PROMINENT KUWAITI MP SEES OPENING TO SYRIA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000937 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/I, NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SY IR KU SUBJECT: PROMINENT KUWAITI MP SEES OPENING TO SYRIA; BELIEVES AMIR WILL DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, a prominent Kuwaiti Member of Parliament (MP) who met with Syrian President Bashar Assad during a late August visit to Damascus, told the Ambassador he perceived an opportunity to drive a wedge between Syria and Iran and move the former closer to the international community. Al-Sager characterized the Iranian regime as the "most dangerous on the planet" and criticized the U.S. for "standing by" as Hizbollah paralyzed Lebanon earlier this summer. On domestic politics, Al-Sager noted continuing tensions between Kuwait's parliament and its weak executive branch, which be believes will cause the Amir to dissolve parliament shortly after it reconvenes in late October. With Kuwait's Prime Minister scheduled to visit Washington in mid-September, Al-Sager's observations provide useful background on some of the issues that will preoccupy the PM and his delegation. End Summary. Opportunity to Woo Syria Away From Iran -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador on August 28 met with Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, for an exchange of views at his private offices in downtown Kuwait. After introductory courtesies, Al-Sager discussed his late August trip to Syria, where he met with President Bashar Assad. Al-Sager decried what he described as U.S. passivity in the face of Hizbollah's blatant domination of Lebanon (while acknowledging his own government's notably silent public posture). Al-Sager stressed his belief it is in U.S. interests to distance Syria from Iran to the extent it can in view of the fact that Syria is financing Iran,s aggressive activities and, in return, Iranian investment in Syria is &huge.8 Al-Sager commented that, on the basis of having met with Assad only four days earlier, he believes &it would not be impossible to separate him from the Iranians.8 Al-Sager said he believes that a &large package8 of assistance from the West could encourage Syria to move away from its alliance with Iran and back into the fold of the international community. Al-Sager also opined that he thought an Assad-led government was a better option for Syria (and its neighbors) than one led by Islamists, and agreed with the notion that the establishment of formal bilateral ties between Lebanon and Syria weakened Hizbollah. Al-Sager commented that the Iranian regime, which he characterized as a coalition between Shia and Sunni fundamentalists, is the &most dangerous on the planet.8 He charged the Iranians with having helped fund violence in Algeria and with providing ongoing support for Hamas. He also suggested that the Iranians are involved in subversive activities in Kuwait, including having targeted his own electoral bid. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador noted that concerns within the USG over Syria allowing its territory to be used as a transit point for foreign fighters into Iraq renders it difficult for the USG to warm up to Syria. She noted that evidence that some Kuwaitis have financed or otherwise contributed to this activity and that the GOK has not been sufficiently energetic in shutting down these activities has cast negative attention on Kuwait as well. ¶4. (C) Al-Sager, in response to a query from the Ambassador, said he believes USG regional priorities for a new administration should include the following: -- finalize peace in Iraq -- &wipe out8 Al-Qaeda -- stop Iran -- rein in Israel. Kuwaiti Politics Marked By Tension Between Parliament and Amir -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Al-Sager also discussed internal Kuwaiti politics, remarking that the present government is weak and indecisive. MP,s &smell blood8 he noted and government-parliament relations are marked by very poor relations between the National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker and the Prime Minister. These tensions will probably cause the Amir to dissolve the National Assembly soon after it reconvenes in October. Notwithstanding the weakness of the ruling family/government, Al-Sager did not believe that any major changes or &corrections8 are likely or desirable in the immediate future. There are no viable alternatives, he believes, even from within the family. KUWAIT 00000937 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) In response to a query from the Ambassador over the chances that Parliament will pass a law criminalizing terrorist finance this year, Al-Sager stated categorically that such a bill will not pass; only 3 to 4 MPs would support the bill (himself included) and the government is too weak to push it through over the existing opposition. According to Al-Sager, MPs fear that overt support for the bill would damage their support among voters, who are generally sympathetic to funding activities they believe challenge "Zionist" ambitions. Possible MP Visit to Washington -------------- ¶7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query, Al-Sager said no parliamentarians would accompany the Prime Minister to Washington late this month because "the Constitution prohibits it." However, he requested the Ambassador,s assistance in arranging high-level contacts when he visits Washington in late October/early November. The Ambassador said she would welcome facilitating meetings between Kuwaiti MPs and USG officials and members of Congress at some point in the future when the U.S. is not so focused on the presidential elections. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * JONES