Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT392
2008-04-09 15:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

MFA U/S COMMENTS ON AL SUMMIT, LEBANON AND KOSOVO

Tags:  PREL PGOV KU ZL XF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7665
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #0392 1001517
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 091517Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1161
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0008
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000392 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/ELA AND EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU ZL XF
SUBJECT: MFA U/S COMMENTS ON AL SUMMIT, LEBANON AND KOSOVO

Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000392

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/ELA AND EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU ZL XF
SUBJECT: MFA U/S COMMENTS ON AL SUMMIT, LEBANON AND KOSOVO

Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: In an April 8 conversation with CDA, MFA U/S
Khaled Al-Jarallah commented on the recently-concluded Arab
League Summit, initiatives by Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri to
resolve his country's presidential crisis, and the lack of a
GCC decision to recognize Kosovo. Discussion of Iraq issues
reported septel. End summary.

AL Summit Fruitless
--------------


2. (C) U/S Jarallah downplayed the significance of the
recently concluded Arab League Summit in Damascus, admitting
"We achieved nothing." He quipped that the only substantive
decision reached was to hold the next AL Summit in Doha,
instead of Somalia. The U/S noted the Amir's frustration
with the summit's lengthy agenda (30 topics) and said he
recommended a much narrower scope for future agendas.
Jarallah observed that Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad proved
to be a "smooth" host, but did nothing to facilitate actual
achievement. Libyan President Ghaddafi annoyed the Amir and
other Gulfis with the bizarre assertion that 80 percent of
the population of the Gulf states is 'Ajam (i.e. of Persian
origin). The Amir's pointed riposte - "Do you believe that I
am Ajami?" - initiated a pointless contretemps that typified
the entire dead-end summit.

Berri to Host a "National Dialogue"
--------------


3. (C) Jarallah expressed intense interest in the latest
developments in the Lebanon crisis. According to Jarallah,
Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri said during the AL Summit that
Al-Asad is optimistic about the situation in Lebanon and is
willing to cooperate in resolving the political impasse.
Consequently, Berri has invited all Lebanese stakeholders to
participate in a "National Dialogue" to plot a way forward -
an invitation rejected by PM Siniora. Jarallah claimed that,
overall, the GOK had seen some movement on Lebanon and
intimated that the French were planning to approach Iran,
Syria and Lebanon with new hope of resolving the presidential
impasse. Lastly, the U/S suggested that Siniora may visit
Kuwait the week of April 13.

GCC to Recognize Kosovo ... "Soon"
--------------


4. (C) In response to CDA's request for an update on GOK
policy toward Kosovo, Jarallah said he was "amazed" that the
Islamic states failed to recognize Kosovo's independence
during the Organization of Islamic Conference meeting in
Dakar last month. He reasoned that opposition from
Indonesia, Morocco and Turkey had likely scuttled the issue.
Jarallah said each GCC country would now consider this matter
individually, but assured CDA - as he has on several previous
occasions - that GOK and GCC recognition would be coming
"soon."

********************************************* *
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