MFA COMMENTS ON U.S. REVIEW OF IRAQ POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000187 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ KU SUBJECT: MFA COMMENTS ON U.S. REVIEW OF IRAQ POLICY REF: A. STATE 18283 ¶B. KUWAIT 177 Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) POLCOUNS on March 2 discussed ref A points concerning the ongoing review of U.S. policy in Iraq with Dr. Hamad Bu Rahamah, Counselor in MFA's International Organizations Department. Rahamah, who received the demarche as the senior-most MFA official available after Kuwait's long National Day weekend, noted that Kuwait remains deeply concerned over the potential for future instability in Iraq and is, therefore, reassured by USG commitments that it will ensure that Iraq is re-integrated into the Middle East in a way that contributes to regional stability. The GOK, he noted, looks forward to a continued dialogue with the USG on optimal means for ensuring that Iraq remains an integrated, non-aggressive unitary state that can contribute meaningfully to regional security. Rahamah also noted that the GOK hopes that the UN will continue to play a significant role in the resolution of bilateral issues between the two countries, particularly in the area of resolving Kuwait's claims for compensation stemming from damages occured during Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion. As the conversation ended, Rahamah underscored that what the GOK most fears is an Iraq that is allowed to slide into instability, creating the potential for a separate Shia state in southern Iraq that would be subject to Iranian influence. ¶2. (C) Rahamah was unable to provide much insight in response to POLCOUNS's queries about outcomes from the February 26 visit to Baghdad by Kuwait's Foreign Minister (ref B) beyond terming the visit "a success" and noting that the visit signaled the GOK's increasing sense of trust and confidence in its larger neigbor. Rahamah said the GOK is encouraged by the clearly improved security situation in Iraq over the past year and also by increasing indications from the Iraqi side that it was ready to discuss the resolution of outstanding bilateral issues in a meaningful way. Given the improved climate, Rahamah noted, the GOK felt that the time was ripe for the FM to raise in Baghdad a number of ongoing bilateral issues including compensation, borders, and oil fields. Rahamah also noted parenthetically that a March 1 visit to Kuwait by Ambassador Gennady Tarasov, UN High-level Coordinator for the repatriation of Kuwaiti mortal remains and property, in conjunction with the turnover by the GOI to Kuwait's Interior Ministry of a number of videotapes and other materials seized by Iraq in 1990, had also raised expectations of enhanced cooperation. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES