Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT870
2007-06-04 12:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
NATO VISITS LAY GROUNDWORK FOR EXPANDED
how-toVZCZCXRO4360 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0870 1551207 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041207Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9281 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000870
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EV/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO KU
SUBJECT: NATO VISITS LAY GROUNDWORK FOR EXPANDED
COOPERATION WITH 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 000870
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EV/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO KU
SUBJECT: NATO VISITS LAY GROUNDWORK FOR EXPANDED
COOPERATION WITH KUWAIT
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On June 2, the Polish Embassy, the NATO Contact Point
Embassy in Kuwait, briefed resident NATO member embassies on
recent NATO visits to Kuwait. From May 6-7, NATO officials
conducted a workshop on Civil Emergency Planning and Crisis
Management in Kuwait. The team emphasized radiological
threats and evaluated Kuwait's crisis management system.
Kuwait has skilled personnel, up-to-date technical equipment,
and good cooperation with the IAEA in implementing standards
and procedures, but convoluted chains of command undermine
the GOK's ability to respond to a high intensity crisis.
NATO offered to assist Kuwait in organizing a crisis exercise
to improve response capability.
2. (C) From May 11-14, a NATO training assessment team
presented a briefing on the NATO Training Cooperation
Initiative (NTCI) to representatives of the Kuwaiti
government involved in training, planning and execution.
Kuwait faces a number of challenges in benefiting fully from
NTCI: lack of language proficiency among field commanders;
incongruence between the GOK's and NATO's budget and planning
cycle; and limits on numbers of participants from Kuwait and
other Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) countries.
Kuwait is also reluctant to participate in any NATO security
cooperation initiatives with Mediterranean Dialogue countries
which would necessarily include Israel. On May 17, General
Lance Smith, the NATO Supreme Allied Commander for
Transformation and Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command,
visited Kuwait to secure support for NTCI. Kuwait expressed
preliminary interest in sending a Liaison Officer to SHAPE HQ
in Mons, Belgium.
3. (C) On upcoming NATO activities in the region, the Polish
Embassy reported that the NATO Public Diplomacy Division will
hold a seminar in Bahrain June 5-6.
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EV/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO KU
SUBJECT: NATO VISITS LAY GROUNDWORK FOR EXPANDED
COOPERATION WITH KUWAIT
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On June 2, the Polish Embassy, the NATO Contact Point
Embassy in Kuwait, briefed resident NATO member embassies on
recent NATO visits to Kuwait. From May 6-7, NATO officials
conducted a workshop on Civil Emergency Planning and Crisis
Management in Kuwait. The team emphasized radiological
threats and evaluated Kuwait's crisis management system.
Kuwait has skilled personnel, up-to-date technical equipment,
and good cooperation with the IAEA in implementing standards
and procedures, but convoluted chains of command undermine
the GOK's ability to respond to a high intensity crisis.
NATO offered to assist Kuwait in organizing a crisis exercise
to improve response capability.
2. (C) From May 11-14, a NATO training assessment team
presented a briefing on the NATO Training Cooperation
Initiative (NTCI) to representatives of the Kuwaiti
government involved in training, planning and execution.
Kuwait faces a number of challenges in benefiting fully from
NTCI: lack of language proficiency among field commanders;
incongruence between the GOK's and NATO's budget and planning
cycle; and limits on numbers of participants from Kuwait and
other Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) countries.
Kuwait is also reluctant to participate in any NATO security
cooperation initiatives with Mediterranean Dialogue countries
which would necessarily include Israel. On May 17, General
Lance Smith, the NATO Supreme Allied Commander for
Transformation and Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command,
visited Kuwait to secure support for NTCI. Kuwait expressed
preliminary interest in sending a Liaison Officer to SHAPE HQ
in Mons, Belgium.
3. (C) On upcoming NATO activities in the region, the Polish
Embassy reported that the NATO Public Diplomacy Division will
hold a seminar in Bahrain June 5-6.
********************************************* *
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