CDA LETTER TO MFA CONCERNING PETRAEUS VISIT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000131 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2018 TAGS: PREL PBTS KU IZ SUBJECT: CDA LETTER TO MFA CONCERNING PETRAEUS VISIT AND BORDER ISSUES Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) On January 31, post delivered the following letter from CDA to MFA U/S Khaled Al-Jarallah regarding the February 3-4 visit of General Petraeus to Kuwait. Begin text: Your Excellency: I am pleased to note that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General of the Multi-National Forces in Iraq, will be visiting Kuwait on February 3-4, 2008. The General is currently scheduled to meet with His Highness Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait; His Excellency Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the State of Kuwait; His Excellency Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait; and Lieutenant General Fahed Al-Amir, Chief of Staff of the State of Kuwait, on February 4th. We are very pleased that General Petraeus is making this visit to Kuwait so soon after President Bush's very positive visit here. General Petraeus will be prepared to provide current information on developments in Iraq, particularly with regard to Coalition military operations. During his meetings, General Petraeus will hope to explore ways to maximize the positive impact of Kuwait assistance to Iraq, including the possibility of increasing commercial exchanges between the countries, and is likely to touch on the following issues: -- The urgency of Kuwait sending an Ambassador to Iraq; -- The United States Government's request that Kuwait open an additional border crossing with Iraq in the vicinity of Camp Bucca; -- The need for a Memorandum of Understanding between Kuwait and Iraq to guide future salvaging operations in the Khawr Abdullah waterway. The U.S. Embassy will forward a diplomatic note concerning this final point to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly. It is my sincere hope that the Government of Kuwait will have positive updates to convey to General Petraeus on each of the items mentioned above and that we can continue to work together to advance the shared goal of bringing security and stability to Iraq. Sincerely, Alan G. Misenheimer Charge d'Affaires, a.i. End text. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * MISENHEIMER