VZCZCXRO0892
OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHKU #1521 1221403
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021403Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4233
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1020
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 3026

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 
TAGS: PREL PARM WE IS XF KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED FOR GCC INFORMAL SUMMIT; 
COMMENTS ON SINIORA VISIT 
 
REF: STATE 68574 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah on May 
¶2. The Ambassador placed special emphasis on the need for the 
GCC to embrace the new Iraqi government in both political and 
economic terms and thus act as a magnet countering Iranian 
influence.  He noted the strong engagement of the USG in 
government formation and the need to include all communities 
and to make sure the ministers were capable and qualified. 
PolChief separately reviewed with National Security Bureau 
Office Director Shaykh Thamer al-Sabah an abbreviated version 
of the GCC talking points.  He expressed appreciation and 
said he would pass the points to his superiors. 
 
¶2.  (C)  Al-Jarallah appreciated the briefing and will pass 
on the written points and the oral briefing to the Foreign 
Minister.  Al-Jarallah asked how long it would take for Iraq 
to form its new government.  The Ambassador said it might be 
in place within 30 days.  The Undersecretary stressed the 
importance of the new government not unfairly discriminating 
against certain sectarian groups, especially the Sunnis. 
Al-Jarallah agreed that having Ambassador Randall Tobias meet 
with the Arab Fund, the Kuwait Fund, and other funds in the 
Middle East to coordinate aid to Iraq was a good idea.  (We 
are coordinating on this matter with the Arab Fund.) 
Jarallah expressed interest in the U.S. view on a "very 
clear" statement from May 1 by Jalal Talabani that he had 
reached an agreement with various militia groups that would 
result in a decrease in the fighting. 
 
¶3.  (C)  In response to the Ambassador's reftel points on 
sending senior officials to meet with GCC officials on Iran 
on the margins of the GCC meeting in Riyadh, Al-Jarallah 
asked if this was to deal with the nuclear issue.  The 
Ambassador responded that the nuclear issue has attracted 
most of the headlines, but that it was just one part of 
Iran's overall policy of trying to expand its influence in 
the region.  Al-Jarallah was curious as to whether the U.S. 
was talking to Iran, to which the Ambassador responded that 
we were not. The Ambassador went on to note that the U.S. was 
willing to back up its talk with defense cooperation, to 
which Al-Jarallah remarked that he had observed such 
cooperation with Bahrain.  The Ambassador pointed out that 
the U.S. has worked with Kuwait and others on air defense, 
but that the dangers in the region meant the whole GCC had to 
cooperate and coordinate more. 
 
Predicts Hamas will Moderate on Peace Process 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C)  Al-Jarallah pointed to a Hamas statement May 1 that 
it was open to the Arab peace initiative.  He said it was a 
sign that it would become more cooperative, after its Foreign 
Minister heard a tough message during his recent tour of the 
region.  Hamas would soon realize it has no alternative, he 
said.  Ambassador said that he was under the impression that 
very little Gulf funding was actually going to Hamas. 
Al-Jarallah said that no Middle East banks wanted to be 
involved in handling transfers to Hamas. 
 
Quick Visit by Lebanese Prime Minister 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora visited Kuwait 
for several hours on May 1.  Al-Jarallah said that he 
complained a lot about Syria, noting the lack of response to 
his many overtures to visit his counterpart in Damascus. 
Nonetheless he will keep trying to reach out to the Syrians. 
Siniora was reportedly optimistic about the National 
Dialogue.  Although Jarallah was not in a 30 minute private 
meeting between Siniora and the Amir, he said that he did not 
think economic issues played a prominent role in the talks. 
He said Siniora did express appreciation for the subsidized 
fuel being provided by Kuwait and asked for extension of that 
facility. 
 
********************************************* 
For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/cables  
 
Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* 
LEBARON