Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT238
2008-03-03 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
MOI U/S ON TIP, CEIP AND BORDERS WITH IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXYZ3358 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKU #0238/01 0631552 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 031552Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0896 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000238
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018
TAGS: ASEC EPET ELAB PREL PHUM KCIP PGOV PTER KU
SUBJECT: MOI U/S ON TIP, CEIP AND BORDERS WITH IRAQ
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reason 1.4 (
b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000238
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018
TAGS: ASEC EPET ELAB PREL PHUM KCIP PGOV PTER KU
SUBJECT: MOI U/S ON TIP, CEIP AND BORDERS WITH IRAQ
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reason 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 20, CDA met with new Ministry
of Interior (MOI) U/S, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Al-Rujaib to discuss
TIP, Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection and
Kuwait-Iraq border issues. On TIP, Al-Rujaib said that the
U.S. report was "exaggerated" and laid blame for violations
on third-country nationals as well as Kuwaitis. With regard
to CEIP, Al-Rujaib told CDA that MOI, vice the National
Security Board (NSB) handles the security for vital
installations and should be the signatory for any CEIP MOU
with the USG, should the GOK decide to sign it. Al-Rujaib
downplayed border concerns between Kuwait and Iraq and was
non-committal to a proposed joint USG-GOK visit to the border
area to demonstrate to the GOK the importance of a border
crossing in the vicinity of Camp Bucca. The CDA also briefed
Al-Rujaib on the importance of restarting the salvage
operation in the Khor Abdullah waterway. END SUMMARY.
---
TIP
---
2. (C) On February 20, CDA met with newly appointed (as of
January 21) MOI U/S, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Al-Rujaib to discuss TIP,
CEIP and Kuwait-Iraq border issues. CDA described the annual
TIP report and highlighted that last year the GOK committed
to the following: opening of a permanent shelter, increased
prosecutions, passing anti-TIP legislation and TIP-related
training for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges.
3. (A) Al-Rujaib deferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs
and Labor (MOSAL) as the lead agency on TIP. He also
commented that last year's report was "exaggerated" and
pointed out that not only Kuwaitis, but also third-country
nationals committed TIP related crimes. He offered his
support to combat this issue, but asked that requests for
TIP-related information be channeled through the MFA. (NOTE:
On February 7, Post submitted a list of questions related to
TIP through the MFA but has not received a response from any
of the relevant ministries. END NOTE)
--------------
CEIP
--------------
4. (C) CDA told Al-Rujaib that a draft MOU on CEIP was sent
to the GOK over eight months ago, but to date there had been
no action and it was unclear who would have the lead in
signing the MOU on the Kuwaiti side. CDA asked for
clarification on the roles played by MOI and the National
Security Bureau (NSB). Al-Rujaib responded that the NSB was
merely a coordination body and that MOI has the
responsibility for the security of all vital installations
(NOTE: MOI provides only external perimeter security for oil
infrastructure. Other GOK entities are responsible for
internal security for oil infrastructure. END NOTE). He also
added that MOI handles all security MOUs and asked to see a
copy of the draft MOU (which Post sent over forthwith).
--------------
BORDERS WITH IRAQ
--------------
5. (C) CDA briefed Al-Rujaib on ongoing discussions with the
Ministry of Defense regarding opening another border crossing
into Iraq near the Camp Bucca military detention facility.
CDA pressed the need for the additional border crossing and
extended an invitation to Al-Rujaib to visit the border area
in early March with MFA U/S Khaled Al-Jarallah. CDA also
discussed the halted salvage operation in the Khor Abdullah
waterway and the difficulty in demarcating maritime borders.
Al-Rujaib was non-committal regarding the visit to the border
and emphasized to CDA that there were no issues with either
the land or maritime borders with Iraq. He noted that the UN
had clearly demarcated the borders. Al-Rujaib deferred to
the MFA on further border concerns.
