GOK VIEWS ON 2010 NPT REVCON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000854

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, ISN/MNSA, UNVIE FOR IAEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2024
TAGS: PREL AORC KNNP NPT KU
SUBJECT: GOK VIEWS ON 2010 NPT REVCON

REF: STATE 83600

Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and
d


1. (C) Polcounselor on August 27 raised reftel points
concerning the May 2010 NPT review conference (Revcon),with
Jassem Al-Najem, MFA lead on NPT issues. In delivering
points, Polcounselor noted Embassy interest in initiating a
sustained dialogue on NPT and related non-proliferation
issues and sought Al-Jassem's views on the likelihood of GOK
participation in the Revcon and in similar non-proliferation
fora.

2. (C) Al-Najem, who had only recently returned to Kuwait
after several years at the UN, said he anticipated the GOK
would attend the Revcon, but noted that Kuwait -- along with
many other members of the Arab League -- had felt sharp
disappointment at the most recent (2005) Revcon's failure to
address the interest of many Arab countries in examing
modalities for establishing a nuclear free zone in the Middle
East, noting particular disappointment with Egypt's
leadership of the AL bloc on this issue. Al-Najem said that
Kuwait shared the view of other Arab countries that this
failure on the part of the Revcon unreasonably left the field
open to Israel -- as a non-signatory of the NPT -- as the
region's only nuclear-armed power. Al-Najem said he hoped
the 2010 Revcon would make up some lost ground on this issue.

3. (C) Concerning GOK views on the CTBT, FMCT and other
non-proliferation fora, and on the process through which the
GOK addresses non-proliferation policy questions, Al-Najem
noted that Kuwait, as a small, non-nuclear state with limited
scientific and military resources, does not possess much
"clout" on non-proliferation matters and does not seek to
play a leadership role; instead, it strives for consensus
with other GCC and NAM states, always urging a rational
"middle ground" approach aimed at enhancing regional
security. Al-Najem reiterated the GOK's long-standing
concern about Iran's nuclear program and noted ongoing GOK
encouragement for international community efforts to convince
Iran to accept IAEA safeguards.

4. (C) Al-Najem noted that the GOK's policy-making process on
arms proliferation issues -- as in many other areas -- is a
fairly informal one, reflecting Kuwait's small size. The
GOK's policy positions on these issues, Al-Najem said, are
generally formulated in MFA's International Organizations
bureau, following input from other MFA departments and from
Kuwait's embassies abroad, as well as via informal
consultations with notable policy analysts. These positions
are then conveyed to the Foreign Minister, who will generally
vet important policy positions with the Council of Ministers.
As is typical of Kuwait, decisions are generally arrived at
by a process of up-and-down discussion aimed at developing a
consensus, rather than emanating from a single source.

5. (C) Comment: Al-Najem accurately portrayed the informal,
consensus-based nature of the GOK's policy-making process.
As in many areas, Kuwait's small size and sense of
vulnerability lead it to seek common ground with its GCC
neighbors, a tactic that both protects it from direct
criticism and increases it diplomatic leverage. On
non-proliferation matters, GOK's energies will be remain
focused on encouraging safeguards on Iran and supporting (but
not leading) the efforts of other Arab League countries to
direct attention to a perceived threat from Israel.


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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
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WILLIAMS