DEMARCHE DELIVERED: URGING SUPPORT FOR UNRWA -

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000931 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/ELA, EB, PRM/ANE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2017 TAGS: EFIN EAID ECON PREL KU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: URGING SUPPORT FOR UNRWA - LEBANON AND GAZA/WEST BANK REF: A. STATE 78944 ¶B. KUWAIT 902 ¶C. KUWAIT 833 ¶D. KUWAIT 821 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) Following up on the Ambassador's June 10 meeting with MFA Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah, Econoff delivered ref A demarche to MFA Arab World Department Director Jassim Mubarak Al-Mubariki on June 13. Mubariki came to the meeting directly from a meeting between GOK Deputy Prime Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah and Lebanese Ambassador to Kuwait Joadat Al-Hajjar. According to Mubariki, Ambassador Al-Hajjar urged the GOK to consider additional assistance beyond the USD 5 million in humanitarian aid approved by a GOK Cabinet resolution on May 27, 2007. Mubariki told Econoff that the GOK will consider the request and reiterated the GOK's longstanding support for the government and people of Lebanon. He noted that foreign interference in Lebanon, namely that of Iran and a "no name" country - a clear allusion to Syria - continues to be problematic. These countries, he explained, are known to support insurgent forces that have bases in Lebanon thereby undermining Lebanese government efforts. Mubaraki asked why, if the U.S. is truly committed to Lebanon, it does not provide weapons to the Lebanese government. He also inquired about a "G8 sanctioned" trip to Lebanon by the French PM. The Kuwaiti Embassy in Paris has little information about the trip and the GOK has not been briefed by the French Embassy in Kuwait, said Mubariki, welcoming additional information on the visit from the U.S. ¶2. (C/NF) During the June 13 meeting with Econoff, Mubariki noted that since 2002 the GOK has pledged USD 181 million in cash to the Palestinians, both to the Presidency and to the Palestinian people. To date, he reported that USD 131 million has been transfered to the Presidency via Kuwait's mission in Cairo, approximately forty percent of which was used to cover salaries. Mubariki said the remaining pledge of USD 80 million is on hold, pending resolution of the current crisis between Hamas and Fatah. ********************************************* * 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