Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT204
2008-02-20 15:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
GOK DISAPPOINTED IN SYRIAN INTRANSIGENCE ON LEBANON
VZCZCXRO2706 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0204 0511559 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 201559Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0848 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 1095 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 3102 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 2497 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1634 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000204
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER KSUM IZ KU
SUBJECT: GOK DISAPPOINTED IN SYRIAN INTRANSIGENCE ON LEBANON
REF: A. KUWAIT 0166
B. KUWAIT 0148
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000204
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER KSUM IZ KU
SUBJECT: GOK DISAPPOINTED IN SYRIAN INTRANSIGENCE ON LEBANON
REF: A. KUWAIT 0166
B. KUWAIT 0148
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: In separate meetings with Former Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright and NEA/I DAS Butler, senior GOK
leaders expressed their disappointment with Syrian President
Bashar Al-Asad and the SARG. Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Nasser Al
Sabah, just back from a trip to Damascus, lamented Syria's
continued interference in Lebanese affairs and said that the
SARG "must yield" on Lebanon. He revealed that he did not
raise the foreign fighters issue with the Syrians. MFA U/S
Al-Jarallah said the GOK was struck by the SARG's nervousness
about lack of movement on the Syrian track of the peace
process. End summary.
2. (C) On February 18, CDA, along with visiting former
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kuwaiti PM
SIPDIS
Shakyh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al Sabah. During the
meeting, Shaykh Nasser expressed his disappointment in Syrian
President Bashar Al-Asad for his country's continued
interference in Lebanese affairs and dismissal of his Arab
neighbors' advice. (Note: The PM had just returned from a
two-day visit to Damascus.) He said the GOK will deliver a
message to the SARG that it "must yield" on Lebanon during
the upcoming Arab League summit in Damascus. He also
commented that the Saudis will not be attending the summit at
all.
3. (C) In an aside, CDA reminded the PM that General Petraeus
spoke at length with the Amir, during their February 4
meeting, about the issue of foreign fighters transiting Syria
to reach Iraq (ref B). CDA asked the PM whether he raised
the issue of foreign fighters during his visit to Damascus
(ref A). The Minister responded with defensive body language
but few words: "Not really."
4. (C) On the same day, NEA/I DAS Butler met with MFA U/S
Khaled Al-Jarallah and queried him as well on the PM's visit
to Damascus. Al-Jarallah lamented that there was nothing new
in Syria's position vis-a-vis Lebanon or Iraq, and said that
the Saudis were pressing the SARG hard to play a positive
role in Lebanon. On the issue of foreign fighters, the U/S
said dismissively that the SARG assured Shakyh Nasser that
Syria was working to stem the flow of jihadists and that it
is keen to see stability in Iraq. Al-Jarallah commented that
Syria's policy of facilitating the transit of jihadists is
dangerous and said that itself Syria could easily become the
target of Al-Qaeda or Hezbollah should these groups decide to
expand their reach.
5. (C) The U/S said he was struck by Syrian nervousness about
lack of movement on the Syrian track, while there was some
progress on other regional issues. Al-Jarallah thought that
Syria might be open to negotiations with Israel provided
there was movement on the Syrian track.
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER KSUM IZ KU
SUBJECT: GOK DISAPPOINTED IN SYRIAN INTRANSIGENCE ON LEBANON
REF: A. KUWAIT 0166
B. KUWAIT 0148
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: In separate meetings with Former Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright and NEA/I DAS Butler, senior GOK
leaders expressed their disappointment with Syrian President
Bashar Al-Asad and the SARG. Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Nasser Al
Sabah, just back from a trip to Damascus, lamented Syria's
continued interference in Lebanese affairs and said that the
SARG "must yield" on Lebanon. He revealed that he did not
raise the foreign fighters issue with the Syrians. MFA U/S
Al-Jarallah said the GOK was struck by the SARG's nervousness
about lack of movement on the Syrian track of the peace
process. End summary.
2. (C) On February 18, CDA, along with visiting former
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kuwaiti PM
SIPDIS
Shakyh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al Sabah. During the
meeting, Shaykh Nasser expressed his disappointment in Syrian
President Bashar Al-Asad for his country's continued
interference in Lebanese affairs and dismissal of his Arab
neighbors' advice. (Note: The PM had just returned from a
two-day visit to Damascus.) He said the GOK will deliver a
message to the SARG that it "must yield" on Lebanon during
the upcoming Arab League summit in Damascus. He also
commented that the Saudis will not be attending the summit at
all.
3. (C) In an aside, CDA reminded the PM that General Petraeus
spoke at length with the Amir, during their February 4
meeting, about the issue of foreign fighters transiting Syria
to reach Iraq (ref B). CDA asked the PM whether he raised
the issue of foreign fighters during his visit to Damascus
(ref A). The Minister responded with defensive body language
but few words: "Not really."
4. (C) On the same day, NEA/I DAS Butler met with MFA U/S
Khaled Al-Jarallah and queried him as well on the PM's visit
to Damascus. Al-Jarallah lamented that there was nothing new
in Syria's position vis-a-vis Lebanon or Iraq, and said that
the Saudis were pressing the SARG hard to play a positive
role in Lebanon. On the issue of foreign fighters, the U/S
said dismissively that the SARG assured Shakyh Nasser that
Syria was working to stem the flow of jihadists and that it
is keen to see stability in Iraq. Al-Jarallah commented that
Syria's policy of facilitating the transit of jihadists is
dangerous and said that itself Syria could easily become the
target of Al-Qaeda or Hezbollah should these groups decide to
expand their reach.
5. (C) The U/S said he was struck by Syrian nervousness about
lack of movement on the Syrian track, while there was some
progress on other regional issues. Al-Jarallah thought that
Syria might be open to negotiations with Israel provided
there was movement on the Syrian track.
********************************************* *
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