Home
Cables mirror and Afghan War Diary
Privacy
| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00RIYADH3360 |
SAUDI ARABIA: 2000 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] THE FOLLOWING RESTATES AND RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS IN REFTEL: A) DESCRIBE THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF EACH COUNTRY TO ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM DURING 2000, INCLUDING ANY HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO TERRORISM. PART [...] |
2000-12-03 08:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER SA |
| 01RIYADH1771 |
THE AL SAUD AND CHALLENGES TO STABILITY [...] (C) AT PRESENT, SAUDI ARABIA ENJOYS AT LEAST SUPERFICIAL STABILITY. THERE IS NO DEBILITATING DISUNITY AMONG SENIOR AL SAUD PRINCES, REGIME CRITICS HAVE BEEN EXILED OR MARGINALIZED ABROAD AND CO-OPTED OR MUZZLED AT HOME, AND A LARGELY APOLITICAL CITIZENRY SHOWS NO INCLINATION TO DEMAND GREATER [...] |
2001-06-27 12:09:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI SA |
| 01RIYADH2627 |
TFUS01: SAUDI REACTION TO SEPTEMBER 11 [...] ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 11, THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT (UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION): THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA EXPRESSES ITS CONDEMNATION OF THE REGRETTABLE AND INHUMAN EXPLOSIONS AND ATTACKS WHICH OCCURRED AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK AND THE PENTAGON I [...] |
2001-09-12 11:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER SA |
| 01RIYADH3968 |
SAUDI ARABIA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM [...] FOLLOWING RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS IN REFTEL: A) POST SHOULD HIGHLIGHT SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TAKEN BY HOST GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL COALITION, PARTICULARLY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST AL-QAIDA AND THE TALIBAN. RESPONSE: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GOVERNMENT (SAG) HAS SUPPORTED THE GLOBAL COALITIO [...] |
2001-12-12 13:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL SA |
| 03RIYADH5821 |
RIYADH GOVERNOR ON ISLAMIC EXTREMISM AND REGIONAL [...] (C) Summary: An exceptionally cordial and frank Riyadh Governor Prince Salman told the Ambassador on September 16 that Muslim fanatics were damaging the image of Islam and Saudi Arabia and engendering hatred amongst peoples. He acknowledged that preachers who taught hatred of others bore so [...] |
2003-09-16 13:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KISL MEPP KPAL SA IZ |
| 04RIYADH5103 |
TERRORIST FINANCING: AL-RAJHI BANK [...] (S) SUMMARY: At the end of the meeting between Treasury A/S Zarate and Ali Al-Gaith, Director of Banking Inspection, Insurance and Financial Leasing at the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) on September 15, Al-Gaith discussed Al-Rajhi Bank and the recent information forwarded to the SAG via [...] |
2004-09-27 08:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | ETTC EFIN PTER PREL SA |
| 04RIYADH6449 |
SAUDI ARABIA: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] (U) Per reftel, post submits the following language for use in the 2004 Patterns of Global Terrorism Report. Embassy POC for this report is Julie Eadeh (eadehja@state.gov). 2. (U) During the year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continued to support the global war on terror. Al Qai'da, in the [...] |
2004-12-19 10:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH3517 |
KING FAHD HEALTH CRISIS UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: As of Saturday, May 28, King Fahd remains in King Faisal Specialist Hospital, undergoing unspecified "medical tests," according to statements released by the Saudi press agency and sourced to the Royal Court and "official sources." The mood in Riyadh is quiet and normal, although [...] |
2005-05-28 10:56:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH4932 |
SAUDI ARABIA: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN KING FAHD DIES [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-14 10:08:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH5352 |
SAUDI KING FAHD DIES, ABDULLAH ASCENDS THE THRONE [...] (U) Classified by Ambassador James Oberwetter. Reason 1.4 (B and D). 2. (C) The Royal Diwan announced on August 1 that Saudi King Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud has died. The announcement was read on Saudi state television at 10:00 AM Riyadh time. According to our sources in the Royal Diwan [...] |
2005-08-01 08:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH5371 |
THE LATE SAUDI KING FAHD: A MIXED LEGACY [...] (C) Summary: A chief architect of Saudi Arabia's transformation from feudal monarchy to modernizing nation state, the late King Fahd will be remembered above all as a modernizer -- a ruler who pushed his subjects to abandon their feudal insularity and join the modern world-- and an institution [...] |
2005-08-01 13:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH9116 |
A PUBLIC DIPLOMACY STRATEGY FOR SAUDI ARABIA [...] (C) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: The events of 9/11 profoundly affected the U.S.-Saudi relationship, forcing a rethinking of diplomacy as well as public diplomacy on both sides. This rethinking found positive expression in the joint statements issued in Crawford following the April 2005 visit o [...] |
2005-12-12 14:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAO PGOV PREL PINR ECON SA |
| 05RIYADH9142 |
SHI'ITE COUNCIL MEMBER PREDICTS SACKING OF SAUDI [...] (C) Shi'a activist Jafar Al-Shayeb described efforts to oust Abdullah Al-Khunaizi, Qatif's Shi'a judge, saying that he was not effective as a representative of the community given "new social forces" gaining strength in Qatif. He said that the Shi'a were pleased with the signals from King Ab [...] |
2005-12-13 06:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER KIRF SA |
| 05RIYADH9145 |
SAUDI ROYAL ADVISOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF IRANIAN [...] (S) Royal Advisor Adel al-Jubeir contacted the Ambassador by telephone December 12 and relayed his impressions of Iranian President Ahmadinajad, whom he had briefly met at the recently concluded OIC Extraordinary Summit in Jeddah. Al-Jubeir said that Ahmadinajad had struck him "as a very, ver [...] |
2005-12-13 10:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 05RIYADH9146 |
SAUDI ROYAL ADVISOR'S IMPRESSIONS OF IRANIAN [...] (S) Royal Advisor Adel al-Jubeir contacted the Ambassador by telephone December 12 and relayed his impressions of Iranian President Ahmadinajad, whom he had briefly met at the recently concluded OIC Extraordinary Summit in Jeddah. Al-Jubeir said that Ahmadinajad had struck him "as a very, [...] |
2005-12-13 10:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 05RIYADH9147 |
DEPARTURE OF AMBASSADOR [...] Ambassador James Oberwetter departed post on Tuesday, December 13 at 01:15 local time. 2. A/DCM Michael Gfoeller will be CDA during the Ambassador's absence. [...] |
2005-12-13 11:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | OTRA AMGT SA |
| 05RIYADH9219 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR JANUARY 20-23, 2006 [...] The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes the visit of Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) Director Ambassador John R. Miller, G/TIP's Senior Coordinator for Reports Mark Taylor, and G/TIP's Reports Officer for NEA Gayatri Patel, and grants to them country clearance fo [...] |
2005-12-14 07:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM KWMN OTRA PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH9246 |
STREAMLINING PROCEDURES FOR THE STRATEGIC DIALOGUE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-14 13:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PGOV SA |
| 05RIYADH9248 |
TIP UPDATE: AMBASSADOR AND FM SAUD AL-FAISAL [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-14 13:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM KWMN OTRA PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH9250 |
IRF UPDATE: AMBASSADOR AND FM SAUD AL-FAISAL [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-14 13:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KIRF KISL PGOV PHUM SA |
| 05RIYADH9252 |
KSA SUPPORT FOR IRAQI VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-12-14 13:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA IZ |
| 05RIYADH9300 |
SAUDI BUDGET: HIGHEST RECORDED BUDGET SURPLUS IN [...] (U) Summary: The strength of the oil market, and growing Saudi economy, drove Saudi Arabia's 2005 budget surplus to its highest recorded level - 57 billion USD, and provides the basis for an expansive new national budget. The largest portion of the budget surplus, 60 percent, is allocated to [...] |
2005-12-14 15:11:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV SA OIL |
| 05RIYADH9303 |
MUNICIPAL COUNCILS UPDATE: REMAINING HALF [...] (C) SUMMARY: On December 15, the Saudi press announced that King Abdullah had completed the long delayed process of forming the country's 178 municipal councils. Half of the councils' members, totaling 592 officials in all, were chosen last spring in the Kingdom's first democratic, albeit [...] |
2005-12-15 14:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH9341 |
DELIVERY OF SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE TO GCC [...] (C) A/DCM conveyed ref message to the Director of the Office of the Foreign Minister. The Director provided no substantive response, but said the message would be forwarded to the Foreign Minister in advance of the GCC Summit. GFOELLER [...] |
2005-12-18 06:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PGOV PREL SA |
| 05RIYADH9342 |
CODEL HAGEL MEETINGS IN KSA FOCUS ON IRAQ, IRAN [...] (C) On November 30 and December 1, Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) led a delegation including Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) to the first Senate-level visit to Saudi Arabia in over two years. The delegation received a warm welcome in meetings with King Abdullah [...] |
2005-12-18 09:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PINR PREL PTER SA IZ IR |
| 05RIYADH9366 |
EP BUSINESSWOMEN TAKE FIRST LOOK AT NEW [...] (U) Summary: Following the trend in Jeddah and Riyadh, the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce elections in early February will be open to women, both as voters and as candidates. As of December 17, out of a total of 44 candidates five are women. December 18th is the last day to register. T [...] |
2005-12-18 14:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV SCUL KMPI SA |
| 05RIYADH9368 |
TWO ARAMCONS SKEPTICAL ARAMCO CAN MEET 2009 [...] (S/NF) Two Aramco analysts told PolOff and PAO on December 14 that they doubted Aramco would meet its target of increasing sustainable production capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day by the end of 2009. "The projections show pretty much a flat level of output - 9.6, 9.6, 9.6, ..." said o [...] |
2005-12-19 09:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EPET EIND PREL PGOV SA OIL |
| 05RIYADH9396 |
SAG REPLACES SHI'ITE JUDGE IN QATIF [...] (U) EP daily Al-Youm reported on December 18 that a new Shi'ite judge, Sheikh Ghalib Al-Hamad, has succeeded Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khunaizi as Shi'ite judge in Qatif. According to the report, Al-Hamad had been appointed by royal decree two weeks earlier to fill the position that Al-Khunaizi had [...] |
2005-12-20 07:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KIRF SA |
| 05RIYADH9401 |
