign Minister is in Washington and the Undersecretary is abroad with the Prime Minister, told the Ambassador he would convey the request to the Foreign Minster, who is in Washington for meetings. ¶2. (C/NF) PolOff also raised the need for support with Shaykh Thamer Al-Sabah, the Office Director for the President of the National Security Bureau. Shaykh Thamer replied that the GOK does not provide arms or ammunition to foreign countries and had refused similar requests in the recent past. Shaykh Thamer told PolOff that senior Kuwaiti officials had made statements of support for the Lebanese government. A Foreign Ministry senior source said on the 21st that "the actions of Fatah Al-Islam are irresponsible and a violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon, and threaten the security and stability, and harms the Lebanese national unity." ¶3. (C/NF) The Kuwaiti Armed Forces have been advising us for some time of their own need to replenish ammunition stocks, and increase them. Our U.S. advisers to the Kuwait armed forces believe the Kuwaitis have only about one basic load of each kind of compatible ammunition- enough for one fight only. That said, the GOK would be in a position to provide money to buy ammunition. ¶4. (C/NF) According to a local press report, Lebanese Army Chief Inspector General Michel Mansi met with the Kuwait Armed Forces Chief of Staff on Tuesday. We assume he made a pitch for for assistance. ********************************************* * 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