6. (C) COMMENT: U/S Al-Rujaib is consistently reserved and
reluctant to risk criticism within the GOK by staking out a
potentially risky position in response to USG requests. That
said, his position makes him an essential player on TIP,
CEIP, and other high priority issues. End Comment.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
Misneheimer
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018
TAGS: ASEC EPET ELAB PREL PHUM KCIP PGOV PTER KU
SUBJECT: MOI U/S ON TIP, CEIP AND BORDERS WITH IRAQ
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reason 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 20, CDA met with new Ministry
of Interior (MOI) U/S, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Al-Rujaib to discuss
TIP, Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection and
Kuwait-Iraq border issues. On TIP, Al-Rujaib said that the
U.S. report was "exaggerated" and laid blame for violations
on third-country nationals as well as Kuwaitis. With regard
to CEIP, Al-Rujaib told CDA that MOI, vice the National
Security Board (NSB) handles the security for vital
installations and should be the signatory for any CEIP MOU
with the USG, should the GOK decide to sign it. Al-Rujaib
downplayed border concerns between Kuwait and Iraq and was
non-committal to a proposed joint USG-GOK visit to the border
area to demonstrate to the GOK the importance of a border
crossing in the vicinity of Camp Bucca. The CDA also briefed
Al-Rujaib on the importance of restarting the salvage
operation in the Khor Abdullah waterway. END SUMMARY.
---
TIP
---
2. (C) On February 20, CDA met with newly appointed (as of
January 21) MOI U/S, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Al-Rujaib to discuss TIP,
CEIP and Kuwait-Iraq border issues. CDA described the annual
TIP report and highlighted that last year the GOK committed
to the following: opening of a permanent shelter, increased
prosecutions, passing anti-TIP legislation and TIP-related
training for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges.
3. (A) Al-Rujaib deferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs
and Labor (MOSAL) as the lead agency on TIP. He also
commented that last year's report was "exaggerated" and
pointed out that not only Kuwaitis, but also third-country
nationals committed TIP related crimes. He offered his
support to combat this issue, but asked that requests for
TIP-related information be channeled through the MFA. (NOTE:
On February 7, Post submitted a list of questions related to
TIP through the MFA but has not received a response from any
of the relevant ministries. END NOTE)
--------------
CEIP
--------------
4. (C) CDA told Al-Rujaib that a draft MOU on CEIP was sent
to the GOK over eight months ago, but to date there had been
no action and it was unclear who would have the lead in
signing the MOU on the Kuwaiti side. CDA asked for
clarification on the roles played by MOI and the National
Security Bureau (NSB). Al-Rujaib responded that the NSB was
merely a coordination body and that MOI has the
responsibility for the security of all vital installations
(NOTE: MOI provides only external perimeter security for oil
infrastructure. Other GOK entities are responsible for
internal security for oil infrastructure. END NOTE). He also
added that MOI handles all security MOUs and asked to see a
copy of the draft MOU (which Post sent over forthwith).
--------------
BORDERS WITH IRAQ
--------------
5. (C) CDA briefed Al-Rujaib on ongoing discussions with the
Ministry of Defense regarding opening another border crossing
into Iraq near the Camp Bucca military detention facility.
CDA pressed the need for the additional border crossing and
extended an invitation to Al-Rujaib to visit the border area
in early March with MFA U/S Khaled Al-Jarallah. CDA also
discussed the halted salvage operation in the Khor Abdullah
waterway and the difficulty in demarcating maritime borders.
Al-Rujaib was non-committal regarding the visit to the border
and emphasized to CDA that there were no issues with either
the land or maritime borders with Iraq. He noted that the UN
had clearly demarcated the borders. Al-Rujaib deferred to
the MFA on further border concerns.
6. (C) COMMENT: U/S Al-Rujaib is consistently reserved and
reluctant to risk criticism within the GOK by staking out a
potentially risky position in response to USG requests. That
said, his position makes him an essential player on TIP,
CEIP, and other high priority issues. End Comment.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
Misneheimer