MAYOR PREVIEWS (LIMITED) SCOPE OF QATIF'S [...] (C) In a meeting with the CG, Khalid Al-Dossari, Mayor of Qatif, said that the primary problem facing his municipality was haphazard development. Qatif, an oasis once composed of close-knit villages and date palm groves, is changing rapidly as the population grows and date farmers sell their [...] |
2005-12-20 13:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KDEM SA |
| 05RIYADH9402 |
SAG OFFSETS SHI'A STRENGTH IN ITS APPOINTMENTS TO [...] (C) Summary: The SAG announced its appointments to municipal councils nationwide, including those of the Eastern Province (EP), on December 14. As expected by many observers, the government used the appointments to balance the Shi'a presence on the councils in Qatif and Al-Hasa: elected mem [...] |
2005-12-20 14:21:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM SA |
| 05RIYADH9433 |
HASSAN AL-SAFFAR CONTINUES TO DECLINE TO MEET USG [...] (C) Post has requested a meeting with Shi'ite cleric and leader Hassan Al-Saffar through several intermediaries, principally Salman and Nathir Al-Jishi. Al-Saffar is generally agreed by most of post's interlocutors to be the preeminent leader in the Saudi Shi'a community and the primarily, b [...] |
2005-12-21 08:51:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV SA |
| 05RIYADH9434 |
EP TRIBAL FAMILY FLEXES ITS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC [...] (C) Four brothers from the Al-Dossari family outlined to the CG and Consulate staff their family's business and political enterprises. Yousef, Khalifa, Khalid, and Mohammed Al-Dossari, together with two other brothers, run a company that has expanded from supplying auto parts to managing int [...] |
2005-12-21 09:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON KDEM SA |
| 05RIYADH9435 |
SAUDI DISSIDENT TURKI AL-HAMAD SHARES PRIORITIES [...] (C) In a meeting with CG and PolOff December 19 over coffee at the Gulf Meridian Hotel in Khobar, Saudi dissident and writer Turki Al-Hamad discussed his three priorities for reform: "We need reform of the judicial system, public freedoms, and public rights." He argued that political reform [...] |
2005-12-21 12:13:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM SA |
| 05RIYADH9441 |
Saudi Women Push for Economic Opportunities at [...] (U) Summary: The Second Riyadh Economic Forum (REF), held earlier this month, included a lively discussion of a study critical of the job and investment opportunities available to Saudi women. The study acknowledges Saudi laws are on the books that are intended to create job opportunities for [...] |
2005-12-21 13:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ECON EFIN PHUM SA |
| 05RIYADH9469 |
HEAD OF TOP SAUDI UNIVERSITY LEADS THE DEVELOPMENT [...] (SBU) Summary: CG John Kincannon and consulate staff met with Dr. Khaled S. Al Sultan, Rector and CEO of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) on December 17th 2005. Al Sultan discussed current challenges facing the university, the importance of educational exchange, and KFUPM' [...] |
2005-12-21 16:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI KMPI PINR SA |
| 05RIYADH9474 |
THE SAUDI STOCK MARKET: VIGNETTES FROM THE EP [...] (SBU) Mohammed Al-Jassim, a prosperous Dammam businessman whose main commercial interest is as a wholesale trader in air-conditioning products, chooses stocks in the same way that many Saudis do: by buzz. "If someone calls me up and says, 'Hey, have you heard about this stock, it's definitel [...] |
2005-12-24 09:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV SA |
| 05RIYADH9488 |
FORMER ARAMCO EXECUTIVE OFFERS HIS VIEWS ON OIL [...] (C) Over lunch at the CG's residence on December 21, 2005, Sadad Al-Husseini, who retired from Aramco in 2004 after serving twelve years as Executive President for Exploration & Producing, shared his views on global oil supply and demand with CG, EconOff, and PAO. Al-Husseini, who is now a c [...] |
2005-12-26 06:07:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON PREL SA OIL |
| 05RIYADH9490 |
SCENESETTER FOR THE VISIT OF AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD [...] (S) Your visit to Saudi Arabia comes during an upswing in the U.S.-Saudi Arabia relationship that was highlighted on November 13, when Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal inaugurated the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Dialogue, a new diplomatic process designed to reinvigorate our bilater [...] |
2005-12-26 11:11:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV OVIP PTER IZ SA |
| 05RIYADH9531 |
NEW PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE, [...] (U) Summary: A new private university in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province is scheduled to open to 600 men and women in the fall of 2006. Funded by donations from private investors, Prince Mohammed University's curriculum, faculty recruitment, and administrative system have been designed and will [...] |
2005-12-27 09:58:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI KMPI SA |
| 05RIYADH9535 |
SAUDI BUSINESSWOMEN ENERGIZED BY LEADERSHIP [...] (U) Summary: Business and communication professors Kathy Long Holland and Kay Westerfield led four engaging workshops on leadership and entrepreneurship on December 19th and 20th. In cooperation with the Businesswomen's Center at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce in Dammam, Holland and [...] |
2005-12-28 18:11:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL KPAO KMPI SA |
| 05RIYADH9568 |
US EDUCATION SPECIALIST REACHES SAUDI TEACHERS AND [...] (U) Summary: A Specialist Program focused on 'best practices' training for special education teachers in the Eastern Province from Nov. 26th to Dec. 7th 2005. This program influenced the teaching of over 300 students. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Special Education Specialist [...] |
2005-12-28 14:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL KPAO KMPI SA |
| 06RIYADH1 |
PARDONED SAUDI DISSIDENT OUTLINES GRADUALIST [...] (C) Ali Al-Dumaini, one of the three reformers pardoned by King Abdullah in August, described himself and his colleagues as "reformers, not revolutionaries." Although in Al-Dumaini's view the Al Saud do not have a vision for reform, reformers are not seeking a new form of government but rath [...] |
2006-01-02 05:51:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM SA |
| 06RIYADH123 |
DHAHRAN DIGEST 4 [...] (C) One of post's Shi'a contacts, Mohammad Alltaleb, who doesn't mince words and, if his stories are true, is equally brazen in his actions, says he recently applied to the local branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs to start a self-help organization, with the goal of seeking MEPI funding. [...] |
2006-01-08 13:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG SCUL KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH1375 |
NO WOMEN AMONG SAG APPOINTEES TO EP CHAMBER OF [...] (SBU) The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on March 1 its six appointees to the board of the Eastern Province (EP) Chamber of Commerce & Industry (EPCCI): Nasr Al-Hajry; Ghasan Al-Nimr (a Shi'a; also a member of the Ta'awun slate); Halal Al-Twerki (a cousin of Minister Naimi's chi [...] |
2006-03-06 05:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KWMN KMPI SA |
| 06RIYADH1377 |
SHI'A "INDEPENDENTS" DISCUSS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR [...] (C) A group of Shi'a independents again stressed to ConOffs their community's national identity, desire for reform in the Kingdom, and lack of political ties to Iran. They noted that the SAG is allowing the Shi'a community to build an active but small-scale and unofficial civil society, cente [...] |
2006-03-06 06:45:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH1380 |
FEMALE SHI'A ACTIVIST: PRESSURE FOR REFORM MUST [...] (C) Summary: Aliya Al-Fareed (protect), longtime Shi'a political activist, discussed the state of reform in Saudi Arabia with PAO and PolOff in her home in Al-Safwa near Qatif. Al-Fareed was recently appointed to the National Society for Human Rights; she is the only woman among the five memb [...] |
2006-03-06 11:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL PINR KIRF KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH1461 |
SHI'A ACTIVIST SAYS SHIRAZIS ARE MODERATING [...] (C) Shi'ite political activist Mohammed Al-Shoyoukh told PolOff that Saudi Hezbollah countenances only "peaceful" means to achieve its social and political goals. He said that the "Shirazis," who include the most politically active Shi'a such as Hassan Al-Saffar and Jafar Al-Shayeb, have been [...] |
2006-03-08 08:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH1542 |
POST-ABQAIQ MINISTER OF INTERIOR FORMALLY REQUESTS [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (S) Summary and Action Request: Post requests Department's prompt review and guidance in responding to the Saudi government's formal request for helicopter support and security consultations, for the security of oil facilities in the Kingdom. Foreign Mini [...] |
2006-03-12 15:23:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER MASS MARR ASEC PREL EPET ETRD SA |
| 06RIYADH1706 |
SHI'A CIVIL SOCIETY, LOOKING TO THE STARS [...] (C) Summary: A meeting with the Qatif Astronomy Society on March 13th 2006 provided a snapshot of how civil society can operate in the Shi'a areas of Saudi Arabia. The Qatif Astronomy Society was begun locally with 12 founding members in February 2003, and has no license or official authoriza [...] |
2006-03-15 13:40:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KMPI KPAO KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH1741 |
SHI'A LEADER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES [...] (C) Jafar Al-Shayeb, President and elected member of Qatif's municipal council and one of five people appointed to the Dammam branch of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), shared with CG and PolOff on March 15 his philosophy that "every positive initiative should be utilized." He d [...] |
2006-03-18 11:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PINR KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH175 |
CULTURAL AND SPORTS PROGRAMMING IN SAUDI ARABIA [...] (U) Summary: Cultural and sports programming in Saudi Arabia can effectively support MPP objectives and USG interests. Cultural programming has been especially useful in providing access to the 'hard to reach' groups of women and youth, and in challenging negative stereotypes of the United Sta [...] |
2006-01-16 10:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OEXC SCUL SA |
| 06RIYADH186 |
FEMALE CONSULATE STAFF PARTICIPATE IN EID CALLS [...] (C) For the first time in Consulate history, two female Mission staff members participated in most of the Consulate's calls over the recent Eid Al-Adha. Consulate staff traditionally call on the Emir of the Eastern Province (EP), the EP head of the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG), and a n [...] |
2006-01-18 10:04:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH1920 |
'CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY' IS OFF-LIMITS FOR A [...] (C) Nawal Al Yousif (protect), a Shi'a journalist and founder of www.saudiyat.net, noted in a meeting with the PAO on March 17, 2006 that mentioning a constitutional democracy in her writing crossed a red line with the Saudi Ministry of Interior. "The Mubahith (Investigative Police) came to s [...] |
2006-03-21 09:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KMPI KIRF KPAO SA |
| 06RIYADH1982 |
DHAHRAN DIGEST 5 [...] (SBU) During a recent lunch with PolOff, an appointed member of the Al-Ahsa municipal council who is also an American-educated professor of plant physiology fielded two phone calls from students. The first was from a female graduate student who needed help on some laboratory research she was [...] |
