(C) KUWAIT FOREIGN MINISTER: NO TO RECOGNITION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000945 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP LONNIE KELLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: PREL GG KU SUBJECT: (C) KUWAIT FOREIGN MINISTER: NO TO RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA REF: STATE 91894 Classified By: The Ambassador for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (C) During a September 2 meeting with Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah al-Salem Al Sabah, Ambassador thanked the FM for GOK humanitarian assistance to the Republic of Georgia and expressed USG support for the territorial integrity of Georgia and our strong opposition to Russian efforts to gain international recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states (reftel). The FM said that Kuwait would not recognize the two regions, adding that Russia had expressed concern about GOK assistance to Georgia and requested similar assistance for the people of the two regions. The FM gave no indication that such assistance would be forthcoming. ********************************************* * 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