VZCZCXYZ3358
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #0238/01 0631552
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031552Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0896
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000238 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018 
TAGS: ASEC EPET ELAB PREL PHUM KCIP PGOV PTER KU
SUBJECT: MOI U/S ON TIP, CEIP AND BORDERS WITH IRAQ 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reason 1.4 ( 
b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  On February 20, CDA met with new Ministry 
of Interior (MOI) U/S, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Al-Rujaib to discuss 
TIP, Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection and 
Kuwait-Iraq border issues.  On TIP, Al-Rujaib said that the 
U.S. report was "exaggerated" and laid blame for violations 
on third-country nationals as well as Kuwaitis.  With regard 
to CEIP, Al-Rujaib told CDA that MOI, vice the National 
Security Board (NSB) handles the security for vital 
installations and should be the signatory for any CEIP MOU 
with the USG, should the GOK decide to sign it.  Al-Rujaib 
downplayed border concerns between Kuwait and Iraq and was 
non-committal to a proposed joint USG-GOK visit to the border 
area to demonstrate to the GOK the importance of a border 
crossing in the vicinity of Camp Bucca.  The CDA also briefed 
Al-Rujaib on the importance of restarting the salvage 
operation in the Khor Abdullah waterway.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--- 
TIP 
--- 
 
¶2.  (C) On February 20, CDA met with newly appointed (as of 
January 21) MOI U/S, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Al-Rujaib to discuss TIP, 
CEIP and Kuwait-Iraq border issues.  CDA described the annual 
TIP report and highlighted that last year the GOK committed 
to the following: opening of a permanent shelter, increased 
prosecutions, passing anti-TIP legislation and TIP-related 
training for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges. 
 
¶3.  (A) Al-Rujaib deferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs 
and Labor (MOSAL) as the lead agency on TIP.  He also 
commented that last year's report was "exaggerated" and 
pointed out that not only Kuwaitis, but also third-country 
nationals committed TIP related crimes.  He offered his 
support to combat this issue, but asked that requests for 
TIP-related information be channeled through the MFA.  (NOTE: 
On February 7, Post submitted a list of questions related to 
TIP through the MFA but has not received a response from any 
of the relevant ministries.  END NOTE) 
 
---- 
CEIP 
---- 
 
¶4.  (C) CDA told Al-Rujaib that a draft MOU on CEIP was sent 
to the GOK over eight months ago, but to date there had been 
no action and it was unclear who would have the lead in 
signing the MOU on the Kuwaiti side.  CDA asked for 
clarification on the roles played by MOI and the National 
Security Bureau (NSB).  Al-Rujaib responded that the NSB was 
merely a coordination body and that MOI has the 
responsibility for the security of all vital installations 
(NOTE: MOI provides only external perimeter security for oil 
infrastructure.  Other GOK entities are responsible for 
internal security for oil infrastructure. END NOTE).  He also 
added that MOI handles all security MOUs and asked to see a 
copy of the draft MOU (which Post sent over forthwith). 
 
----------------- 
BORDERS WITH IRAQ 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) CDA briefed Al-Rujaib on ongoing discussions with the 
Ministry of Defense regarding opening another border crossing 
into Iraq near the Camp Bucca military detention facility. 
CDA pressed the need for the additional border crossing and 
extended an invitation to Al-Rujaib to visit the border area 
in early March with MFA U/S Khaled Al-Jarallah.  CDA also 
discussed the halted salvage operation in the Khor Abdullah 
waterway and the difficulty in demarcating maritime borders. 
Al-Rujaib was non-committal regarding the visit to the border 
and emphasized to CDA that there were no issues with either 
the land or maritime borders with Iraq.  He noted that the UN 
had clearly demarcated the borders.  Al-Rujaib deferred to 
the MFA on further border concerns. 
 
¶6.  (C) COMMENT:  U/S Al-Rujaib is consistently reserved and 
reluctant to risk criticism within the GOK by staking out a 
potentially risky position in response to USG requests.  That 
said, his position makes him an essential player on TIP, 
CEIP, and other high priority issues.  End Comment. 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
********************************************* * 
Misneheimer