2006-03-22 10:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SOCI PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH2146 |
SAUDI LEADERS UPBEAT ON U.S.-SAUDI MILITARY [...] (S) Summary and Comment: During separate meetings on March 22 with visiting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, Saudi leaders spoke favorably of the U.S.-Saudi military relationship. King Abdullah, although deeply unhappy about Iraq and the issue of helicopter support fo [...] |
2006-03-29 14:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH2542 |
Avian Flu: Saudi Arabia Closing Small Poultry [...] (U) Summary: Meetings with the WHO representative, Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed that the SAG has established necessary preparations for avian flu, including action plans, an emergency "hotline" number, monitoring and testing sites for migratory birds, a [...] |
2006-04-09 13:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO KFLU EAGR SA |
| 06RIYADH2544 |
Cultural Norms and Non-Transparency Hamstring [...] (SBU) Summary: Meetings with public health officials during the visit of regional ESTH officer to Saudi Arabia provided a snapshot of Saudi health issues: a population increasingly afflicted with costly illnesses of the wealthy - obesity, diabetes, and heart disease - and a health system tha [...] |
2006-04-10 04:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO KHIV SA |
| 06RIYADH2560 |
Saudi Science Research - Gathering Strength [...] Summary: Academic and scientific researchers in Saudi Arabia are hungry for more contact with American counterparts and believe that the Saudi research system is increasingly operating up to international standards. Improved education and upcoming research opportunities fQ women, including the [...] |
2006-04-10 12:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | TSPL TBIO SENV KHIV CVIS SA |
| 06RIYADH2563 |
Environmentalism Slowly Comes to Saudi Arabia [...] Summary: Saudi environmental and natural resource institutions were late in getting established and remain small in size and influence. Meetings with the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) and the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development highlighted that pub [...] |
2006-04-10 13:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV KFLU SA |
| 06RIYADH2682 |
EP CORPORATE BANKER UPBEAT ABOUT IMPACT OF WTO [...] (SBU) Zaki Al-Yahya, Eastern Province-based Assistant General Manager in Samba's Corporate & Investment Banking Group, painted an upbeat picture about recent developments in the banking sector in a conversation with EconOff April 10. As a lender to many of the major EP businesses who serve as [...] |
2006-04-12 08:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH2683 |
VISITING PRIEST DETAINED BY SAG IN DAMMAM, [...] (C) According to two sources in the Eastern Province's (EP's) expatriate Indian Roman Catholic community, a Catholic priest was detained by the SAG on April 5 while presiding over an evening service at a large compound or farm in Dammam. The priest, an Indian national from Kerala who was vis [...] |
2006-04-12 12:46:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH275 |
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON THE SHI'A "SHIRAZIS" [...] (C) Kamal Al-Khattee, son of a former Shi'a judge in Qaif, discussed with PolOff the evolution of the Shi'a faction known as the "Shirazis," who include Hassan Al-Saffar, Jafar Al-Shayeb, Tawfiq Al-Sayf, and others. According to Al-Khattee, they moved from Iran to Syria and elsewhere in the 1 [...] |
2006-01-23 07:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH2793 |
POTENTIAL NEW REVENUE-SHARING AGREEMENT BETWEEN [...] (C) In a conversation on April 13, two expatriate analysts at Saudi Aramco told PAO and EconOff that Aramco and the SAG were in the process of making a significant change to their revenue-sharing practices. In the past, they explained, Aramco had reserved from its revenue stream the amount n [...] |
2006-04-17 13:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EFIN PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH2840 |
SAUDI SHI'A EXPRESS ANGER AT PRESIDENT MUBARAK'S [...] (U) In the week since President Mubarak remarked in an interview with Al-Arabiyya that Shi'a were "mostly loyal to Iran and not the countries they are living in," PolOff and PAO have asked many of post's Saudi Shi'a contacts about the Shi'a community's reaction. To a person, our contacts said [...] |
2006-04-18 12:13:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH2893 |
GULF WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION: CIVIL SOCIETY, SAUDI [...] (SBU) Summary: Jameyat Fatat al Khaleej is one of the oldest women's charitable societies in Saudi Arabia, and provides an example of a civil society organization welcomed by the government. Founded and run by women from the Eastern Province's most prominent business families, and with close [...] |
2006-04-19 14:23:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SOCI KPAO KMPI SA |
| 06RIYADH3147 |
ARAMCO VP THINKS KARAN GAS DISCOVERY WILL PROVE "A [...] (C) Summary: Yousef Rafie, Saudi Aramco's Senior VP for Gas Operations, expanded on press reports of Aramco's recent discovery of gas in the Karan field, saying that the exploratory well was drilled into the first layer of the deep Khuff formation and was producing dry gas. He estimated res [...] |
2006-04-27 10:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH3301 |
CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE EP: THE ICE IS SLOWLY [...] (C) Government influence and oversight pervade the Eastern Province's (EP's) older civil society organizations. The SAG provides part of their funding, appoints or approves board members, and regulates their by-laws. Yet the ice is slowly breaking. The government is beginning to relinquish [...] |
2006-05-02 08:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KMPI KDEM SA |
| 06RIYADH3306 |
HASAWI SHI'A DETAIL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM VIOLATIONS, [...] (C) Summary: In separate conversations with PolOff in Al-Ahsa on April 25, two groups of Shi'a leaders and activists discussed discrimination and restrictions on their religious freedom, as well as steps they had taken to address some of these problems. Abdulaziz Al-Bahrany, the patient and [...] |
2006-05-02 13:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH3312 |
THE SAUDI SHI'A: WHERE DO THEIR LOYALTIES LIE? [...] (S) Some Sunni Arab leaders, including Egypt's President Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah, have recently publicly questioned the loyalties of Arab Shi'a populations in the Middle East. Privately, senior Saudi officials raise similar concerns. Given the ongoing sectarian conflict in Iraq, [...] |
2006-05-02 14:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINS SA |
| 06RIYADH3315 |
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE: LIMITED [...] (C) Summary: Higher education in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia offers limited opportunities for students, particularly women and Shi'a. What is available is of questionable quality, suffering from centralized and religious control, poor student preparation, and difficulty in recruitin [...] |
2006-05-02 15:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI PGOV KMPI KPAO KIRF KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH3346 |
BUILDING CIVIL SOCIETY, ONE DISCUSSION AT A TIME [...] (C) Summary: In the past year, Consulate officers have observed increasing numbers of small civil society groups forming in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Also notable is that many of the groups have started to cooperate and interact with each other in pursuit of larger goals. As an [...] |
2006-05-02 16:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI PGOV KPAO KMPI SA |
| 06RIYADH3491 |
SAUDI-U.K. RELATIONS IMPROVING [...] (C) Summary. During a May 1 dinner, a British Polof who coordinated U.K. Embassy Riyadh,s recent high-level visits commented on the significant improvement in Saudi-U.K. relations over the past two years. He said that Saudi Arabia,s imprisonment and torture of five Britons from December 2 [...] |
2006-05-07 15:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON SA |
| 06RIYADH3589 |
SHI'A CLERIC DISCUSSES SLOW BUT SIGNIFICANT [...] (C) In a meeting with PolOff on April 28, Shi'a cleric Faisal Al-Awami gave a broadly positive account of changes in Saudi Arabia over the past 10 to 15 years. Al-Awami, who, like many of his politically and religiously active Shi'a colleagues, studied in Iran and Syria starting in the early [...] |
2006-05-10 08:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SCUL KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH3673 |
QATIF MUNICIPAL COUNCIL MEMBER CONTINUES TO [...] (C) In a conversation with the CG on April 29, Isa Al-Muzel, an elected member of Qatif's municipal council, described his work at the council as "going well, but frustrating." He said that the biggest problem council members faced at the moment was rooting out institutionalized corruption i [...] |
2006-05-14 12:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH3720 |
SAG DETAINS HARD-LINE SHI'A CLERIC RETURNING FROM [...] (C) Post contacts and the Saudi Shi'a-run Rasid News Network (www.rasid.org) report that the Saudi Mubahith detained Shi'a cleric Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr on the evening of May 11 as he was entering Saudi Arabia from Bahrain over the King Fahd Causeway. Al-Nimr is from Awamiya, a small oasis town [...] |
2006-05-15 12:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH3766 |
ARAMCO CONSULTANT DOUBTS ARAMCO CAN MOVE PAST 12.5 [...] (C) An American expatriate who is a senior consultant to Saudi Aramco on oil drilling operations told the CG recently that he doubted Aramco would be able to develop a maximum sustainable oil production capacity (MSC) "much beyond" 12.5 million barrels per day after 2009. (Note: Aramco's cur [...] |
2006-05-16 06:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON SA |
| 06RIYADH3852 |
ARAMCO CEO: THE OIL ERA IS NOT OVER [...] (C) At a dinner on May 14 hosted by businessman Badr Al-Suwaidan, President and CEO of Al-Bilad, and attended by the CG and FCS Off, Abdullah Jumah, CEO of Saudi Aramco, commented in response to a query that U.S. energy policy is "confusing" and "has no logic." He claimed that the U.S. was s [...] |
2006-05-20 08:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH3889 |
DETAINED SHI'A CLERIC RELEASED; A SECOND [...] (C) The SAG released detained Shi'a cleric Nimr Al-Nimr in the evening of May 15, according to his brother Mohammed Al-Nimr. Al-Nimr had been in SAG custody since May 11 (ref A). A small delegation of family and others had met with the Eastern Province's vice governor, Prince Jiluwi, earlier [...] |
2006-05-20 14:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH390 |
REPORTING IRAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY [...] (C) Ambassador met with SAG U/S for Political Affairs Prince Turki Saud al-Kabir on January 28 to deliver reftel points and paper. (Note: FM Prince Saud al-Faisal was accompanying King Abdullah on four-country Asian travel and is not expected back in the Kingdom until 2/5.) Ambassador stress [...] |
2006-01-29 10:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP PARM PREL AORC SA IR |
| 06RIYADH3974 |
BETWEEN OIL WELLS AND THE SEA: A POLITICIAN SHOWS [...] (SBU) "Over there you can see one of Aramco's wells," Nabih Al-Ibrahim, a Saudi Aramco engineer and an elected member of Qatif's municipal council, told PolOff and PAO, gesturing to his left as the group drove down the main access road into his home town of Awamiya off the Dhahran-Jubail high [...] |
2006-05-22 10:09:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH3977 |
