VZCZCXRO2026
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #9316/01 3222348
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 182342Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT IMMEDIATE 7375
INFO IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHDIR/IRAN RPO DUBAI IMMEDIATE 0109

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 119316 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019 
TAGS: BBG KPAO PREL KU IR
SUBJECT: SEEKING GOK APPROVAL TO BROADCAST FROM NEW IBB 
TRANSMITTER IN KUWAIT 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 778 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 756 
 
Classified By: NEA PDAS Ronald Schlicher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (S/NF)  Summary and Action Request.  In 2006, the 
International Broadcasting Board (IBB) began construction of 
a $5.2 million medium wave (MW) transmitter in Kuwait to 
broadcast Radio Farda in Iran.  Currently, BBG broadcasts 
Radio Farda on only one MW frequency.  Having a second MW 
frequency is highly desirable and will make it harder for 
Radio Farda broadcasts to be jammed by the Iranian 
government.  The Kuwaiti government has not responded to 
IBB's requests for permission for the transmitter to operate 
on a Non-Interference Basis.  Kuwait's Ministry of 
Information has instead filed an inaccurate registration with 
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which falsely 
stated that the frequency would be used by a non-directional, 
lower power transmitter, and has requested that IBB submit 
data to support the inaccurate filing.  The Department has 
concluded that the United States should not submit inaccurate 
information in support of Kuwait's ITU filing, as doing so 
risks undermining U.S. credibility in the ITU.  The 
Department requests that the Ambassador meet with Kuwait's 
Foreign Minister to seek permission to operate the new 
transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference 
Basis.  Ambassador should draw from the talking points 
included in paragraphs 7 and 8 in her discussion with the 
Foreign Minister.  End summary and Action Request. 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Background.  In 2006, the International 
Broadcasting Board (IBB), under the authority of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), began construction of 
a $5.2 million medium wave (MW) transmitter at the IBB 
facility in Kuwait to broadcast Radio Farda into Iran. 
Construction of the new transmitter in Kuwait followed an 
FY-2006 Congressional appropriation to increase BBG's 
coverage of Iran.  BBG chose to construct a new transmitter 
at its existing IBB facility in Kuwait because of Kuwait's 
close proximity to Iran (which allows the transmitter to 
deliver a strong signal of Radio Farda to its intended 
audience), and based on the positive relationship that exists 
between the IBB and the GOK's Ministry of Information. 
Construction of the transmitter is expected to be complete in 
early 2010. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Radio Farda is an important tool in our ongoing 
effort to reach out to the Iranian people.  It broadcasts to 
Iran 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via short wave, 
medium wave, satellite and Internet, providing the people of 
Iran with accurate, objective news reports on topics ranging 
from health, culture, politics, the economy, and human rights 
in Iran.  A "surrogate broadcaster," Radio Farda seeks to 
provide news and information that Iranians would have if 
their government permitted them an unfettered, independent 
media.  Although the majority of Iranians get their news from 
Iranian state-run media, research indicates that Iranians are 
eager for news from many sources to provide a more balanced 
overall picture.  Radio Farda is congressionally funded via 
the BBG, and receives bipartisan support. 
 
¶4.  (S/NF)  The Department understands that although the GOK 
has over a four-year period consistently provided 
working-level approval and support for the transmitter 
project, it has not extended formal, written permission for 
the transmitter to operate on a Non-Interference Basis (NIB), 
as IBB and post have requested (ref A).  The Department also 
understands that when the Ambassador requested the GOK's 
approval during a July 27 meeting with the Minister of Oil 
and Information, the Minister demurred and recommended that 
the Ambassador raise this issue with the Kuwaiti Foreign 
Minister (Refs A and B). 
 
