Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT438
2008-04-20 10:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS; CALLS FOR

Tags:  PREL PGOV KU IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2658
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0438 1111016
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201016Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1254
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1194
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000438 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS; CALLS FOR
INCREASED GOK SUPPORT FOR IRAQ

Classified By: Ambassador Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000438

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS; CALLS FOR
INCREASED GOK SUPPORT FOR IRAQ

Classified By: Ambassador Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (C) On April 20 Ambassador called on FM Dr. Mohammed
Sabah al-Salem Al Sabah at Bayan Palace for initial
presentation of credentials. Upon his acceptance of the copy
of her credentials, AMB Jones is able to begin a limited
range of diplomatic duties, including full support for the
Secretary's participation in the April 21-22 Iraq Neighbors

SIPDIS
Conference.


2. (C) AMB Jones took advantage of the meeting to underscore
with the FM the importance of increased Kuwaiti engagement in
support of the Iraqi government, including through an
exchange of ambassadors; while not a panacea for Iraq's ills,
the symbolism was potent. Dr. Mohammed agreed, noting that
PM Maliki's recent initiative to rein in the power of
militias in and around Basrah showed that he was acting "more
like a statesman and less like the head of a party, " and
deserved that approbation of Arab governments.


3. (C) On the ambassadorial question, the Kuwait FM
recounted a recent conversation with Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari,
in which the latter explained that the GOI had been unable to
settle on an ambassador-designate for Kuwait because of
intense competition for the post among many qualified
candidates. Dr. Mohammed joked that he was of course
delighted to hear of such positive Iraqi interest in the post
of ambassador to Kuwait, but added, seriously, that Kuwait
could not officially name its own ambassadorial nominee until
Iraq did so. Nevertheless, he pointed out that retired GEN
Ali al-Mumin - Kuwait's longstanding, if unofficial,
ambassador-designate - was a frequent visitor to Iraq in
connection with his role as coordinator of Kuwait's
humanitarian assistance program.


4. (C) Concluding, Dr. Mohammed warmly welcomed the arrival
of AMB Jones and stressed the excellent state of the
U.S.-Kuwait bilateral relationship.

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