CHRISTIAN EXPATRIATE DOCTOR TOLD TO LEAVE KINGDOM [...] (C) Mission and DRL contact Roy Markara told PolOff on May 18 that Dr. Florence Isaac, a Christian doctor of Indian origin who has been working in the Kingdom for a number of years, had her medical license suspended and was told by the SAG that she had to leave the Kingdom before June 16. Acc [...] |
2006-05-22 12:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH3978 |
SAUDI REFORMER DISCUSSES THE CREDIBILITY OF [...] (C) Summary: Long-time reformer Ahmed Al Mulla discussed the current state of Saudi reform with the Consul General on March 28th 2006. Linking the loss of credibility of Saudi sheikhs with their cooperation with the government, he noted a new sheikh whose message is clear-- the Middle East suf [...] |
2006-05-22 12:39:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH4180 |
DHAHRAN DIGEST 6 [...] (C/NF) In the course of a day trip to Jubail on May 28, the CG learned that Bechtel, which has the management contract for Jubail, has decided to allow families of its expatriate workers to return. As a result, there will be forty new American children joining school in Jubail in the fall. [...] |
2006-05-29 13:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ECON EINV PHUM SA |
| 06RIYADH42 |
AL-HASA SHI'A WELCOME U.S. INTERVENTION IN IRAQ, [...] (C) Members of the Shi'a community in Al-Hasa welcomed U.S. intervention in Iraq, saying an almost unqualified "thank you" during lunch with Acting CG and PolOff. Although noting some progress in the SAG's campaign against home-grown terrorism, they said that the government's campaign for to [...] |
2006-01-03 11:16:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER KISL SA KIFR |
| 06RIYADH4224 |
SAG RELEASES ARRESTED FILIPINO CHRISTIAN [...] (C) Mrs. Minerva Cabel (strictly protect), wife of arrested Filipino Christian pastor Francisco Cabel (strictly protect), informed Poloff May 29 that her husband was released May 25 (reftels). She stated that the SAG had given her husband one month before they will deport the entire family. [...] |
2006-05-30 13:46:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH4231 |
SAG DECREE ON RELIGIOUS POLICE GAUGES PUBLIC [...] (U) Recent media and Web site reports carried news of a decree issued by the Ministry of Interior May 24, which some interpret as an effort to curtail the seemingly unlimited and undefined authority of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as the religi [...] |
2006-05-30 15:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM SA |
| 06RIYADH4539 |
EP SANG COMMANDER DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ [...] (C) Prince Mishari bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) in the Eastern Province (EP), told the CG on June 5 that he did not think the "problem between the world and Iran," as he described it, would come to war. The Iranians are "merchants," he [...] |
2006-06-07 12:09:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PINS SA |
| 06RIYADH4543 |
A POSSIBLE RETREAT ON SAUDIZATION? [...] (C) At a lunch hosted by senior EP businessman Yusuf Al-Dossary and his brothers, Al-Dossary told the CG that he expected an imminent but quietly implemented retreat on Saudization employment policies. Al-Dossary, a member of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce & Industry (EPCCI) board, [...] |
2006-06-07 13:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ECON EINV SA |
| 06RIYADH4627 |
COORDINATED MOVES: FOUR BROTHERS PLAY LOCAL EP [...] (C) Summary: At a lunch with Consulate staff on June 6, Yousef, Khalifa, Khalid, and Mohammed Al-Dossary, brothers with a variety of business interests and political activities (ref A), described several aspects of the Eastern Province (EP) political situation. Yousef said that EP Emir Princ [...] |
2006-06-11 06:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH4638 |
DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DELIVERED TO SAG [...] (C) ADCM raised reftel points during 6/12 meeting with MFA Undersecretary for Political Affairs Prince Turki al-Kabir Al Saud. APolCouns attended as notetaker. U/S Turki expressed concern over reftel point referring to deferring Israel/Palestine discussion at inaugural HRC meeting, particula [...] |
2006-06-12 12:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH4719 |
LEAHY VETTING FOR LIEUTENANT COLONEL MOHAMED MUTLK [...] Embassy verifies that the Department of State possesses no credible information of gross violations of human rights by Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Mutlk G. Al Dhafari, who has been identified to participate in DOD training. The course in which Lt Col Al Dhafari will participate is the National [...] |
2006-06-13 05:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | MASS PHUM PINR PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH4723 |
SHI'A CLERIC ASKS U.S. TO EXERT MORE INFLUENCE [...] (C) Sheikh Mohammed Hassan, introduced by a post contact as a leading Saudi follower of Karbala-based Ayatollah Mohammed Taqi Al-Mudarassi, told PolOff in a June 11 meeting that the U.S. should play a more active role in calling for reform in Saudi Arabia. "All reform in the Kingdom is taking [...] |
2006-06-13 08:37:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH4724 |
A LOVE FEST: THE "KING OF HEARTS" VISITS THE EP [...] (U) King Abdullah visited the Eastern Province (EP) June 10-12, provoking great public displays of adoration and allegiance and some private questioning about his commitment to reform. The King's agenda included a ceremonial opening of planned industrial city Jubail-II, launching of numerous [...] |
2006-06-13 09:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH4775 |
SAG RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE: JUNE OIC BAKU [...] (C) A/PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, MFA Office Director for International Organizations. Al-Rassi will be the SAG representative at the OIC conference and was keenly interested in the US position reflected in the reftel demarche. In particular, he appreciated t [...] |
2006-06-14 14:58:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH4776 |
SAG RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON YEMENI GCC ASSISTANCE [...] (C) A/PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, MFA Office Director for International Orgnizations. Al-Rassi confirmed that SAG agreed that providing financial assistance to Yemen through the GCC is important in ensuring regional stability. When asked whether they plan on pr [...] |
2006-06-14 14:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH4818 |
SAG DEMARCHE RESPONSE: SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN [...] (C) A/PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Office Director for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 14. Al-Rassi noted the US position, and was interested to know the number of times that each country had served on the UN Security Counc [...] |
2006-06-17 14:08:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH4854 |
TRIPARTITE DEMARCHE -- SAUDI ARABIA [...] (U) PolOff, in coordination with the New Zealand and Australian Embassies, delivered reftel demarche May 31 to Abdulrahman Al-Rassj, First Secretary, International Organizations Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Rassj responded that the SAG had not yet formed a position on the [...] |
2006-06-18 13:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH4914 |
SAUDI HEZBOLLAH FIGURE OFFERS A SLIGHTLY TOUGHER [...] (C) In a May 28 meeting with PolOff and PolFSN, Ahmed Al-Nimr (Ahmed), brother and office manager of Shi'a cleric Sheikh Hassan Al-Nimr (Hassan), explained that Hassan would not meet with American diplomats because "he would lose the respect of people on the street, who would ask why he met w [...] |
2006-06-19 12:46:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PHUM SA |
| 06RIYADH4919 |
REMAINS RETURNED, FAMILIES OF GTMO DETAINEES CALL [...] (U) Following the deaths of the three GTMO detainees, Abdulaziz Suleiman al-Rubaish, whose brother is currently detained at GTMO, contacted the Embassy and asked to meet with the Ambassador. PolMilOff met al-Rubaish at the Embassy front gate and accepted a letter addressed to President Bush f [...] |
2006-06-19 14:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL KPAO PGOV PREL MOPS PTER KAWC SA XF |
| 06RIYADH4960 |
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL--ANTICIPATED OIC ASSAULT [...] (SBU) Post attempted to contact FM Saud Al-Faisal on June 19 to deliver ref a demarche. He is currently on vacation in an intentionally remote location. We delivered demarche by diplomatic note directly to the FM's Chief of Staff, who agreed to forward to the FM. Please note that Post del [...] |
2006-06-20 10:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM SA |
| 06RIYADH4961 |
SAG NOTIFIED OF PSI WARSAW MEETING PARTICIPANTS [...] (C) On June 14 A/PolCouns gave Abdulrahman al-Rassi, Office Director for MFA's International Organizations Department, a list of Middle Eastern states the USG expects will participate in the June 23 Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) High Level Political Meeting in Warsaw, Poland. A/Pol [...] |
2006-06-20 11:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP XF |
| 06RIYADH4966 |
NOTICE OF SECOND ROUND OF GUANTANAMO [...] (C) Post notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via diplomatic note on April 23 of the upcoming Administrative Review Board on the status of the Saudi detainees named in Reftel. We will notify the Department of any response from the SAG. OBERWETTER [...] |
2006-06-20 12:42:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PINR PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH4967 |
SAG NOTIFIED OF SECOND ROUND OF GUANTANAMO [...] (C) Post notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via diplomatic note on April 23 of the upcoming Administrative Review Board on the status of the Saudi detainees named in Reftel. We will notify the Department of any response from the SAG. OBERWETTER [...] |
2006-06-20 12:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PINR PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH4997 |
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ACCEPTS FORMAL ROLE ON HUMAN [...] (C) Ibrahim Al-Mugaiteeb, President of the unregistered Human Rights First Society, told the CG on June 17 that he had accepted a formal role with the government-affiliated Human Rights Commission (HRC) run by Dr. Turki Al-Sudairy. Al-Mugaiteeb said that Al-Sudairy had offered him a position [...] |
2006-06-21 04:41:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH5036 |
QATIF MUNICIPAL COUNCIL MEMBER ADVOCATES PATIENTLY [...] (C) In a June 29 meeting with PolOff, Dr. Riyadh Al-Mustafa, an elected member of Qatif's municipal council, detailed his and the council's efforts to improve Qatif's services and infrastructure. Al-Mustafa, whose constituency is the town of Qatif itself, said that the council's first priori [...] |
2006-06-23 08:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH5042 |
USD EDELMAN'S MEETINGS WITH THE KING AND CROWN [...] (S) Summary: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman discussed the U.S.-Saudi defense relationship, regional security, helicopters, Iran, Iraq, and visas during separate meetings with King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan on June 6. Both the King and Crown Prince were supportive of [...] |
2006-06-24 14:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | MARR MASS MCAP SA PTER PREL PARM PINR |
| 06RIYADH5079 |
USD EDELMAN'S MEETING WITH ASSISTANT MOI PRINCE [...] (S) Summary: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman discussed detainees, helicopters, infrastructure security, Iraq, and border security during a June 6 meeting with Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif. Prince Muhammad confirmed that the SA [...] |
2006-06-25 04:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | SA MARR PBTS PGOV PINR PINS PTER ENRG |
| 06RIYADH5082 |
U/S EDELMAN'S MEETING WITH ASST MINISTER OF [...] (S) Summary: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman discussed the U.S.-Saudi defense relationship, Iran, and regional security during his June 6 meeting with Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Security Affairs. The overall tone of the meeting [...] |
2006-06-25 08:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | MARR MASS MCAP MOPS PARM PGOV PREL PINR PTER |
| 06RIYADH5083 |
INTERNET JOURNALISM CHANGING PERSPECTIVES AMONG EP [...] (C) Hussein Al-Alak, a Qatif-based journalist for online Rasid News Network (www.rasid.org; the premier Internet forum for Saudi Shi'a), discussed with PolOff and PAO on June 20 the growing influence of Internet journalism among the Shi'a. Because the government has permitted much greater fre [...] |
2006-06-25 08:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL SA |
| 06RIYADH5105 |
SAUDIS NAME NEW IRAQ BORDER LIAISON OFFICER [...] (S) General Saleh bin Ali al-Muhayya, Chief of General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation (MODA) sent a letter (classified "secret/urgent") to CHUSMTM May 30 on the appointment of a new Saudi-Iraq border liaison officer. The new officer is LTC Khalid bin Mohamed al-S [...] |
2006-06-25 15:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PBTS PGOV PREL PINR SA IZ MARR MOPS |
| 06RIYADH5106 |
SCENESETTER FOR THE JUNE 27 VISIT OF AMBASSADOR [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes your visit to Jeddah June 27. Ambassador Oberwetter and Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller look forward to meeting you and will accompany you on a number of your calls on Saudi leaders. Per your request, appointments are being requested in Jedd [...] |
2006-06-25 16:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV OVIP PTER IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH5111 |
TRIBAL LEADER PLAYS POLITICS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE [...] (C) In a June 21 meeting with Consulate Dhahran and Embassy Manama PolOffs, Essa Al-Dossary, self-styled deputy sheikh of the Al-Dossary tribe in the Eastern Province (EP) and the Kingdom of Bahrain, described to PolOffs the nature of his influence on both sides of the causeway. Al-Dossary e [...] |
2006-06-26 12:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA BA |
| 06RIYADH5114 |
KING LAUNCHES ECONOMIC AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES [...] (C) Summary: King Abdullah recently completed his first national tour since becoming King. Traveling with his Cabinet, the King visited the Ha'il, Al Qassim, Medina and Eastern provinces promoting government support for economic, industrial, health and educational development of the regions [...] |
2006-06-26 14:21:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH5135 |
THE TRANSLATED TEXT OF THE WARNING AND STATEMENT [...] (U) What follows is post's Arabic translation of the "Warning and Statement" published by 61 Saudi conservative religious scholars as discussed in septel. 2. (U) BEGIN TRANSLATED TEXT: Statement addressed to the Rulers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The statement was posted on: http://ww [...] |
2006-06-27 14:20:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SA PINR |
| 06RIYADH5136 |
SAUDI CONSERVATIVES LAUNCH COUNTER-REFORMATION [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: Following a series of reforms seen as challenging the prominence of the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia, 61 religious scholars published an open letter, called "A Warning and a Statement," to the Kingdom's rulers. This manifesto warned the SAG against a 'gang' of people [...] |
2006-06-27 14:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV SA KISL PINR PREL |
| 06RIYADH5167 |
MAJLIS AL SHOURA REJECTS FUNDING FOR THE RELIGIOUS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-28 10:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH5173 |
A TALE OF TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS: THE DIVERGING [...] (C) Summary: Six months after the SAG announced its appointees to the municipal councils (reftel), the experiences of the Greater Dammam Municipal Council (GDMC) and the Qatif Municipal Council (QMC) illustrate two diverging paths in this experiment in partially elected local government. Th [...] |
2006-06-30 07:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SA |
| 06RIYADH5220 |
14 GUANTANAMO DETAINEES TRANSFERED TO SAUDI [...] (C) Summary and Comment: On June 25, 14 Guantanamo detainees were transferred to Saudi authority, including a non-Saudi citizen, Ahmad Sadik Turkestani. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has told EmbOffs that all of the detainees will be further incarcerated in the Kingdom until the SAG rules [...] |
2006-07-02 13:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL KPAO PGOV PREL KAWC MOPS PTER SA XF |
| 06RIYADH5264 |
SAG REQUESTS USG SUPPORT FOR FOREIGN MINISTER'S [...] (C) On July 2, Post received via diplomatic note a request from the Saudi Foreign Ministry seeking USG assistance to secure a temporary license from the Treasury Dept's Office of Financial Assets Control (OFAC) to allow Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal to fly aboard a private, corporate [...] |
2006-07-02 15:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH5266 |
POST SEEKING CLARITY ON GULF SECURITY DIALOGUE [...] (S/NF) Post is seeking the Department's clarification of the relationship between the proposed Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) (Ref A) and other bilateral and regional security initiatives that have been previously proposed to the SAG. We have identified no less than 13 security-related initiativ [...] |
2006-07-02 16:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER MOPS SA |
| 06RIYADH5274 |
MOI REQUESTS GTMO SUICIDE NOTES TO QUELL MURDER [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (S) The Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) has asked the USG for the suicide notes written by the two deceased Saudi Guantanamo detainees, Yasser al-Zahrani and Manie al-Otaibi. The MOI wishes to provide copies of these letters to the family members of the [...] |
2006-07-03 11:42:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PREL KAWC SA |
| 06RIYADH5277 |
MIXED SAUDI REACTION TO KUWAITI ELECTIONS [...] (U) On June 29, the Kuwaiti Parliament held elections, in which women were allowed to run as candidates and vote for the first time. There were twenty-seven women candidates, but none were elected. Saudi media reported mixed reactions to the results. Most Saudi media reported that the electi [...] |
2006-07-03 13:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH5278 |
RIYADH RECORD: JUNE 21-30 2006 [...] (U) This cable serves as the inaugural edition of the Riyadh Record, which will provide weekly summaries of key political events in the Kingdom. 2. (S) SUMMARY: During the course of the past few weeks, there has been an increase in the dialogue between supporters of King Abdullah,s reforms [...] |
2006-07-03 13:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL SA PINR |
| 06RIYADH5314 |
DHAHRAN DIGEST 7 [...] (SBU) Dr. Abdullah Al-Kadi, director of Al Bir, the largest charitable organization in the Eastern Province (EP), estimated to the CG that there were 3.7 million residents in the EP, of whom 20 percent (740,000) were expatriates. Al-Kadi, a U.S.-trained architect and urban planner, has constr [...] |
2006-07-05 05:51:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET SOCI PINR PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH5315 |
DISCUSSION GROUPS GROW, CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPS [...] (C) Summary: Shi'a journalist Merza Al Khuwaildi discussed the range of new discussion groups in Saudi Arabia, in a June 28 meeting with the Consul General. Considered the vanguard of civil society in Saudi Arabia, these home-based, informal, grass-roots groups have enjoyed more freedom over [...] |
2006-07-05 06:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH5316 |
SETBACKS FOR SAUDI BUSINESSWOMEN IN THE EP [...] (C) Summary: Director of the Businesswomen's Committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hana Al-Zuhair recounted recent setbacks for businesswomen. In a meeting on June 27 2006, Al-Zuhair told the PAO about a mixed-gender meeting held at the Chamber in April, to discuss [...] |
2006-07-05 06:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KWMN KPAO SA |
| 06RIYADH5317 |
SHIELD S10-06: SAG DENIES CHEM-BIO GEAR IMPORTED [...] (S) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) informed the Embassy via diplomatic note dated June 6, 2006 that the Ministry of Interior did not import chemical and biological items from Iran, per Reftel. However, the note did acknowledge that the SAG imported one sample protective vest and one [...] |
2006-07-05 06:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PARM PREL ETTC CBW IR SA |
| 06RIYADH5322 |
IRAQI PRIME MINISTER VISITS KINGDOM ON FIRST TRIP [...] (C) Traveling on his first trip abroad as Prime Minister, Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki visited Saudi Arabia July 1-2 seeking Saudi support for economic development, reconciliation, and improving security to stabilize Iraq. Saudi news sources reported that PM Maliki was received by the Crown Prin [...] |
2006-07-05 12:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH5451 |
HASAWI SHI'A CONTINUE ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN RIYADH [...] (C) In separate meetings with PolOff and PAO on July 8, Hasawi Shi'a activists Sadeq Al-Ramadan and Mohammed Al-Jubran discussed Shi'a advocacy efforts with the SAG. Al-Ramadan mentioned that he was part of a small delegation that visited the Vice Minister of Information and several other min [...] |
2006-07-10 08:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH5456 |
MAJLIS AL SHOURA REJECTS FUNDING FOR THE RELIGIOUS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-10 14:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH5513 |
SHI'A TRADITIONALIST LAMENTS SHIRAZI ASCENDANCY IN [...] (C) Kamal Al-Khatti, a Riyadh-based social researcher formerly employed by Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd and son of Qatif's late and revered Judge Abdulhamid Al-Khatti, told the CG and ConOffs that the Shirazis (ref A) now dominated Qatif and the Saudi Shi'a community politically, but that a laten [...] |
2006-07-11 11:51:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH5516 |
RIYADH RECORD: JUNE 30-JULY 7 2006 [...] (S) SUMMARY: Majlis al-Shoura rejects an appeal to revote on the religious police funding proposal, while at the same time rejecting a proposal for them to wear publicly-identifiable uniforms. Six women were added as part-time consultants on women's issues to the Shoura Council, bringing the [...] |
2006-07-11 12:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH5546 |
KING EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN [...] (S) During Ambassador Khalilzad's recent visit to the Kingdom (reftels), King Abdullah talked at length about SAG concerns about the influence exerted by Iran and its surrogates in Iraq and the region. King Abdullah told his guests that "justice is missing" in Iraq, and that there is "no eq [...] |
2006-07-12 06:42:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PREL PGOV IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH5547 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR VISIT OF DEPUTY [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for the visit of Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt and his delegation to Saudi Arabia on July 23. Due to recent severe budget cuts, the Mission must direct charge all visit support costs. Country cl [...] |
