AFGHANISTAN: AMBASSADOR URGES NEW ENVOY TO

S E C R E T KUWAIT 000991 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USAID, NEA/ARP FOR JACKSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2017 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KU PREL PTER SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: AMBASSADOR URGES NEW ENVOY TO COORDINATE WITH GOK ON SECURITY, RESOLVE ARREARS REF: A. KUWAIT 903 ¶B. KUWAIT 751 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a June 26 courtesy call with Ambassador LeBaron, new Afghan Ambassador to Kuwait Abdul Rahim Karimi sought U.S. assistance in facilitating stronger ties between Afghanistan and Kuwait. Karimi said the Kuwaiti leadership had not forgotten that Afghan President Karzai had not attended the former Amir's funeral in early 2006, or that Karzai had never visited Kuwait despite travel to neighboring Gulf countries. Kuwait and Afghanistan should enjoy close relations, Karimi said, but he hoped the U.S. could help "break the ice." ¶2. (S) Ambassador LeBaron suggested several steps that Afghanistan might take to help strengthen the relationship. The Ambassador recommended Karimi coordinate closely with Kuwait security services, given the evidence that some Kuwaitis were fighting alongside or supporting the Taleban. He suggested further that Karimi develop a relationship in particular with Kuwait's National Security Bureau. ¶3. (C) On the economic side, Ambassador LeBaron noted the Kuwait Fund for Social and Economic Development sought to be more active in providing aid to Afghanistan, but could not because of unpaid loans dating back to the 1970s (Ref A). He stressed the Fund was not demanding immediate repayment or onerous terms but rather a sign of the GOA's commitment to resolving the issue. Karimi said he would establish a relationship with the Kuwait Fund. Bio Note -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Karimi arrived in Kuwait in February ¶2007. He is from Tokhar Province. He served as Justice Minister in 2004 and described himself as "one of Karzai's reformers" and a participant in the Bonn Conference. He speaks Arabic in addition to Dari, but almost no English (First Secretary Fazlullah Reshteen accompanied as an interpreter). He has visited the U.S. on three occasions, one of which included a visit to the Supreme Court and participation on a panel on Afghan reconstruction hosted by the U.S. Institute for Peace in 2002. ********************************************* * 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