MFA U/S HAMOUD ON THE KHWAR ABD ALLAH WATERWAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000803 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2018 TAGS: MOPS PBTS PTIA IZ KU SUBJECT: MFA U/S HAMOUD ON THE KHWAR ABD ALLAH WATERWAY PROJECT REF: A. REF: KUWAIT 294 ¶B. KUWAIT 238 ¶C. KUWAIT 207 ¶D. KUWAIT 177 ¶E. KUWAIT 131 ¶F. KUWAIT 112 Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. Reasons: 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) Deputy PolMil Counselor passed to MFA Undersecretary Hamoud on March 15 proposed points for inclusion in an Iraqi-Kuwaiti MOU on the salvage operation related to the Khwar Abd Allah waterway project. Also conveyed was the information contained in ref A regarding Kuwaiti willingness to meet with GOI counterparts and the Kuwaiti offer to finance the salvage operation. Hamoud cautioned that the unresolved boundaries issue could complicate forward movement on the salvage operation. Deputy PolMil Couns noted that the focus of the MOU was proposed steps forward by the parties to complete the salvage operation. Signature of the MOU would not prejudice subsequent discussions on maritime boundaries issues. ¶2. (C) Hamoud welcomed the points and said he would review them upon his return to Iraq from the Neighbors Refugee Working Group conference in Amman March 17/18. CROCKER