VORONTSOV TO ARRANGE THE WORLD PUBLIC OPINION ON DETAINEES UNITED NATIONS -- HE SAID HE SENSED READINESS AMONG THE ARAB MINISTERS HE MET WITH THESE DAYS TO HELP SOLVE THIS ISSUE. "THE UNDERSTANDING IS THERE. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THEY SHOULD BE ACTIVE AND NOT FORGETFUL." ASKED WHAT THE KUWAITI RESPONSE WAS TO HIS NEW POLICY, VORONTSOV SAID "THEY SAY ANYTHING YOU DO IS WELCOME." SHEIKH SABAH ALSO MET FRIDAY WITH JACOB KELLENBERGER, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) WITH WHOM HE DISCUSSED THE DETAINEES ISSUE. KELLENBERGER REFUSED TO GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT THEIR TALKS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SHEIKH SABAH ALSO MET FRIDAY WITH H.H. THE EMIR OF QATAR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI WITH WHOM HE "GLADLY" EXCHANGED IDEAS AS A GULF COUNTRY. SHEIKH HAMAD MET EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK. THEY DISCUSSED THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS AND ECONOMIC AND TRADE EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. (END) SJ.TG KUNA 082347 Sep 00NNNN