KUWAITI PARTICIPATION IN AD-HOC LIAISON COMMITTEE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000564 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAL EAID PREL ECON KU SUBJECT: KUWAITI PARTICIPATION IN AD-HOC LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING REF: A. STATE 55527 ¶B. KUWAIT 401 ¶C. KUWAIT 230 ¶1. (SBU) Econcouns briefed Kuwait MFA Arab World Department Director Ambassador Jassim Al-Mubaraki on U.S. objectives for the June 8 Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting and emphasized the need for donors to provide immediate budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority (PA). Mubaraki stated that Kuwait's Ambassador to Sweden would represent Kuwait at the AHLC. Mubaraki had planned to go, but personal conflicts (his son's graduation and a family wedding) intervened. He said he would be briefing Kuwait's Ambassador to Sweden "today" about the meeting, including USG goals and asked whether other countries were preparing to shift their pledges to direct budget support. ¶2. (SBU) Mubaraki reiterated Kuwait's policy preference for providing project assistance rather than budget support, noting this ensured that the funding reached its desired destination. He said, however, that this was the third appeal Kuwait had received recently to provide direct budget support for the PA. Quartet Envoy Tony Blair had approached the GoK on behalf of the PA as had Egyptian President Mubarak (via a letter carried by Egypt's Ambassador to Kuwait). Mubaraki told Econcouns that GoK Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah had asked why Mahmud Abbas had not approached the Kuwaitis directly for assistance rather than using intermediaries. ¶3. (SBU) Mubaraki stressed that the GoK supported the two-state solution and trusted President Abbas and PM Fayad. He acknowledged the difficulties the PA was having with its operational budget, noting only that Kuwait's own "government problems" (i.e., cabinet resignation and parliamentary dissolution) had made it much more difficult to reprogram aid. Given the three approaches and the PA's demonstrated need, he promised to bring our request for budget support directly to the Foreign Minister. ¶4. (SBU) Mubaraki commented that Kuwaitis strongly supported President Obama and his "toughness" on the two-state solution. He expressed his hope that the U.S. could facilitate an end to the "chronic" Palestinian - Israeli conflict in a fashion that "was suitable to all parties." He said he was looking forward to the President's speech and planned to watch it closely, suggesting that Econcouns might meet with him the week after the speech to discuss it. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES