KUWAITI FM RAISES CONCERNS OVER IRAQ WITH DEPUTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001048

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI FM RAISES CONCERNS OVER IRAQ WITH DEPUTY
SECRETARY

Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (C) Summary: In an October 7 meeting, Deputy Secretary
Negroponte told Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Al
Sabah that a just-completed country-wide visit to Iraq had
revealed significant signs of stabilization and progress
there. The Deputy Secretary said that, despite problems,
Prime Minister Maliki has shown he has staying power and is a
national leader, not merely a sectarian one. The Kuwaiti FM
took the opportunity to remind Negroponte of Kuwait's ongoing
concerns over potential destabilization in Iraq and its
concommittant desire for a continuing USG presence there.
The FM also detailed chronic GOK frustration and concern over
Iraq's refusal, thus far, to designate an Ambassador to
Kuwait, its intransigence on border issues, and its finagling
on debt. The FM also shared with the Deputy Secretary
Kuwait's irritation over the USG designation of the
Kuwaiti-based Revival of Islamic Heritage Society as a
terrorist organization and the continuing detention of four
Kuwaitis in Guantanamo. The FM promised that Kuwait will be
a responsible team player in the effort to resolve the global
financial crisis. End Summary.

D Sees Progress Towards Normalcy in Much of Iraq
-------------- ---


2. (C) Meeting at the FM's home, Masilla Palace, Deputy
Secretary Negroponte on October 7 briefed Deputy Premier and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah
Al-Salem Al Sabah on his October 3 - 7 visit to Iraq, which
included stops in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Sulemaniya, Mosul, Irbil,
Ramadi, and Basra. Negroponte noted that Iraq had made
significant progress towards stablization since his 2004 -
2005 posting as Ambassador there, commenting that in cities
like Ramadi a degree of normalcy had returned; this was a far
cry from the case four years earlier, when Al-Qaeda had
dominated the city. It was now possible to walk about the
city, Negroponte observed, this time protected by Iraqi
police and security forces from the Awakening Movement rather
than predominantly the U.S. military. The focus of concern,
he suggested, had moved northwards to Mosul, where Al Qaeda
"remnants" remained active.

GOK Nervous on Iraq: Hopes for Continuing U.S. Role
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Dr. Mohammad noted that the GOK was encouraged by
Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al Sabah's September
18 - 19 visit to Washington, which included a "great meeting
with the President". The FM said the President had allayed
GOK concerns about a possible shift in U.S. focus following
the November elections when he assured the PM that the USG
would remain committed to security in the Gulf.
Notwithstanding these assurances, the FM said the GOK
remained nervous about stability and security in Iraq and was
concerned that negotiations on a Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA) between the USG and Iraq had not been resolved. The FM
inquired into the status of the SOFA negotiations, expressing
concern that a change of administration in the U.S. could
lead to diminished focus on the region.


4. (C) Negroponte responded that the U.S. role in the Gulf is
based on long-term strategic interests. The situation in Iraq
has improved so the issue is not as polarizing domestically
as it once was. Overall Gulf security is not a matter of
partisan controversy and one could reasonably expect a
consistent U.S. presence in the region. The present U.S.
administration desires to leave Iraq in the best possible
condition for its successors and, to that end, hopes to have
a SOFA in place. A SOFA will be needed to provide a
continuing legal basis for U.S. operations there, following
the expiration of the UNSC mandate on December 31.
Negroponte observed that virtually all the senior Iraqis he
had met with favor a SOFA, recognize that gaps remain in
their domestic security apparatus, and desire a continued
U.S. presence. Given the common interest in a SOFA,
Negroponte said he hoped the negotiations would be concluded
successfully and soon.


Kuwait Frustrated With Iraqi Intransigence on Borders, Debt
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Continuing the theme of GOK stability concerns, FM Al
Sabah reiterated that Kuwait views a U.S. presence in Iraq as
essential to Kuwait's security for the foreseeable future.
Stability will take time. The FM acknowledged that he was
"not thrilled" with Iraqi PM Maliki's policies and was
particularly concerned by a perceived Iranian campaign to

