JUNE 11 WAINSTEIN MEETING WITH SOCIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000695

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/TFS; TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018
TAGS: EFIN KU KTFN PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: JUNE 11 WAINSTEIN MEETING WITH SOCIAL
AFFAIRS/LABOR MINISTER: NEED FOR MORE COOPERATION IN
MONITORING OF CHARITY ACTIVITIES

REF: STATE 48113

Classified By: Ambassador Deborah Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Assistant to the President for Homeland Security
and Counterterrorism, Kenneth L. Wainstein, accompanied by
the Ambassador on June 11 met with newly appointed Minister
of Social Affairs and Labor Bader Al-Duwaila to discuss
U.S.-Kuwaiti CT cooperation. Al-Duwaila thanked Wainstein
for past U.S. cooperation and expressed his desire to expand
cooperation, especially in the effort to monitor charities.
The Minister stressed the particular sensitivity associated
with UNSCR 1267 designation of Kuwait's Revival of Islamic
Heritage Society (RIHS). End Summary

GOK CT efforts: Need for better information sharing
-------------- --------------


2. (C) On June 11, Assistant to the President for Homeland
Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Ken Wainstein,
accompanied by Ambassador Jones, met with newly appointed
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Bader Al-Duwaila to
discuss future steps the GOK and USG can take in the fight
against terrorism, particularly ways to improve cooperation
and information sharing. APHSCT Wainstein acknowledged the
efforts made by the Kuwaitis in combating terrorism
financing, including a recent terrorism financing training
conference and GOK action to freeze the assets of three
Kuwaitis recently designated under UNSCR 1267. APHSCT
Wainstein said the USG appreciated the role the Ministry of
Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) has played in monitoring
charitable giving to ensure that donations do not benefit
terrorist groups.

NSC Director on RIHS
--------------


3. (C) NSC Director for Combating Terrorism, John Duncan
elaborated further on steps needed to identify charitable
organizations that fund terrorist activities, asking for
greater cooperation, and information sharing on a regular
basis. Duncan referred to the pending UNSCR 1267 designation
of the Kuwait-based Revival of Islamic Heritage Society
(reftel),and briefed Al-Duwaila on the rigorous process
undertaken by the USG to document RIHS's involvement in
funding terrorist activities. He urged that the GOK support,
or at a minimum not block, the designation of RIHS offering
to send a Treasury representative to Kuwait for further
discussions if necessary.

Al-Duwaila &suspicion alone is not enough"
--------------


4. (C) Al-Duwaila acknowledged that recently he had seen
reports that charitable organizations based in Kuwait were
contributing to terrorist financing. He requested all
available U.S. information supporting such charges, adding
that the USG needed to draw a line between charity work and
terrorism: "Suspicion alone is not enough to provoke the GOK
to investigate a charitable organization."


5. (C) The Minister expressed particular concern over the
designation of RIHS, stressing the need for confirmation from
the USG that RIHS or any other charitable organization based
in Kuwait is really involved in funding terrorist
organizations. He reiterated that the GOK monitors and
audits all funding of Kuwait-based charitable organizations
and deals severely with any organization suspected of funding
terrorists. He also noted the progress made in the past four
years by the GOK on regulation of charity work in Kuwait,
noting that penalties imposed on charitable organizations
that break the law are significant.


6. (C) APHSCT Wainstein said he appreciated the difference
between charity work and terrorism, and the legitimate
activities of Islamic organizations throughout the world. He
stated that "the issue of charity work is difficult" and
explained that the USG continues working vigorously to
identify those charitable organizations supporting terrorism.
Acknowledging the depth of feelings about this issue, APHSCT
Wainstein emphasized the importance of better coordination
and information sharing between the USG and GOK.


KUWAIT 00000695 002 OF 002



7. (C) The participants of the meetings, which took
place at Ministries Complex included:

U.S.
Ambassador Deborah K. Jones
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security
and Counterterrorism Kenneth L. Wainstein
NSC, Senior Director for Combating Terrorism, Mr. Nicholas
Rasmussen
NSC, Director for Combating Terrorism, Mr. John Duncan
Aide to Mr. Wainstein, Ms. Kate Gladney
Economic Officer, Nita Crespo (notetaker)

MOSAL
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Bader Al-Duwaila
Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development Mansour
Al-Mansour
Director of Societies and Charitable Organizations
Department, Nasser Al-Ammar
MOSAL, Director of the Department of Technical Bureau, Amina
Ghazi


8. (U) This cable has been cleared by Assistant to the
President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism Kenneth Wainstein.

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