2006-07-12 08:23:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP EAID ECON EFIN PREL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH5548 |
SCENESETTER FOR THE VISIT OF DEPUTY TREASURY [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes your visit to Jeddah July 23. Ambassador Oberwetter and Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller look forward to meeting you and will accompany you on a number of your calls on Saudi leaders. Per your request, appointments are being requested in Jedd [...] |
2006-07-12 09:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | OVIP EAID ECON EFIN PREL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH5601 |
SAUDI ARABIA ISSUES STATEMENT ON SECURITY [...] (U) NIACT precedence justified due to urgency of the message conveyed by the Government of Saudi Arabia. 2. (SBU) On July 14, the Saudi Foreign Ministry urgently contacted and delivered to the Ambassador the following official Saudi statement expressing its views on the situation in Palestine and [...] |
2006-07-14 00:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IS KPAL KWBG SA |
| 06RIYADH5707 |
SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS SOCIETY CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF [...] (U) This is an action request. See Para 4. 2. (U) On July 15 and 16, several Saudi newspapers published a letter to President Bush from the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. A member of the NSHR gave the Ambassador a [...] |
2006-07-18 07:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL PHUM SA |
| 06RIYADH5709 |
SAUDI SHI'A REACT TO CRISIS IN LEBANON [...] (SBU) Based on Internet postings and conversations with contacts since the confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel erupted last Wednesday, Saudi Shi'a are unanimous in condemning Israel's response to Hezbollah's kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers, and most Saudi Shi'a seem supportive of Hezb [...] |
2006-07-18 11:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH5780 |
US LOBBYING FIRM SEEKS GREATER VOICE FOR TAWAFUQ, [...] (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see paragraph five. 2. (C) Summary: Mark Alsalih, an Iraqi American from the Washington lobbying firm MITA, requested Embassy's assistance on July 17 to make an introduction to Director of the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency Prince [...] |
2006-07-19 15:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH5839 |
FM CRITICAL OF US INACTION, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE [...] (S) In a July 19 press conference Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal emphasized the need for an immediate cease-fire and criticized Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. He described the situation as "a real catastrophe that is taking place before the people's eyes and n [...] |
2006-07-23 12:13:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH5904 |
TRANSFORMATIONAL DIPLOMACY IN THE EP: [...] (C) Opportunities abound in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province (EP) for ConGen Dhahran to expand its work with EP residents to help them transform Saudi Arabia's future. Since September 11, EP residents have claimed, and the SAG has tolerated, much greater latitude to discuss the country's and p [...] |
2006-07-25 08:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI KDEM SA |
| 06RIYADH5907 |
CROWN PRINCE SIGNS TWO DEFENSE AGREEMENTS IN [...] (C) Crown Prince Sultan, who is also the Saudi Minister of Defense and Aviation, reportedly signed two defense agreements with France during his July 20 visit to Paris. Media reports have suggested that these agreements could lead to Saudi purchase of French tanker aircraft, helicopters, and [...] |
2006-07-25 12:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | MARR MASS BEXP SA |
| 06RIYADH5947 |
SAG REMOVES SHI'A JUDGE IN QATIF [...] (SBU) The SAG removed Ghalib Al-Hammad as judge of the Shi'a court in Qatif, replacing him with associate judge Sulaiman Abu Al-Makarem effective July 19. Al-Hammad had only held the post for 7 months (ref B), and his abrupt sacking engendered speculation and criticism within the Shi'a commu [...] |
2006-07-26 11:23:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF SA PGOV PHUM |
| 06RIYADH5949 |
SAG REMOVES SHI'A JUDGE IN QATIF [...] (SBU) The SAG removed Ghalib Al-Hammad as judge of the Shi'a court in Qatif, replacing him with associate judge Sulaiman Abu Al-Makarem effective July 19. Al-Hammad had only held the post for 7 months (ref B), and his abrupt sacking engendered speculation and criticism within the Shi'a commu [...] |
2006-07-26 11:23:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF SA PGOV PHUM |
| 06RIYADH5952 |
KING ABDULLAH AND PRESIDENT MUBARAK DISCUSS [...] (C) King Abdullah and Egyptian President Mubarak met July 25 to consult on the Lebanon crisis. Stating that Saudi Arabia and Egypt hold identical views on the situation in Lebanon, both leaders called for an immediate cease-fire, warning that continued Israeli aggression could engulf the entire reg [...] |
2006-07-26 14:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SENV LE SA |
| 06RIYADH6 |
SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FREE TO TRAVEL, [...] (C) Summary: Ibrahim Mugaiteeb, President of the Saudi NGO, "Human Rights First" (HRF), informed poloff that the SAG had returned his Saudi passport, and will allow him to travel to Germany to receive medical attention. Mugaiteeb also stated that he had met with the chairman of the National [...] |
2006-01-02 11:42:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH6003 |
SAUDI RED CRESCENT TO SEND HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO [...] (U) NIACT precedence justified by urgent operational information and alternate work week. This message responds to Lebanon Task Force and Embassy Tel Aviv requests for assurances and information, to be shared with the IDF, concerning the planned travel of a Saudi relief convoy to Lebanon. [...] |
2006-07-29 13:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV LE EAID SA |
| 06RIYADH6005 |
SAG RESPONSE: NEW YORK FORCE GENERATION MEETING [...] (C) Ambassador spoke with Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal July 29 by telephone to discuss reftel demarche, which Post had earlier transmitted via diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister responded that the Saudis would not provide troops for peacekeeping effor [...] |
2006-07-29 15:20:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SA LE |
| 06RIYADH6037 |
TFLE01: SAUDI HUMANITARIAN CONVOY STILL PLANNING [...] (C) NIACT precedence justified by urgent operational information and alternate work week. This message responds to Lebanon Task Force and Embassy Tel Aviv requests for assurances and information, to be shared with the IDF, concerning the planned travel of a Saudi relief convoy to Lebanon. [...] |
2006-07-29 20:45:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER EAID LE SA |
| 06RIYADH6038 |
CONSERVATIVE SAUDI CLERICS DEBATE SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Last week, three revered Wahhabi sheikhs issued advisory opinions in their own capacity on the question of support for Hizballah. On July 17, prominent Wahhabi Sheikh Abdullah bin Jabreen issued an advisory opinion, reported as a fatwa declaring it impermissible for Muslims to s [...] |
2006-07-30 07:15:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6040 |
TFLE01: SAUDI HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO BEIRUT [...] (C) NIACT precedence justified by urgent operational information and alternate work week. This message concerns the travel of a Saudi relief convoy to Lebanon. 2. (C) Poloff conveyed reftel E information to Emboff at the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon (Saudi POC) early on the morning of July 30 [...] |
2006-07-30 09:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER EAID LE SA |
| 06RIYADH6058 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES LEBANON CRISIS AND VISA [...] (C) Ambassador Oberwetter discussed three issues with Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal via telephone on July 29. First, they discussed the issue of the Saudi humanitarian aid convoy to Lebanon (Ref A). The Ambassador assured the Foreign Minister that Post staff was working in coordination with Saudi [...] |
2006-07-30 16:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR CMGT SA LE |
| 06RIYADH6103 |
RIYADH RECORD: JULY 21-29 2006 [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Saudi mood, as reflected in critical statements issued by clerics and appearing on internet chat sites, is becoming increasingly anti-U.S. Debate abounds among religious scholars who continue to raise the issue of Shi'a versus Sunni and the question of whether Saudis should support [...] |
2006-08-01 15:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH6153 |
SAG STATEMENT TALKS OF UNIFYING ARAB POSITION [...] (S) SUMMARY: The SAG cabinet issued a statement on the Lebanese and Palestinian crisis July 31 following a meeting chaired by King Abdullah. The statement called for a joint Arab and Islamic stand against Israel and reiterated the need for an immediate cease fire. It also urged collaboration [...] |
2006-08-02 11:15:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PTER PREL LE SA |
| 06RIYADH6335 |
TRIBAL LEADERS MAKE AMENDS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Saudi press this week covered what is likely a regular, but nonetheless rarely reported event, the traditional process of reconciliation between two tribes engaged in a potentially violent dispute. Though such events are usually far from the local headlines and almost never the [...] |
2006-08-08 07:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH6338 |
EGYPTIAN DCM GIVES READOUT ON ARAB LEAGUE MEETING [...] (C) Egyptian DCM Hossam Kassem told the DCM on the evening of August 7 that the Arab League Foreign Ministers' meeting in Beirut had gone well from its members' point of view, and that there were three criticisms leveled against the draft UNSC resolution on Lebanon. The foreign ministers re [...] |
2006-08-08 13:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV LE SA |
| 06RIYADH6339 |
SAUDI CONSERVATIVES CALL FOR BOYCOTT ON US [...] (C) SUMMARY: Beginning July 31, two prominent conservative websites posted articles calling for a boycott on U.S. consumer goods and services, ranging from fast-food franchises to shampoo brands, to begin on August 4. There was already an ongoing cellular telephone text messaging campaign. [...] |
2006-08-08 13:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ECON ETRD SA LE |
| 06RIYADH6343 |
SAUDI ACADEMIC WARNS THAT LEBANON FOMENTS EXTREMISM [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: On August 6 a politically mainstream Saudi academic and journalist, Dr. Ali Sa'ad al-Musa, published an open letter to President Bush in the widely-read al-Watan newspaper, warning that he and millions of other moderates in the Middle East are becoming extremists as [...] |
2006-08-08 14:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH6372 |
SAUDI OPPOSITION GROUP CALLS FOR FRIDAY PROTESTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The London-based, Saudi opposition group accused of having links to al-Qaeda, the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia ('MIRA'), called for political gatherings to be held Kingdom-wide at 44 specified mosques beginning this Friday, August 11. MIRA, composed of religious conserva [...] |
