AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS; CALLS FOR

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