MOI U/S ON TIP, CEIP AND BORDERS WITH IRAQ

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