2006-08-09 14:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6440 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR VISIT OF DEPUTY [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for a delegation led by Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt and Principal Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ambassador James SIPDIS Jeffrey to visit the Kingdom August 14-15 to dis [...] |
2006-08-13 11:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP EAID ECON EFIN PREL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH6467 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: SAUDI RESPONSE OF IIRO'S [...] (C) Summary: As a result of the August 3 UN 1267 designation of Abd Al-Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mua'jjil (AKA Abdul Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mujil), the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) has confirmed its prior actions to freeze his assets and restrict his travel. End Summary. 2. (S/NF) The Ministry of [...] |
2006-08-14 07:41:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN KTFN PTER PREL ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH6472 |
RENEWED STIRRINGS OF POLITICAL OPPOSITION ACTIVITY [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 9, Dr. Saad al-Faqih, leader of the London-based, Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), called for Kingdom-wide political demonstrations to be held on Friday August 11 immediately prior to Friday prayers (Ref A). Al-Faqih, a Saudi dissid [...] |
2006-08-14 13:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6473 |
RIYADH RECORD: JULY 30-AUGUST 4 [...] (C) SUMMARY: The SAG provided humanitarian assistance to victims of the crisis in Lebanon through air and land convoys as well as increased financial assistance. The Saudi public's discontent increased with the SAG's perceived support for U.S. policy in Lebanon, and protesters of U.S. suppor [...] |
2006-08-14 13:41:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH6477 |
WEBSITE REPORTS LEBANON CRISIS CAUSING SPLIT IN [...] (S) The Saudi website "Al-Haramayn," citing various media sources, has claimed that the SAG's reaction to the Lebanon crisis has sparked tension among senior members of the royal family. Specifically, it alleges the existence of a split between King Abdullah on the one hand, and Crown Prince [...] |
2006-08-14 14:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH6520 |
ANTI-BUSH POEM EPITOMIZES CURRENT SAUDI PUBLIC MOOD [...] (C) BACKGROUND: Poetry runs in the blood of the Saudi people. They have historically utilized poetry to express public opinion over social, political, and cultural issues. They also use poetry to curry favor with their rulers, local and regional, as well as share their criticisms in an open forum. [...] |
2006-08-16 12:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SCUL SA |
| 06RIYADH6571 |
SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WARNS TERRORISM HAS NO [...] (C) Summary: A headline on the front page of the August 15 edition of the English language Arab News read, "Kingdom Warns Against Linking Islam With Fascism," referring directly to President Bush's August 11 statement on the foiled terrorist plot in the U.K. President Bush's comment, that th [...] |
2006-08-19 13:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6574 |
SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WARNS TERRORISM HAS NO [...] (C) Summary: A headline on the front page of the August 15 edition of the English language Arab News read, "Kingdom Warns Against Linking Islam With Fascism," referring directly to President Bush's August 11 statement on the foiled terrorist plot in the U.K. The Arab News article reported th [...] |
2006-08-19 16:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6581 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: DESIGNATION OF SAJID MOHAMED [...] (SBU) On May 30, 2006, Post received the following diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the addition of Sajid Mohamed Badat to the UN 1267 Sanctions list of individuals/entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Taliban or Al Qaida. Complimentary opening -- T [...] |
2006-08-20 14:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER CVIS KVPR SA |
| 06RIYADH6668 |
170 SAUDI AND MUSLIM SCHOLARS WORLDWIDE CALL FOR [...] (S) SUMMARY: 170 Muslim scholars from more than seventeen countries, including twenty-nine Saudi citizens, issued an open statement on August 4 entitled "Statement and Appeal from Scholars of the Islamic Nation." The statement condemned Israeli "aggression" in Lebanon and Palestine, and crit [...] |
2006-08-22 06:58:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA LE |
| 06RIYADH6727 |
THE YEAR IN REVIEW: KING ABDULLAH MARKS FIRST YEAR [...] (C) August 1 marked the one year anniversary of King Abdullah's ascension to the throne. The King has generated considerable popularity by delivering political, economic, and social programs intended to improve the welfare of Saudi citizens. Utilizing the windfall from surging oil prices, [...] |
2006-08-24 18:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PHUM PTER PINS PINR ECON EFIN ETRD |
| 06RIYADH6730 |
COURTS IGNORE SHARIA RULING, ANNUL MARRIAGE BASED [...] (U) Three years and two children into a happy marriage, a Saudi couple in Al-Jouf, a city in the northern part of the Kingdom, have seen their marriage annulled on the grounds that it violated social custom. According to several media reports, the woman's half-brother filed the lawsuit in Aug [...] |
2006-08-24 18:40:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL PCUL SA |
| 06RIYADH6737 |
RIYADH RECORD: AUGUST 5-11, 2006 [...] (C) SUMMARY: One hundred seventy Muslim scholars, including 29 Saudis, called for unity in the Islamic Nation and condemned the Israeli 'aggression' in Lebanon and Palestine. Saudi opposition activity continues to stir in the Diaspora with a revitalization of the London-based Movement for Is [...] |
2006-08-26 08:07:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH6813 |
US/SAUDI REGULATORY TRAINING: SAUDI'S CAPITAL [...] (SBU) Summary: The Saudi equivalent of our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Capital Market Authority (CMA), is in its third year of existence, and focused on educating its young, technocratic Saudi workforce. The CMA's main goal for 2007 is to utilize U.S. schools and inst [...] |
2006-08-27 12:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ECIN PREL CVIS SA |
| 06RIYADH6814 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR SEC OFFICIALS TO [...] The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, Dr. Robert M. Fisher, Mr. Timothy Warren and Mr. Ester Saverson Jr. for a training seminar for Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority from September 9-15, 2006. 2. Due to recent se [...] |
2006-08-27 12:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN OTRA SA SEC |
| 06RIYADH6818 |
WEBSITE REPORTS MEETING OF THIRD GENERATION ROYALS [...] (C) A moderate Saudi-based and owned website reported on August 15 that Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz held a meeting with key princes of the royal family's third generation in his Riyadh palace earlier this month. Notable attendees were his son Prince al-Waleed, one of the wealthiest businessm [...] |
2006-08-27 15:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH6925 |
RADIO SILENCE FROM NEW SAUDI OPPOSITION GROUP IN [...] (S) SUMMARY: Several media outlets reported a statement on August 7 issued by Prince Talal Muhammad Al-Rasheed, a deposed royal and Saudi dissident residing in Paris, which announced the formation of the Saudi Democratic Opposition Front. The group, which is reportedly both secular and triba [...] |
2006-08-30 10:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6926 |
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL -- SAG SAYS SAME OLD, SAME [...] (C) Summary. Government of Saudi Arabia (SAG) MFA Human Rights POC Torki Al-Madi told Acting Political Counselor and PolOff during an August 16 courtesy call that the UN Human Rights Council is not an improvement on its predecessor, the UN Human Rights Commission, especially since the U.S. i [...] |
2006-08-30 11:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH6927 |
AL-MUA'JJIL'S TRAVEL BAN IN FULL EFFECT & IIRO [...] (U) This is joint Riyadh and Consulate Dhahran cable. 2. (C) Summary: A press report and a Consulate visit to the closed offices of IIRO's Eastern Province Branch indicated that the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) has kept its word on actions against recent designee, Abd Al-Hamid Sulaiman [...] |
2006-08-30 12:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN KFTN PREL PTER ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH6933 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR U.S. TREASURY [...] The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for Mr. Ahmed Elbashari for an on-site review of Saudi Arabia's Financial Intelligence Unit from September 15-20, 2006. 2. Due to recent severe budget cuts, the Mission must direct charge all visit support [...] |
2006-08-31 11:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC EFIN PREL PTER KCRM ETTC KTFN SA |
| 06RIYADH6940 |
KING ABDULLAH AND FOREIGN MINISTER PRESS COMMENTS [...] (S) SUMMARY. Recent statements to the press by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal appear to be a concerted effort by the SAG to address strong public criticism of its position on the Lebanon crisis and ties to the U.S., as well as accusat [...] |
2006-09-03 11:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH6976 |
POLITICAL POETRY PRAISES HEZBOLLAH [...] (C) Al Hayat newspaper published on August 26 a political poem entitled "Lebanon," which was written by Dr. Ghazi Al-Qusaibee, Minister of Labor and key advisor to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Al-Qusaibee, a famous poet and writer in the Arab world, is commonly known as a [...] |
2006-09-04 06:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR KISL SA PHUM |
| 06RIYADH6980 |
CONVERSATION WITH NEO-TRIBALIST WOMEN'S ACTIVIST [...] (C) SUMMARY: Recent media reporting about the rise in the number of official and unofficial female proselytizers in the Kingdom has generated much debate. The number of "unsanctioned" female preachers is increasing, and their lack of supervision by authorities breeds uncertainty about the me [...] |
2006-09-04 13:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PCUL PHUM KISL KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH7 |
AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD SEEKS POST-IRAQI ELECTIONS [...] (S/NF) Summary: U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad met with King Abdullah, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, and General Intelligence Presidency director Prince Muqrin bin Abd al-Aziz on December 27, to seek Saudi support in Iraq for building an Arab Sunni-Kurdish-Alawi coalition to engage the [...] |
2006-01-02 12:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH7058 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: SAG ON ABOUSOFIAN, YASSIN [...] (U) This contains an action request at paragraph 6. 2. (C) Summary: MFA's counselor for counterterrorism, Abdulrahman Al-Ahmed, told us August 29 that it will take appropriate action on the 1267 Designation of Abousofian Abdelrazik. He asked for updates on the closing of the IIRO branch [...] |
2006-09-06 07:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN KFTN PREL PTER ETTC SA ID RP |
| 06RIYADH7097 |
SAUDI REACTION TO SENTENCING OF HOMAIDAN AL-TURKI [...] (S/NF) The August 31, 2006, sentencing by a Colorado court of Homaidan Al-Turki to 28 years to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his Indonesian maid has provoked calls for a boycott of U.S. products and the return of Saudis studying in the U.S. Some Saudi contacts even fear that this [...] |