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"criminalize" any Iraqi who supports a U.S. role in Iraq.
Dr. Mohammad described the GOK's continuing frustrations to
improve relations with Iraq. Repeated Kuwaiti attempts to
"mend fences" had met no positive response from the Iraqis,
he said. These included the Iraqi failure to designate an
Ambassador to Kuwait, Iraqi refusal to allow a UN team to
complete the maintenance of several border markers, Iraqi
denial of a GOK request to buy a plot of land for its future
embassy inside the Green Zone, ongoing squabbles over
compensation to Kuwait Airways, Iraqi intransigence on
expediting the crossing of commercial vehicles through the
Safwan border crossing, and others. In one of a series of
ongoing provocations, the Iraqis had recently irritated the
GOK by building a structure twelve feet inside the Kuwaiti
border. The FM attributed some of these provocations to the
Iraqi Dawa party (PM Maliki's party) which is "a thorn in our
side." The non-responsiveness of the Maliki government on
border issues, in particular, made it difficult for the GOK
to be more forthcoming on debt and compensation issues, as
desired by Iraq.

Negroponte Counsels Patience on Iraq
--------------


6. (C) Negroponte observed that the process of selecting
ambassadors is a painful one in Iraq and sometimes takes
years. He noted that part of the problem appeared to be
competition between PM Maliki and FM Zebari. Negroponte said
the U.S. would continue to encourage forward movement on
designating an ambassador to Kuwait. He also offered to look
into Kuwait's ongoing dispute with Iraq over compensation to
Kuwait Airways for damages incurred during the 1990 Iraqi
invasion. Resolving the numerous differences between Kuwait
and Iraq will take time, Negroponte noted. Notwithstanding
these issues and many others, Negroponte said he found
significant progress inside Iraq since his arrival there in

2004. Despite concerns, PM Maliki has demonstrated that he
has staying power and that he is a national leader, not just
a sectarian one. The Provincial elections anticipated for
early 2009, he suggested, could broaden and balance the
national political make-up by bringing into government a
number of Sunni officials. Sunnis had boycotted the last
elections but are interested in participating now. These
signs indicate hope for the future.

Fewer Foreign Fighters Cross Syria/Iraq Border
-------------- -


7. (C) In response to a query from Dr. Mohammad about the
situation on the Iraq-Syria border, Negroponte said
conditions have improved significantly. Thanks, in part, to
Syrian interdiction and, in part, to coalition successes
against Al-Qaeda, the number of foreign fighters who
presently cross the border into Iraq is believed to be
significantly lower than in the past. In a sign of improved
Iraq-Syria relations, Iraq is now considering re-building its
pipeline to Syria and providing a limited quantity of oil.

Iran Developing Capability to Produce Nuclear Weapon
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Turning to tensions over Iran's nuclear enrichment
program, Negroponte noted that adoption of UNSCR 1835
recently reconfirmed the international community's resolve on
this issue and that Iran appears "disquieted" by this display
of international unity. Nevertheless, despite international
efforts, Iran continues to enrich uranium and may possess
enough fissile material to build a nuclear bomb sometime in
the next decade. Responding to a query from FM Al Sabah on
the Russian reaction, Negroponte said the Russians have been
supportive of international pressure on Iran but are not as
hard line as the U.S., perhaps because of their desire for a
commercial relationship with Iran.

Kuwait to Host Arab Economic Summit in January
-------------- -


9. (C) Dr. Mohammad briefed Negroponte on Kuwait's plans to
host the first Arab Economic Summit in January 2009. The GOK
hopes the one-day summit will encourage Arab states to
liberalize their financial and economic systems and establish
new institutions for joint ventures between Arab countries.
Commenting on the present global economic crisis, the FM
suggested that Kuwait's long-standing policy of broad
economic investment had left it in sounder financial
condition than many other states. He promised that Kuwait
will be a responsible "team player" in working with the
international community to resolve the crisis.


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GTMO and RIHS Designation Irritate Bilateral Relationship
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Returning to the subject of the Kuwaiti Prime
Minister's September visit to Washington, Dr. Mohammad noted
there are some priority issues to be followed up,
specifically the status of Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo
and the designation by the USG of the Kuwaiti-based Revival
of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS). The FM stressed that the
GOK has found no evidence linking RIHS to terrorist activity
and objects to the U.S. designation. He noted that the
U.S.-based firm Price Waterhouse provides accountancy
services to RIHS. Deputy Secretary Negroponte noted that two
of Kuwait's detainees at Guantanamo would be brought to trial
as the President had informed the PM during their September
19 meeting. Ambassador Jones remarked that Kenneth
Wainstein, Assistant to the President for National Security,
will visit Kuwait soon to engage on these issues.


11. (C) The Deputy Secretary's staff cleared this cable.



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