¶5.  (S/NF)  As post reported (ref A), the GOK has submitted 
an inaccurate filing with the International Telecommunication 
Union (ITU) concerning the proposed IBB transmitter which 
misstated the technical parameters of the proposed station, 
claiming that the frequency would be used by a 
non-directional, lower power transmitter.  The Department 
understands that in May 2009, Kuwait Ministry of Information 
officials requested that IBB submit technical parameters for 
the new transmitter to match the inaccurate parameters the 
 
STATE 00119316  002 OF 003 
 
 
GOK filed with the ITU.  Following interagency discussion of 
this issue, the Department has concluded that the United 
States is not prepared to submit inaccurate information in 
support of Kuwait's inaccurate ITU filing. 
 
-------------- 
ACTION REQUEST 
-------------- 
 
¶6.  (C)  Action Request.  Ambassador is requested to approach 
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah to seek 
approval from the Kuwaiti government to grant formal, written 
permission to utilize the IBB transmitter at the 1386 KHz 
frequency on a Non-Interference Basis (NIB).  Ambassador is 
requested to draw from the talking points in paragraph 7, and 
to use the responses to the "If Raised" questions in 
paragraph 8 if pressed by the Foreign Minister.  Post should 
not provide the Foreign Minister with a copy of the talking 
points. 
 
¶7.  (C//REL KUWAIT)  BEGIN TALKING POINTS: 
 
-- The U.S. and Kuwait have a candid and ongoing dialogue 
about Iran.  We share many of the same concerns about Iran's 
covert effort to develop a nuclear weapons capability and the 
destabilizing regional impact of Iran's actions.  The U.S. 
uses a wide array of "tools" to try to affect positive change 
in Iran, including diplomatic engagement, sanctions, and 
public diplomacy tools such as Radio Farda. 
 
-- U.S. policy towards Iran seeks to change Iranian policies 
that the U.S. and the international community view as 
destabilizing.  Iran's destabilizing policies include not 
only its effort to achieve a nuclear weapons capability and 
its activities in the region, but the steps the Iranian 
government takes to limit freedom of expression and its 
disregard for human rights.  Much like Iran's failure to 
adhere to its international obligations on the nuclear front, 
Iran has failed to adhere to its obligation to secure and 
protect the basic freedoms and human rights of its people. 
Radio Farda provides millions of listeners in Iran with 
unbiased information on events inside Iran, thereby enhancing 
accountability and bringing to light issues that the Iranian 
government seeks to hide. 
 
-- In 2006, the U.S. Congress appropriated $12 million to 
enhance BBG's coverage of Iran by maximizing our ability to 
bring Radio Farda to listeners in Iran.  There is strong, 
bipartisan support for Radio Farda in the U.S. Congress. 
 
-- Using the funding from 2006, BBG has constructed a $5.2 
million medium wave transmitter at IBB's facility in Kuwait. 
Kuwait was selected as the site for the transmitter based on 
the very positive relationship that exists between IBB and 
the Ministry of Information.  IBB has operated a facility in 
Kuwait since 1993, and operates four transmitters on a short 
wave and two transmitters on a medium wave.  We have a long 
history of successful cooperation to build upon.  Kuwait was 
also selected due to its geographic location, which will 
allow the transmitter to deliver a strong signal to Iran. 
 
-- Currently, BBG is broadcasting Radio Farda on only one 
medium wave frequency.  Having a second medium wave frequency 
is highly desirable and will make it harder for Radio Farda 
broadcasts to be jammed by the Iranian government. 
 
-- We expect that the transmitter will be completed and ready 
to broadcast in early 2010.  We request that your government 
provide formal, written approval authorizing operation of the 
transmitter at the 1386 KHz frequency on a Non-Interference 
Basis, in accordance with our original request from December 
¶2006.  IBB has made this request to Ministry of Information 
officials numerous times over the past several years, and I 
have also raised this with Minister of Oil and Information 
Shaykh Ahmed.  We need your government's support for this 
project to succeed, enabling us to bring ideas, information, 
and the spirit of freedom to the people of Iran. 
 
-- Kuwait has always been extremely generous in support of 
U.S. efforts to bring peace, security, and freedom to the 
region.  We hope that as a testament to our shared goals in 
the region and shared values, and in recognition of the 
strong bilateral relationship between Kuwait and the U.S., 
you will agree to our request. 
 
