DEMARCHE DELIVERED:MARCH 5-6 ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000258 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN SY KV KU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED:MARCH 5-6 ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL REF: STATE 19473 Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) On March 4, A/POLCOUNS delivered reftel points to MFA International Organizations (IO) Counselor Dr. Hamad Bou Rahma. Lebanon -------------- ¶2. (C) Bou Rahma agreed that SARG's allowing the Lebanese political stalemate to continue puts the upcoming Arab Summit in jeopardy. He also said that Saudi Arabia was clearly upset with the lack of cooperation recently from Syria, but has yet to make a decision on attendance. He added that Kuwait's decision to attend the summit, and at what level, would be made after consultation with the GCC. Kosovo -------------- ¶3. (C) Bou Rahma stated that Kuwait, as well as all OIC states, support Kosovo independence, and added that it was just "a matter of time" before an official statement recognizing Kosovo independence would be issued. Iraq -------------- ¶4. (C) Bou Rahma had no substantive comments on Iraq demarche points. However, in an earlier meeting, IO Director Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi spoke of GOK plans for the April 22 Iraq Neighbors Ministerial. Otaibi said that the GOK extended invitations to the ministerial to Oman, QATAR and UAE, as ministers from each of these countries will supposedly be in Kuwait for an April 21 GCC 2 meeting. Otaibi also stated that the April 22 date is firm, and that though he knew of concerns that the UN SYG will not be able to attend, he had received no official request for a date change. ********************************************* * 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