SEEKING GOK APPROVAL TO BROADCAST FROM NEW IBB

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 119316 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019 TAGS: BBG KPAO PREL KU IR SUBJECT: SEEKING GOK APPROVAL TO BROADCAST FROM NEW IBB TRANSMITTER IN KUWAIT REF: A. KUWAIT 778 ¶B. KUWAIT 756 Classified By: NEA PDAS Ronald Schlicher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary and Action Request. In 2006, the International Broadcasting Board (IBB) began construction of a $5.2 million medium wave (MW) transmitter in Kuwait to broadcast Radio Farda in Iran. Currently, BBG broadcasts Radio Farda on only one MW frequency. Having a second MW frequency is highly desirable and will make it harder for Radio Farda broadcasts to be jammed by the Iranian government. The Kuwaiti government has not responded to IBB's requests for permission for the transmitter to operate on a Non-Interference Basis. Kuwait's Ministry of Information has instead filed an inaccurate registration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which falsely stated that the frequency would be used by a non-directional, lower power transmitter, and has requested that IBB submit data to support the inaccurate filing. The Department has concluded that the United States should not submit inaccurate information in support of Kuwait's ITU filing, as doing so risks undermining U.S. credibility in the ITU. The Department requests that the Ambassador meet with Kuwait's Foreign Minister to seek permission to operate the new transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference Basis. Ambassador should draw from the talking points included in paragraphs 7 and 8 in her discussion with the Foreign Minister. End summary and Action Request. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Background. In 2006, the International Broadcasting Board (IBB),under the authority of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG),began construction of a $5.2 million medium wave (MW) transmitter at the IBB facility in Kuwait to broadcast Radio Farda into Iran. Construction of the new transmitter in Kuwait followed an FY-2006 Congressional appropriation to increase BBG's coverage of Iran. BBG chose to construct a new transmitter at its existing IBB facility in Kuwait because of Kuwait's close proximity to Iran (which allows the transmitter to deliver a strong signal of Radio Farda to its intended audience),and based on the positive relationship that exists between the IBB and the GOK's Ministry of Information. Construction of the transmitter is expected to be complete in early 2010. 
 ¶3. (SBU) Radio Farda is an important tool in our ongoing effort to reach out to the Iranian people. It broadcasts to Iran 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via short wave, medium wave, satellite and Internet, providing the people of Iran with accurate, objective news reports on topics ranging from health, culture, politics, the economy, and human rights in Iran. A "surrogate broadcaster," Radio Farda seeks to provide news and information that Iranians would have if their government permitted them an unfettered, independent media. Although the majority of Iranians get their news from Iranian state-run media, research indicates that Iranians are eager for news from many sources to provide a more balanced overall picture. Radio Farda is congressionally funded via the BBG, and receives bipartisan support. ¶4. (S/NF) The Department understands that although the GOK has over a four-year period consistently provided working-level approval and support for the transmitter project, it has not extended formal, written permission for the transmitter to operate on a Non-Interference Basis (NIB), as IBB and post have requested (ref A). The Department also understands that when the Ambassador requested the GOK's approval during a July 27 meeting with the Minister of Oil and Information, the Minister demurred and recommended that the Ambassador raise this issue with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister (Refs A and B). ¶5. (S/NF) As post reported (ref A),the GOK has submitted an inaccurate filing with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) concerning the proposed IBB transmitter which misstated the technical parameters of the proposed station, claiming that the frequency would be used by a non-directional, lower power transmitter. The Department understands that in May 2009, Kuwait Ministry of Information officials requested that IBB submit technical parameters for the new transmitter to match the inaccurate parameters the STATE 00119316 002 OF 003 GOK filed with the ITU. Following interagency discussion of this issue, the Department has concluded that the United States is not prepared to submit inaccurate information in support of Kuwait's inaccurate ITU filing. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶6. (C) Action Request. Ambassador is requested to approach Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah to seek approval from the Kuwaiti government to grant formal, written permission to utilize the IBB transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference Basis (NIB). Ambassador is requested to draw from the talking points in paragraph 7, and to use the responses to the "If Raised" questions in paragraph 8 if pressed by the Foreign Minister. Post should not provide the Foreign Minister with a copy of the talking points. ¶7. (C//REL KUWAIT) BEGIN TALKING POINTS: -- The U.S. and Kuwait have a candid and ongoing dialogue about Iran. We share many of the same concerns about Iran's covert effort to develop a nuclear weapons capability and the destabilizing regional impact of Iran's actions. The U.S. uses a wide array of "tools" to try to affect positive change in Iran, including diplomatic engagement, sanctions, and public diplomacy tools such as Radio Farda. -- U.S. policy towards Iran seeks to change Iranian policies that the U.S. and the international community view as destabilizing. Iran's destabilizing policies include not only its effort to achieve a nuclear weapons capability and its activities in the region, but the steps the Iranian government takes to limit freedom of expression and its disregard for human rights. Much like Iran's failure to adhere to its international obligations