VZCZCXRO7899
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHKU #0703/01 0630633
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 040633Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3252
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000703 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, 
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2012 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KU PREL IZ KMPI FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: FREEDOM AGENDA: INFORMATION MINISTER REPORTS 
MOVEMENT ON PRESS LAW AND CONSTITUENCY REFORM 
 
REF: A. 05 KUWAIT 5306 
     ¶B. 05 KUWAIT 5083 
     ¶C. 05 KUWAIT 4314 
     ¶D. 05 KUWAIT 4293 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: During a March 1, 2006 meeting with the 
Ambassador, the newly re-appointed Minister of Information 
commented optimistically about progress made on the draft 
press law and reduction in the number of political 
constituencies in Kuwait, two key Freedom Agenda elements. 
The Minister expressed pride in the performance of the 
Kuwaiti government during the recent succession crisis and 
enthusiasm for the speed with which the draft press law was 
being addressed by the Kuwaiti parliament.  He was more 
guarded about prospects for reduction in the number of 
electoral districts.  End summary. 
 
Enthusiastic Support for Reform 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Having received a strong vote of confidence 
exemplified by the retention of his position during the 
recent shuffling of the Kuwaiti cabinet, Anas Mohammed 
Al-Rashed greeted the Ambassador on March 1 with a general 
sense of optimism and enthusiasm.  During their discussion of 
the status of political reforms in Kuwait, the Minister 
remarked positively with respect to what he viewed as the 
parliament's speedy review of the draft press law.  The 
former university professor said that the press law would be 
tabled for a final discussion and a possible vote in 
parliament on Monday, March 6.  He anticipated that the law 
would be finalized soon, once the remaining five of 
twenty-eight amendments have been addressed, and then 
following a review period of two additional weeks.  He opined 
that his re-appointment was an indicator of the Shaykh 
Sabah's support for the revised press law, since this had 
been the centerpiece of his agenda as Minister of Information 
prior to his re-appointment. 
 
A Vote of Confidence During Crisis 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Al-Rashed spoke in an upbeat manner about the way in 
which the succession issue had been handled in Kuwait.  He 
commented on the delicate position he had been put in as 
Ministry of Information, with partisans among the Al-Sabah's 
calling him with "suggestions" on the kinds of programming 
that would be helpful to their particular vision of the 
succession line-up.  He was also pleased that the TV stations 
the Ministry of Information controls went beyond the norm in 
cases of an Arab leader's passing -- "I'm proud of our 
performance during the succession crisis.  Normally, when a 
king or leader passes in this region, it's Quran all the way. 
 We let people talk about the late Amir and hold programs. 
Some were unhappy, but this was a success."  (Comment: This 
comment by the Minister seemed to reveal a bit of reflexive 
defensiveness, since Kuwait TV was criticized for its anodyne 
programming during the succession events.  Most Kuwaitis 
turned to Al-Arabiya and Jazeera for both the hard news and 
the rumors about what was going on in their leadership 
circles.) 
 
An Active Government - Essential to Democracy 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Minister added that he believed the country was 
strengthened by its handling of the challenges succession 
raised to its constitution and parliament.  He claimed that 
there was satisfaction with the performance of the new 
government and the active role that the Amir and the Crown 
Prince have taken, even attributing the recent shift in the 
timing of the parliament's consideration of reduction of the 
number of electoral constituencies to independent 
intervention on the part of the Prime Minister, Shaykh 
Nasser.  He lauded this tackling of a hotly disputed topic on 
the part of the government as a move that was "good for 
democracy and good for Kuwait."  The Minister gave the 
initiative a 60 percent chance of passing.  In response to 
the Ambassador's comment that the Government would need to 
exercise determined leadership to get this proposal passed, 
Al-Rashed agreed and stated that the government "cannot run 
with everyone applauding.  You have to choose the right 
road."  Regarding the need for reduction of constituencies, 
he mentioned that detractors were those who were elected 
under the status quo and, therefore, resist new directions, 
but now that women have achieved the right to vote, changing 
the system was critical to the achievement of their full and 
 
KUWAIT 00000703  002 OF 002 
 
 
successful political participation. 
 
Holding Back the Hardliners 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Referring to Iraq and Iran, Al-Rashed stated that 
Kuwait must continually improve in the areas of democracy and 
reform due to the demands it faced from its neighbors.  He 
reiterated a concern often expressed by many Kuwaitis, that 
as a parent and a human being he was worried about the future 
and relations with Iran.  "This issue needs to be dealt with 
quietly," he commented adding, "as Shaykh Sabah told 
President Bush last year, give it time and use dialogue." 
With respect to the Iraq, he said that the Kuwaiti Minister 
of the Awqaf and Religious Affairs had roundly condemned the 
destruction of the Shi'a mosque in Iraq and has pressed for 
openness to Shi'a and Christian populations in Kuwait.  He 
characterized the minister as "balanced" despite facing 
strong opposition from Kuwaiti hardliners and stressed the 
need for more school programs that instilled moderate views 
and progressive approaches in the youth. 
 
MEPI, Media Projects, and Al-Manar 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Speaking of programs, the Ambassador and Minister 
discussed a number of other topics, including a proposal by 
IBB to swap radio frequencies with the GOK, regional MEPI 
projects targeting the independent media, Kuwait's candidates 
for the Edward R. Murrow IVLP, and the fact that Al Manar TV 
channel is on the verge of being designated a terrorist 
organization.  Al-Rashed thanked the Ambassador for the 
continued support of the USG  through its diverse programs 
and suggested that Public Affairs work closely with the 
Ministry's Foreign Department to develop additional 
opportunities for exchange, citing past projects with 
American students.  He mentioned that he planned to introduce 
a new law for the regulation of television and radio and 
sought the Embassy's support in identifying an expert or 
specialist to assist the Ministry of Information with this 
project. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
LEBARON