This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003565 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2015 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS IZ KU KUWAIT IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: FM EXPRESSES CONTINUED CONCERN OVER KUWAIT-IRAQ 
BORDER, REQUESTS SATELLITE IMAGERY 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3523 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 3446 
     ¶C. KUWAIT 3396 
     ¶D. KUWAIT 3331 (NOTAL) 
     ¶E. KUWAIT 3287 (NOTAL) 
     ¶F. 04 KUWAIT 4426 
 
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 
 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: Contrary to recent local press reports 
declaring the border issue with Iraq "finalized" (ref A), 
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah was 
privately more pessimistic in a meeting with the Ambassador 
August 9.  While he was glad "the ITG chose the proper 
channels" to solve the dispute, the FM was skeptical that the 
border issue was fully resolved given ongoing problems in 
Iraq.  The FM expressed concern that Iraqi PM Ibrahim 
Al-Jaafari's successors would not react as diplomatically to 
a future border crisis.  FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed admitted that 
the head of an Iraqi "fact finding" delegation, Khaled 
Al-Attiya, said "all the right things" during his visit to 
Kuwait, but he questioned whether Al-Attiya's views were 
representative or authoritative.  Emphasizing the need for 
greater UN involvement, the FM said the UN had responded 
positively to a GOK request for a UN team to maintain the 
border as stipulated in UN Security Council Resolution 
(UNSCR) 833 (well before the recent events).  He asked for 
the U.S. to expedite a UN request for updated satellite 
imagery of the border, as promised by Deputy Secretary of 
Defense England when he met with the FM in Washington in May. 
 End summary. 
 
Doubts Border Issue Resolved 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C)  Despite Kuwaiti press reports heralding a "New 
chapter in relations between Iraq and Kuwait," the FM doubted 
that the border issue was completely resolved given ongoing 
problems in Iraq.  While praising PM Al-Jaafari's handling of 
the border issue, FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed was concerned that 
his successors may not react the same way.  The FM found 
recent statements by some Iraqi MPs to be "worrisome," adding 
that elements of Iraqi society want to "take us back to 
square one."  He commented that denying the validity of UNSCR 
833 "flies against everything we - Kuwait and the U.S. - have 
worked for."  He continued, "This is not the new Iraq we 
hoped for.  This isn't even the old Iraq; it is an uglier 
version." 
 
¶3.  (C) The FM said he was "surprised" by Iraqi ignorance 
about the border, which was clearly demarcated by UNSCR 833. 
An Iraqi "fact finding" delegation in Kuwait to discuss the 
border seemed surprised that pillars along the border were 
not moved by Kuwait, he commented.  After a visit to the 
border, the delegation concluded that the barrier being 
installed by Kuwait was on Kuwaiti territory, and that Kuwait 
was not trying to "grab" Iraqi land or steal Iraqi oil. 
Kuwait must do more to educate Iraqis about the border, the 
FM said. 
 
¶4.  (C) Asked by the Ambassador about the optimistic comments 
of Khaled Al-Attiya, FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed admitted he said 
"all the right things" during the Iraqi delegation's trip, 
but pointed out that Al-Attiya was a "lightweight" who did 
not represent any Iraqi political party.  "He speaks for 
himself," the FM said, doubting that Al-Attiya's views were 
necessarily representative of all Iraqi political parties and 
factions.  The Iraqi delegation left Kuwait August 9 after 
spending six days in the country. 
 
¶5.  (C) FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed told the Ambassador that he 
raised his concerns with Al-Jaafari, who understood the GOK's 
position and was committed to resolving the issue peacefully. 
 The FM hoped for an apology from the Iraqi MPs responsible 
for recent inflammatory statements, but they have shown no 
remorse, he said.  "This is a very serious issue," the FM 
remarked.  FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed expressed concern that 
future Iraqi leaders might not handle another border crisis 
as diplomatically as PM Al-Jaafari. 
 
UN Team Requested 
----------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed emphasized the importance of a 
UN role along the border.  He reminded the Ambassador that 
Kuwait had some time ago requested a UN team to maintain the 
borders (ref F), as provided for under UNSCR 833.  The UN 
responded "positively" to the Kuwaiti request and formed a 
preliminary team, he reported.  According to the FM, the GOK 
has already paid its share of the UN team's financial costs 
and is now waiting for the ITG to pay.  The Iraqis need to 
see UN blue helmets or technical expert equivalents along the 
border to demonstrate that Kuwait is not encroaching on Iraqi 
territory, the FM argued. 
 
Request for Satellite Imagery 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) The FM requested that the U.S. expedite its response 
to the UN request for updated satellite imagery of the 
border.  FM Shaykh Dr. Mohammed said he raised the issue with 
the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Secretary Rice during his 
May trip to Washington.  U.S. assistance was vital for the UN 
team to do its job, he emphasized.  (Note: Embassy is working 
this issue with OMC-K and requests an expedited CENTCOM 
response.  End note.) 
 
Acting NA Speaker Expresses Similar Concerns 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Acting National Assembly Speaker Mohammed Jassem 
Al-Sager echoed the FM's concerns in a separate meeting with 
the Ambassador August 9.  The border was going to continue to 
be a problem, Al-Sager said.  He blamed the GOK for not doing 
more to educate the Iraqi people about the border after the 
fall of Saddam Hussein.  He also criticized Kuwaiti media and 
some MPs (ref A) for inflaming the issue claiming their 
"irresponsible" criticisms of Iraq hurt Kuwaiti-Iraqi 
bilateral relations. 
 
¶9.  (U) Basrah minimize considered. 
 
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LEBARON