on the nuclear front, Iran has failed to adhere to its obligation to secure and protect the basic freedoms and human rights of its people. Radio Farda provides millions of listeners in Iran with unbiased information on events inside Iran, thereby enhancing accountability and bringing to light issues that the Iranian government seeks to hide. -- In 2006, the U.S. Congress appropriated $12 million to enhance BBG's coverage of Iran by maximizing our ability to bring Radio Farda to listeners in Iran. There is strong, bipartisan support for Radio Farda in the U.S. Congress. -- Using the funding from 2006, BBG has constructed a $5.2 million medium wave transmitter at IBB's facility in Kuwait. Kuwait was selected as the site for the transmitter based on the very positive relationship that exists between IBB and the Ministry of Information. IBB has operated a facility in Kuwait since 1993, and operates four transmitters on a short wave and two transmitters on a medium wave. We have a long history of successful cooperation to build upon. Kuwait was also selected due to its geographic location, which will allow the transmitter to deliver a strong signal to Iran. -- Currently, BBG is broadcasting Radio Farda on only one medium wave frequency. Having a second medium wave frequency is highly desirable and will make it harder for Radio Farda broadcasts to be jammed by the Iranian government. -- We expect that the transmitter will be completed and ready to broadcast in early 2010. We request that your government provide formal, written approval authorizing operation of the transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference Basis, in accordance with our original request from December ¶2006. IBB has made this request to Ministry of Information officials numerous times over the past several years, and I have also raised this with Minister of Oil and Information Shaykh Ahmed. We need your government's support for this project to succeed, enabling us to bring ideas, information, and the spirit of freedom to the people of Iran. -- Kuwait has always been extremely generous in support of U.S. efforts to bring peace, security, and freedom to the region. We hope that as a testament to our shared goals in the region and shared values, and in recognition of the strong bilateral relationship between Kuwait and the U.S., you will agree to our request. ¶8. (C//REL KUWAIT) "IF RAISED" TALKING POINTS: -- Q: Where is the U.S. currently transmitting Radio Farda from? Why isn't that adequate? Is the U.S. transmitting Radio Farda from other countries in the region? STATE 00119316 003 OF 003 -- A: The BBG is currently transmitting Radio Farda on Medium Wave (MW) and Short Wave (SW) bands from the UAE (MW from a leased facility),Germany (SW from IBB and leased facilities),Kuwait (SW from an IBB facility),Sri Lanka (SW from an IBB facility),and Thailand (SW from an IBB facility). BBG's broadcasts of Radio Farda from Kuwait are part of a broader package of programming, which include Radio Sawa and other programs which are intended for audiences in Iraq. Having a second MW frequency is highly desirable, as this allows us to maximize listenership and makes it more difficult for our broadcasts to be jammed by Iranian authorities. -- Q: If we grant authorization to transmit on a NIB, will the Iranian government know that Radio Farda is being broadcast from Kuwaiti soil? Can anything be done to avoid this? -- A: There is no practical way to hide the fact that Radio Farda broadcasts would be originating from Kuwait. The project has required several contracts with associated public notices that clearly show we are building a high power broadcasting facility in Kuwait on the frequency in question. When Kuwait submitted frequency registration information to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for this facility, Kuwait identified it as an IBB transmitter, so the Iranian government is already aware of the project. Further, even if no public information were available, the strong radio signal would be relatively easy to trace. However, Kuwait is not the only transmission point for Radio Farda. -- Q: Doesn't the Iranian government view Radio Farda broadcasts as an effort by the USG to undermine the Iranian regime? Won't the Iranian government view these broadcasts as hostile and aggressive? -- A: Radio Farda does not promote regime change in Iran nor is it working to undermine the Iranian government. Radio Farda promotes a core universal value - the free flow of ideas. Freedom of expression and the free flow of ideas are essential American values that are, as President Obama has noted, truly universal. -- Q: Why won't the U.S. file data in support of Kuwait's ITU filing? Wouldn't doing so allow the U.S. to begin broadcasting and avoid unnecessary backlash from the Iranian government to Kuwait? -- A: The ITU is an important UN agency, and one in which the USG plays a leading role. Unfortunately, the Kuwaiti ITU filing concerning the planned IBB transmitter is not accurate. The U.S. is unwilling to submit similarly inaccurate information to the ITU since such an inaccurate filing, once discovered, would seriously harm U.S. credibility and stature in the ITU. Indeed, once Iran discovered that the U.S. and Kuwaiti governments had submitted inaccurate registration information to the ITU, such information could provide an additional basis for Iranian objections and complicate our engagement with Iran. Further, we do not believe that a completed ITU filing in this case is helpful since Iran could object to such a filing in any case. For that reason, we are requesting authority to operate the IBB transmitter on a NIB under ITU rules, which does not require an ITU registration. -- Q: Kuwait is concerned about how the Iranian government will react when they find out we have allowed Radio Farda to be broadcast from Kuwaiti soil at such strength. Is there anything the U.S. can do to address our concerns? -- A: We understand your concerns. We hope you understand the importance of Radio Farda as one of the tools we use to bring ideas, information, and the spirit of freedom to the people of Iran. END TALKING POINTS -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶9. (U) Post is requested to report response via front channel cable by December 10, 2009. CLINTON