VZCZCXRO0167
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #0098/01 0241620
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241620Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0661
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1127
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3157
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000098 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU IR IZ KDRG PINR PTER ETRD
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MFA U/S ON IRAQ, GTMO, 1267 DESIGNEES 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 86 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 77 
     ¶C. KUWAIT 81 
     ¶D. KUWAIT 48 
     ¶E. KUWAIT 79 
     ¶F. KUWAIT 14 
     ¶G. KUWAIT 15 
     ¶H. KUWAIT 12 
 
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (C) On January 21, MFA U/S Al-Jarallah told CDA that 
Kuwait is ready to invest in Iraq, but delays in funding are 
caused by the Iraqi failure to get project proposals to 
relevant GOK officials.  Recent high-level Iraqi visits to 
Kuwait have increased bilateral cooperation, and there are 
now suggestions that Iraqi and Kuwaiti Ambassadors may be 
soon filling their respective positions.  CDA again pushed 
the urgency of creating another Kuwait-Iraq border crossing 
in the vicinity of Camp Bucca.  Post seeks to provide the GOK 
with details of pending trials in U.S. courts of Kuwaiti GTMO 
detainees while asking for updates on the status of those 
previously released.  Jarallah acknowledged inherent 
difficulties in implementing sanctions on UN 1267 designees 
and discussed subsistence needs of families of these 
terrorism financiers. 
 
Kuwaiti Investment in Iraq:  Waiting on the Iraqis 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2.  (C) In a January 21 meeting with CDA (held after Gaza 
siege discussion reported ref A.), Kuwaiti MFA U/S Khaled 
Suleiman Al-Jarallah stated that the GOK welcomes further 
dialogue with the GOI and is ready to invest in Iraq and, 
through the Kuwaiti Fund, finance various projects (see ref 
¶A. for project details).  However, according to Jarallah, 
delays in allocating and releasing the funds are caused by 
the failure of the GOI to identify specific, priority 
projects.  He said that the GOK has requested various 
proposals from the Iraqis, but that movement on these 
proposals has been slow.  He added he would appreciate any 
USG support to push the Iraqi project proposals along, 
stating, "We need help to help the Iraqis." 
 
GOK-GOI Talks 
------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Jarallah highlighted that the GOK has hosted 
high-level GOI visits recently, including January visits by 
VP Tarek Hashmi and FM Hoshyar Zebari.  He said that it 
became clear during the Iraqi FM's visit that both sides need 
help in resolving border concerns, such as boundary lines for 
roads and farms that span from Iraq into Kuwait.  For 
example, near Um Qasr, some Iraqi residences cross into 
Kuwait at a distance of 5-6 meters, making it impossible for 
UN teams to maintain border demarcation pillars.  He added 
that the residents of the homes on these properties must be 
removed and their property demolished.  According to 
Jarallah, the GOK has offered to build new homes in Iraq for 
these residents, but first requires that the GOI allocate 
land elsewhere.  According to Jarallah, Zebari informed GOK 
officials that two parcels of land (size unknown) have been 
allocated inside Iraq for these residents, but the status of 
the relocation project is currently unknown. 
 
Border Trip to Bucca 
-------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) CDA re-extended the invitation to the U/S to visit 
the Kuwait-Iraq border to personally see the need for an 
additional border crossing, and to fully comprehend the need 
for a new supply line for Camp Bucca Detention Center. 
Jarallah responded that he definitely wishes to make the 
trip, and would urge Kuwaiti FM Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah to 
participate in the trip as well. 
 
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq..."Within Weeks" 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (C) Jarallah also said that while FM Zebari was in Kuwait 
(January 15-17) he shopped for new furniture for the Iraqi 
mission and stated that an Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait would 
be named soon.  Jarallah added that, "within weeks," Kuwaiti 
Ambassador-designate to Iraq, MG (retired) Ali Al-Mou'min 
 
KUWAIT 00000098  002 OF 002 
 
 
would be in Baghdad. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
¶6.  (C) Jarallah also spoke of his suspicions that the words 
of Kuwaiti FM Dr. Mohammed Al Sabah were distorted by the 
press in his recent visit to Teheran.  Jarallah did not know 
the background and the context (ref B.) that the FM's widely 
quoted "My country knows who is our friend and who is our 
enemy," was prompted by a question from an Iranian journalist 
who asked if it was true that President Bush told the GOK 
during his January 11-12 visit to Kuwait that "Iran is your 
enemy, and the U.S. is your friend."  (to which Dr. 
Mohammad's response was more along the lines of "We don't 
need anyone to tell us who is our friend and who is our 
enemy.").  He said that any disparaging remarks towards the 
United States attributed to the FM would likely be 
distortions by the press and that the FM "always chooses his 
words carefully."  (See review of media reporting on the 
Kuwaiti FM's visit to Teheran, septel.) 
 
GTMO 
---- 
 
¶7.  (C) CDA reviewed with Jarallah the President's statement 
to the Amir in their January 11 meeting that two of the four 
Kuwaiti GTMO detainees would stand trial in U.S. courts. 
Jarallah asked that the USG provide details of the pending 
cases to the GOK as soon as possible.  CDA also relayed to 
the U/S that new information, in the form of an MFA dipnote 
(ref D.) and in comments the Amir made to POTUS, has surfaced 
regarding the eight Kuwaiti former GTMO detainees previously 
released to the GOK.  CDA questioned Jarallah on the details 
of the death of one of the former detainees, status updates 
on the other seven, and information regarding remarks by the 
Amir that at least one of the detainees had proven helpful to 
the Kuwaiti authorities.  Jarallah requested that these 
questions be provided in a diplomatic note, which Post will 
coordinate with the Department. 
 
1267 Designees 
-------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Jarallah said the news that on January 16, the UN 
1267 Committee designated three Kuwaitis as terrorism 
financiers (ref C) came as a disturbing development for the 
GOK.  Jarallah said that the designations will "cause 
problems for us" and that the GOK is unsure of the subsequent 
steps that it must take.  His main concern, and one that was 
mentioned in press articles, is that of the subsistence needs 
of the families of the designees, i.e. if all assets are 
frozen, how will these men support their families?  In 
reference to the designees, Jarallah said that they are 
"under control," and cited Hamid Al-Ali's recent public 
remarks condemning terrorism.  CDA noted that the upcoming 
visit of Treasury U/S Levey will afford an important 
opportunity to review the 1267 designations and other TF 
issues. 
 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER