Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07KUWAIT52, OES A/S MCMURRAY TALKS ENVIRONMENT, AVIAN FLU, AND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07KUWAIT52.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07KUWAIT52 2007-01-16 08:51 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Kuwait
VZCZCXYZ0015
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #0052/01 0160851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160851Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8054
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
CDC ALANTA PRIORITY 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES/STC, NEA/ARP, AIAG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SENV ENRG TBIO IZ KU
SUBJECT: OES A/S MCMURRAY TALKS ENVIRONMENT, AVIAN FLU, AND 
POLIO WITH KUWAITIS 
 
REF: KUWAIT 39 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  On January 10, Assistant Secretary for 
Oceans, Environment, and Science Claudia McMurray met with 
Meshal Al-Meshan of the Kuwait Environmental Protection 
Society (KEPS), Captain Ali Haider of the Environment Public 
Authority (EPA), and Assistant U/S of Health Ali Al-Saif to 
discuss environmental issues in Kuwait.  The meetings took 
place on the margins of the regional Women Leaders in 
Science, Technology, and Engineering Conference held in 
Kuwait January 8-10.  Al-Meshan was critical of the GOK's 
environmental record, noting that the Environment Public 
Authority (EPA) Director position has been vacant for several 
months and the parliamentary environment committee formed in 
2006 has never met.  Al-Meshan said the GOK addresses 
Kuwait's high levels of water consumption by building more 
desalination plants but does not work to combat wasteful 
consumption, and he argued for a consumer education campaign 
to limit water wastage.  The EPA's Haider said Iran's Bushehr 
reactor is a major concern for the GOK from an environmental 
point of view.  Kuwait, he said, still suffers from polluted 
coastal areas resulting from the 1991 oil fires, and that 
chemical leakage from wrecked vessels is an ongoing concern. 
Haider conceded that desalination causes marine pollution, 
and that there is not likely to be a change on the ban of 
treated wastewater in the drinking supply.  Al-Saif said the 
GOK has set-up an interministerial committee to combat Avian 
Influenza, and no cases have yet been detected in Kuwait.  At 
A/S McMurray's urging, Al-Saif said he would raise possible 
funding for polio eradication with the Minister of Health. 
(Note:  U/S Dobriansky raise polio eradication separately 
with the Foreign Minister, who suggested that UNICEF approach 
the GOK.)  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) On January 10, A/S McMurray met with Professor 
Meshal Al-Meshan of the Kuwait Environmental Protection 
Society (KEPS) on the margins of the Women Leaders in 
Science, Technology, and Engineering conference, which 
brought together female scientists and educators from all 
over the Middle East and the United States (reftel). 
Al-Meshan runs KEPS (a Kuwait NGO for the environment and a 
2006 MEPI grant recipient) part-time as a volunteer and works 
at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. 
Al-Meshan said KEPS visits more than 100 Kuwaiti schools each 
year to engage students about the environment, and partners 
with Kuwait University to raise public awareness.  KEPS, he 
said, is also involved in a study with the Arab Fund and the 
University of Jordan to compare water sectors in the GCC 
countries. 
 
Government is the Big Polluter 
------------------------------ 
 
3.  (SBU) Al-Meshan said the GOK is the biggest polluter in 
Kuwait by virtue of its ownership of all power plants, 
petroleum infrastructure, and landfills.  The Environment 
Public Authority (EPA), he said, "works for the government" 
and would only be effective if it were an independent entity. 
 Al-Meshan cited the EPA Director position being vacant as 
evidence of the GOK's inattention to environmental issues, 
and noted that a Parliamentary environment committee formed 
in 2006 has never met.  (Note:  Al-Meshan also claimed that 
the GOK has no contingency plans for a possible oil tanker or 
refinery accident, although Post's discussions with GOK 
oil-sector contacts indicate otherwise.) 
 
GOK Focuses on Water Supply, Not Demand 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Al-Meshan was especially critical of GOK water 
policy, stating that there is no effort to reduce Kuwait's 
high water consumption (108 gallons per day, per person) with 
the focus instead on increasing supply by building more 
desalination plants, which are expensive and are major 
pollution sources.  Government water subsidies and the lack 
of an effective metering system are also problems, he said. 
Of water sources aside from desalination, Al-Meshan said that 
40% of Kuwait's groundwater is tainted by petroleum as a 
result of the 1991 oil fires, and religious and political 
objections remain formidable barriers to the introduction of 
treated wastewater into the potable water system.  The EPA's 
Haider agreed that a change of policy on using wastewater is 
unlikely in the near future. 
 
Acting EPA Head Says Bushehr Reactor a Concern 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
5.  (SBU) Acting EPA Director Captain Ali Haider said marine 
pollution was one of his primary concerns, noting that the 
threat of radiation leakage from Iran's Bushehr reactor has 
prompted the Ministry of Health to install sensors and the 
GOK to draw up a broader contingency plan.  Kuwait's coast, 
particularly in the south, is still heavily polluted from the 
1990 Iraqi invasion and the EPA is still engaged in cleaning 
up oil lakes.  Haider said chemical leakage from wrecked 
vessels off Kuwait's coast, in the Khor Abdullah, and the 
Shaat Al-Arab waterways is causing problems, and that the EPA 
is working with the UNDP and the Regional Organization for 
the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME, a 
multinational body of the six GCC countries plus Iran) on 
clean-up efforts.  The EPA is also working on building a 
network of protected environmental areas and is trying to 
establish new industrial zones away from major population 
centers.  Haider said that a large portion of UN-administered 
compensation funds from Iraq are going to the Public 
Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and the 
Kuwait Oil Company for environmental remediation projects 
which are currently being tendered. 
 
No Avian Flu in Kuwait 
---------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Ali Al-Saif, Assistant U/S at the Ministry of 
Health, said the GOK has formed an interministerial committee 
composed of representatives from the ministries of Health, 
Finance, the EPA, and the PAAAFR to coordinate Kuwait's Avian 
Influenza (AI) response efforts.  To date there have been no 
cases of AI in Kuwait despite its location on a major bird 
migration route and the large volume of border traffic coming 
from Iraq (which has had AI cases).  Saif said the GOK has 
sufficient laboratory capacity and stocks of Tamiflu, and the 
PAAAFR is effectively monitoring migratory birds in the 
country.  Efforts are ongoing to train doctors and 
veterinarians to recognize AI. 
 
A/S McMurray Urges GOK Support on Polio Eradication 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
7.  (SBU) A/S McMurray raised polio eradication with Al-Saif, 
urging the Health Ministry to push India, Pakistan, 
Afghanistan, and Nigeria to support eradication efforts, and 
noting that polio would be a top priority for the new 
Director General of the WHO.  A/S McMurrary also asked that 
the GOK help close the funding gap for polio eradication, to 
which Al-Said responded that he would raise the issue with 
the Minister of Health. 
 
8.  (U) A/S McMurray did not clear this message before 
departing post. 
 
********************************************* * 
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