 
¶8.  (C//REL KUWAIT)  "IF RAISED" TALKING POINTS: 
 
-- Q:  Where is the U.S. currently transmitting Radio Farda 
from?  Why isn't that adequate?  Is the U.S. transmitting 
Radio Farda from other countries in the region? 
 
STATE 00119316  003 OF 003 
 
 
-- A:  The BBG is currently transmitting Radio Farda on 
Medium Wave (MW) and Short Wave (SW) bands from the UAE (MW 
from a leased facility), Germany (SW from IBB and leased 
facilities), Kuwait (SW from an IBB facility), Sri Lanka (SW 
from an IBB facility), and Thailand (SW from an IBB 
facility).  BBG's broadcasts of Radio Farda from Kuwait are 
part of a broader package of programming, which include Radio 
Sawa and other programs which are intended for audiences in 
Iraq.  Having a second MW frequency is highly desirable, as 
this allows us to maximize listenership and makes it more 
difficult for our broadcasts to be jammed by Iranian 
authorities. 
 
-- Q:  If we grant authorization to transmit on a NIB, will 
the Iranian government know that Radio Farda is being 
broadcast from Kuwaiti soil?  Can anything be done to avoid 
this? 
 
-- A:  There is no practical way to hide the fact that Radio 
Farda broadcasts would be originating from Kuwait.  The 
project has required several contracts with associated public 
notices that clearly show we are building a high power 
broadcasting facility in Kuwait on the frequency in question. 
 When Kuwait submitted frequency registration information to 
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for this 
facility, Kuwait identified it as an IBB transmitter, so the 
Iranian government is already aware of the project.  Further, 
even if no public information were available, the strong 
radio signal would be relatively easy to trace.  However, 
Kuwait is not the only transmission point for Radio Farda. 
 
-- Q:  Doesn't the Iranian government view Radio Farda 
broadcasts as an effort by the USG to undermine the Iranian 
regime?  Won't the Iranian government view these broadcasts 
as hostile and aggressive? 
 
-- A:  Radio Farda does not promote regime change in Iran nor 
is it working to undermine the Iranian government.  Radio 
Farda promotes a core universal value - the free flow of 
ideas.  Freedom of expression and the free flow of ideas are 
essential American values that are, as President Obama has 
noted, truly universal. 
 
-- Q:  Why won't the U.S. file data in support of Kuwait's 
ITU filing?  Wouldn't doing so allow the U.S. to begin 
broadcasting and avoid unnecessary backlash from the Iranian 
government to Kuwait? 
 
-- A:  The ITU is an important UN agency, and one in which 
the USG plays a leading role.  Unfortunately, the Kuwaiti ITU 
filing concerning the planned IBB transmitter is not 
accurate.  The U.S. is unwilling to submit similarly 
inaccurate information to the ITU since such an inaccurate 
filing, once discovered, would seriously harm U.S. 
credibility and stature in the ITU.  Indeed, once Iran 
discovered that the U.S. and Kuwaiti governments had 
submitted inaccurate registration information to the ITU, 
such information could provide an additional basis for 
Iranian objections and complicate our engagement with Iran. 
Further, we do not believe that a completed ITU filing in 
this case is helpful since Iran could object to such a filing 
in any case.  For that reason, we are requesting authority to 
operate the IBB transmitter on a NIB under ITU rules, which 
does not require an ITU registration. 
 
-- Q:  Kuwait is concerned about how the Iranian government 
will react when they find out we have allowed Radio Farda to 
be broadcast from Kuwaiti soil at such strength.  Is there 
anything the U.S. can do to address our concerns? 
 
-- A:  We understand your concerns.  We hope you understand 
the importance of Radio Farda as one of the tools we use to 
bring ideas, information, and the spirit of freedom to the 
people of Iran. 
 
END TALKING POINTS 
 
------------------ 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------ 
 
¶9.  (U)  Post is requested to report response via front 
channel cable by December 10, 2009. 
CLINTON