KUWAIT NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU HAPPY WITH REVISED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000960 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT KURSCH, S/CIEA ENERGY FOR GINA ERICKSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019 TAGS: ENGR EPET PTER KCIP ECON KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU HAPPY WITH REVISED MOU REF: A. STATE 97430 ¶B. KUWAIT 624 ¶C. KUWAIT 541 ¶D. KUWAIT 32 ¶E. 08 STATE 126863 Classified By: Economic Counselor Oliver B. John for reasons: 1.4 (b an d d). ¶1. (C) DCM and Econcouns met with Kuwait National Security Bureau Vice President Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah and his team on October 5, to discuss a USG revised draft Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection MOU (ref a). DCM emphasized the joint interest in cooperation ) and in looking at substance rather than getting bogged down in process ) hence the desire to move forward with the Joint Working Group (JWG). Thamer agreed. Econcouns walked through the revised document with Sheikh Thamer, highlighting the proposed changes to Section 8, noting that "each participant is to be responsible for the costs of its participation in the Joint Working Group," and that "specific work in furtherance" of the MOU and "payment of costs are to be addressed in specific project agreements." Both DCM and Econcouns stressed that the Kuwaitis would be expected to cover costs for any projects undertaken under the MOU. ¶2. (C) Sheikh Thamer responded extremely positively, saying that the changes to ArQcle 8 met his concerns perfectly and that, based on his quick read -- and if it were solely up to him -- he would be happy to sign the document immediately. The NSB will staff the revised MOU through the GoK and respond officially once it has been fully reviewed. Sheikh Thamer stated that existing USG-GoK cooperation had been very beneficial, noting that "174 points" of concern listed in the March 2007 USG CEIP assessment gave him the ammunition he needed to start focusing Kuwaitis on the need to protect infrastructure and to create the Higher Coordination Committee. He also took credit for the September 28 to October 2 NATO CEIP assessment visit as a way to show NATO member states what Kuwait was (and wasn't) doing to protect its oil infrastructure. ¶3. (C) Comment and action request: Post believes that the revised MOU addresses the concerns of both parties and is very encouraged by Sheikh Thamer's positive response. He will still need to convince the GoK as a whole to agree to the MOU, which could take some time, but removing the payment clause for setting up the IWG should facilitate this process. From a national security perspective it makes sense for the USG to help the Kuwaitis take the steps they need to take to protect their oil infrastructure from terrorist attack. From an economic/commercial perspective, our cooperation is more likely to pay dividends to U.S. companies than if the Kuwaitis seek elsewhere for their advice. We will be following-up to move the process forward and would appreciate Departmental guidance on who should sign for the USG if the GoK agrees to the revised language. End Comment and action request. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES