KUWAIT MFA U/S ON IRAQ, GTMO, 1267 DESIGNEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000098

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU IR IZ KDRG PINR PTER ETRD
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MFA U/S ON IRAQ, GTMO, 1267 DESIGNEES

REF: A. KUWAIT 86

B. KUWAIT 77

C. KUWAIT 81

D. KUWAIT 48

E. KUWAIT 79

F. KUWAIT 14

G. KUWAIT 15

H. KUWAIT 12

Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d

Summary
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1. (C) On January 21, MFA U/S Al-Jarallah told CDA that
Kuwait is ready to invest in Iraq, but delays in funding are
caused by the Iraqi failure to get project proposals to
relevant GOK officials. Recent high-level Iraqi visits to
Kuwait have increased bilateral cooperation, and there are
now suggestions that Iraqi and Kuwaiti Ambassadors may be
soon filling their respective positions. CDA again pushed
the urgency of creating another Kuwait-Iraq border crossing
in the vicinity of Camp Bucca. Post seeks to provide the GOK
with details of pending trials in U.S. courts of Kuwaiti GTMO
detainees while asking for updates on the status of those
previously released. Jarallah acknowledged inherent
difficulties in implementing sanctions on UN 1267 designees
and discussed subsistence needs of families of these
terrorism financiers.

Kuwaiti Investment in Iraq: Waiting on the Iraqis
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2. (C) In a January 21 meeting with CDA (held after Gaza
siege discussion reported ref A.),Kuwaiti MFA U/S Khaled
Suleiman Al-Jarallah stated that the GOK welcomes further
dialogue with the GOI and is ready to invest in Iraq and,
through the Kuwaiti Fund, finance various projects (see ref

A. for project details). However, according to Jarallah,
delays in allocating and releasing the funds are caused by
the failure of the GOI to identify specific, priority
projects. He said that the GOK has requested various
proposals from the Iraqis, but that movement on these
proposals has been slow. He added he would appreciate any
USG support to push the Iraqi project proposals along,
stating, "We need help to help the Iraqis."

GOK-GOI Talks
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3. (C) Jarallah highlighted that the GOK has hosted
high-level GOI visits recently, including January visits by
VP Tarek Hashmi and FM Hoshyar Zebari. He said that it
became clear during the Iraqi FM's visit that both sides need
help in resolving border concerns, such as boundary lines for
roads and farms that span from Iraq into Kuwait. For
example, near Um Qasr, some Iraqi residences cross into
Kuwait at a distance of 5-6 meters, making it impossible for
UN teams to maintain border demarcation pillars. He added
that the residents of the homes on these properties must be
removed and their property demolished. According to
Jarallah, the GOK has offered to build new homes in Iraq for
these residents, but first requires that the GOI allocate
land elsewhere. According to Jarallah, Zebari informed GOK
officials that two parcels of land (size unknown) have been
allocated inside Iraq for these residents, but the status of
the relocation project is currently unknown.

Border Trip to Bucca
--------------


4. (C) CDA re-extended the invitation to the U/S to visit
the Kuwait-Iraq border to personally see the need for an
additional border crossing, and to fully comprehend the need
for a new supply line for Camp Bucca Detention Center.
Jarallah responded that he definitely wishes to make the
trip, and would urge Kuwaiti FM Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah to
participate in the trip as well.

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq..."Within Weeks"
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5. (C) Jarallah also said that while FM Zebari was in Kuwait
(January 15-17) he shopped for new furniture for the Iraqi
mission and stated that an Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait would
be named soon. Jarallah added that, "within weeks," Kuwaiti
Ambassador-designate to Iraq, MG (retired) Ali Al-Mou'min

KUWAIT 00000098 002 OF 002


would be in Baghdad.

Iran
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6. (C) Jarallah also spoke of his suspicions that the words
of Kuwaiti FM Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah were distorted by the
press in his recent visit to Teheran. Jarallah did not know
the background and the context (ref B.) that the FM's widely
quoted "My country knows who is our friend and who is our
enemy," was prompted by a question from an Iranian journalist
who asked if it was true that President Bush told the GOK
during his January 11-12 visit to Kuwait that "Iran is your
enemy, and the U.S. is your friend." (to which Dr.
Mohammad's response was more along the lines of "We don't
need anyone to tell us who is our friend and who is our
enemy."). He said that any disparaging remarks towards the
United States attributed to the FM would likely be
distortions by the press and that the FM "always chooses his
words carefully." (See review of media reporting on the
Kuwaiti FM's visit to Teheran, septel.)

GTMO
--------------


7. (C) CDA reviewed with Jarallah the President's statement
to the Amir in their January 11 meeting that two of the four
Kuwaiti GTMO detainees would stand trial in U.S. courts.
Jarallah asked that the USG provide details of the pending
cases to the GOK as soon as possible. CDA also relayed to
the U/S that new information, in the form of an MFA dipnote
(ref D.) and in comments the Amir made to POTUS, has surfaced
regarding the eight Kuwaiti former GTMO detainees previously
released to the GOK. CDA questioned Jarallah on the details
of the death of one of the former detainees, status updates
on the other seven, and information regarding remarks by the
Amir that at least one of the detainees had proven helpful to
the Kuwaiti authorities. Jarallah requested that these
questions be provided in a diplomatic note, which Post will
coordinate with the Department.

1267 Designees
--------------


8. (C) Jarallah said the news that on January 16, the UN
1267 Committee designated three Kuwaitis as terrorism
financiers (ref C) came as a disturbing development for the
GOK. Jarallah said that the designations will "cause
problems for us" and that the GOK is unsure of the subsequent
steps that it must take. His main concern, and one that was
mentioned in press articles, is that of the subsistence needs
of the families of the designees, i.e. if all assets are
frozen, how will these men support their families? In
reference to the designees, Jarallah said that they are
"under control," and cited Hamid Al-Ali's recent public
remarks condemning terrorism. CDA noted that the upcoming
visit of Treasury U/S Levey will afford an important
opportunity to review the 1267 designations and other TF
issues.


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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/
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MISENHEIMER