2006-09-10 11:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | AORC ELAB FBI KCRM PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH7190 |
MUST LOVE DOGS [...] (U) SUMMARY. Saudi attitudes toward animals exemplifies the way in which conservatism and tradition have collided with progressive thinking and western ideas to create a paradox within Saudi culture. Muslims are guided by the Qura'an and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad to be kind to animal [...] |
2006-09-12 12:56:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PCUL PHUM PGOV PREL KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH7191 |
RIYADH RECORD: AUGUST 19-31 [...] (C) SUMMARY: Youth summer camps in the Kingdom elicited controversy from one of their lectures on the negative aspects of the West and how Saudi journalists act as the West's "agents." The Ministry of Commerce licensed the first female engineer in Saudi Arabia; the hope is that many more wi [...] |
2006-09-12 13:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH7193 |
PROPOSED CHANGE IN WOMEN'S PRAYER AREA IN MECCA [...] (C) SUMMARY: The General Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Affairs issued a proposal on August 25 for shifting the prayer place of women within the circumambulation area -- the uncovered circle surrounding the Kaaba ("House of God"), which is called the mataf-- in the Grand Mosque of Mecca. [...] |
2006-09-13 05:07:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL KWMN |
| 06RIYADH7211 |
AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD - SUCCESSFUL 9/12 MEETING [...] (S/NF) BEGIN SUMMARY. Ambassador Oberwetter and Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad called on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on September 12 to seek support on a range of issues relating to Iraq. The King expressed his concern about Iranian influen [...] |
2006-09-16 09:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER KISL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH7447 |
RIYADH RECORD: SEPTEMBER 1-15 [...] (C) SUMMARY: Saudi Court of Grievances postponed a hearing on the novel "Girls of Riyadh" after the news of the proposed hearing sparked robust debate in the media. The proposal to shift the women's prayer area in Mecca has been rejected. The SAG demands clarification from the Vatican follo [...] |
2006-09-24 14:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL KWMN KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH7498 |
POST'S BLUE LANTERN POINTS OF CONTACT [...] (U) As of October 15, Embassy Riyadh's Blue Lantern primary point of contact will be: Mr. Joel Wiegert Political-Military Officer Tel: 966-1-488-3800 ext. 4327 Fax: 966-1-483-0042 Alternative point of contact is Mr. Irfan Qaiyumi, who will remain at post until April, 2007: Mr. Irfan [...] |
2006-09-26 11:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KOMC ETTC KSEP US SA |
| 06RIYADH7501 |
SAUDIS SHOW HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST IN MEGAPORTS [...] (S) Summary and Comment: The SAG appears to be seriously considering implementing the Megaports Initiative (MI) to provide radiological/nuclear materials detection equipment in the Kingdom's two largest ports of Jeddah and Dammam. During their September 8-13 Megaports outreach visit to the Ki [...] |
2006-09-26 14:07:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KNNP ENRG PARM OTRA PREL PGOV SA |
| 06RIYADH7628 |
SAUDI ATTENDANCE AT GCC+2 FOLLOW-UP MEETING IN [...] (C) On September 28, 2006, CDA Rundell delivered the reftel demarche to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizur Obaid Mandani. Dr. Mandani confirmed that Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal will attend both the Secretary's October 2 meeting with King Abdullah in Jeddah and the GCC 2 Oct [...] |
2006-09-28 15:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH7629 |
DRL DAS ERICA BARKS-RUGGLES DISCUSSES POLITICS, [...] (C) SUMMARY: Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Erica Barks-Ruggles met with dozens of Saudi women representing a broad spectrum of opinions and backgrounds during her September 12-14 visit to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi women unanimously agreed that Saudi [...] |
2006-09-28 15:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH7834 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: TALIBAN [...] (S/NF) Post has reviewed the draft strategy to counter both Taliban and funding sources outside of Afghanistan and the mechanisms used to transfer the funds into Afghanistan. Post is aware of donors located in the Kingdom who contribute to the Taliban, however Post has no evidence of deep-pock [...] |
2006-10-04 11:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | KTFN EFIN PTER ETTC SA AF XF |
| 06RIYADH7837 |
SAUDI ARABIA OFFERS POSITION PAPER ON THE PEACE [...] (C) During Secretary Rice's October 2 visit to Jeddah, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal provided the following position paper on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to NEA Assistant Secretary Welch. 2. (C) Begin Text: Position Paper On the Peace Process October 2006 The danger [...] |
2006-10-04 16:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IS SA |
| 06RIYADH7838 |
USG ASSESSMENTS OF TERRORIST/INSURGENT FINANCE [...] (C) INTRODUCTION: This cable provides the assessment of Embassy Riyadh's country team of the terrorist/insurgent financing environment in Saudi Arabia. As instructed in reftel, post's response is divided into separate sections providing background information on the terrorist/insurgent operat [...] |
2006-10-05 14:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PREL PTER KTFN ETTC SA IZ |
| 06RIYADH7987 |
RIYADH RECORD: SEPTEMBER 16-30 [...] (C) SUMMARY: The case against the controversial novel "Girls of Riyadh" has been dismissed. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice met for three-days, rejecting alleged calls from the West to dismantle the organization. The Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affai [...] |
2006-10-10 14:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL KWMN KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH7990 |
IRAQI DELEGATION VISITS KSA TO DISCUSS IRAQ [...] The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance confirmed to us on October 9 that an Iraqi technical delegation came to Saudi Arabia on October 7 to discuss Iraqi debt to Saudi Arabia. 2. According to Deputy Minister of Finance Al-Bazi'y, three Iraqi delegates from the Ministry of Finance v [...] |
2006-10-11 10:47:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECIN ECON IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH8 |
SHI'A JUDGE IN AL-HASA SEEKS GREATER RESOURCES [...] (SBU) Acting CG and PolOff paid an introductory call on Sheikh Mohammad Al-Luwaimi, President of the Shi'ite Endowments and Inheritance Court in Al-Hasa, on December 28. Al-Luwaimi is the only judge in the only Shi'ite court serving the Shi'a population of Al-Hasa, a governorate in the Easter [...] |
2006-01-02 13:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH8003 |
WAMY SECRETARY-GENERAL PREACHES NEED FOR INCREASED [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) Secretary-General Dr. Saleh al-Wohaibi told PolOffs in an SIPDIS August 27 meeting that, despite negative publicity surrounding Islamic charities, WAMY has nothing to hide. Al-Wohaibi talked about WAMY's international programs, but focu [...] |
2006-10-11 16:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PINR PREL PTER EFIN KTFN ETTC KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH8173 |
A/DCM DISCUSSES USG REVIEW OF SAUDI TEXTBOOKS WITH [...] (C) A/DCM solicited continued SAG cooperation in support of a USG review of Saudi textbooks during an October 9 meeting with Minister Plenipotentiary Hazem Karakotly, assistant to Director General for International Organization Affairs Ambassador Dr. Turki bin Mohammed Saud al-Kabir al Saud. [...] |
2006-10-15 15:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR KISL KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH82 |
AL-HASA BUSINESSMEN SEEKING GREATER INVESTMENT, [...] (SBU) Businessmen in Al-Hasa, a governorate in the Eastern Province (EP) that comprises a large oasis and extensive, oil-rich desert areas, told Acting CG and PolOff repeatedly over the course of a day-long visit on December 27 that Al-Hasa needs new investment, especially in infrastructure. [...] |
2006-01-04 15:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV EINV SA |
| 06RIYADH8233 |
USG DISCUSSION WITH MINISTER OF COMMERCE [...] (C) Summary: On 20 September 2006, Ambassador James Oberwetter, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Trade and Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service (DG), Israel Hernandez, and Commercial Counselor, Nasir Abbasi met with Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry, Hashim [...] |
2006-10-16 07:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON KIPR SA |
| 06RIYADH8234 |
PRESIDENTIAL ADVOCACY LETTER DELIVERED TO KING [...] (C) Summary: On September 19, Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion, Israel Hernandez, delivered the President's letter advocating for two U.S. companies, Boeing and General Electric (GE), bid for the upgrade of Saudi Arabian Airline (Saudia) and the Royal fleet, to [...] |
2006-10-16 07:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ETRD BEXP PREL PTER MOPS SA |
| 06RIYADH8252 |
SAUDI ARAMCO TRIMS CRUDE ALLOCATIONS AS IT CUTS PRODUCTION [...] (S) Saudi Aramco has cut some allocations to major oil company customers, per a contact in a position to know who has reported consistently and reliably in the past. For November, Aramco has provided crude allocations to customers consistent with an approximate five percent reduction in pro [...] |
2006-10-16 15:46:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | NOTAG SA |
| 06RIYADH8253 |
ARABIAN CHEVRON,S VIEWS ON THE REFINERY DISPUTE [...] (C) This is a response to an action request, Ref B, for additional background for a 17 October meeting between P and Chevron CEO Reilly regarding a SAG disagreement with Kuwaiti plans to construct a refinery in the Partitioned Neutral Zone (PNZ) shared by the two countries. Executives from A [...] |
2006-10-16 16:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV PREL KU SA |
| 06RIYADH8314 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: UNSC 1267 DESIGNEE, SULIMAN [...] (U) United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1267 Designee, Suliman H. Al-Buthe (aka Solaiman Al-Buthi) was featured in an article published in the Saudi Gazette, a mainstream Saudi publication censored by the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG). Al-Buthe, the Assistant General Manager [...] |
2006-10-17 15:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8384 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: POST REPONSE ON SOUTH AFRICAN [...] (S/NF) Mission Saudi Arabia has information linking the proposed South African designees to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, there are no special sensitivities regarding these proposed designees. We believe Saudi Arabia will take the necessary actions, once the UN 1267 Committee adopts [...] |
2006-10-18 13:56:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SF PK SA |
| 06RIYADH8395 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FRANCES FRAGOS [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT), Homeland Security Council, Ms. Frances Fragos Townsend; Senior Director for Combating Terrorism Strategy, National Security [...] |
2006-10-21 10:37:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC PREL PGOV ECON SA |
| 06RIYADH8399 |
DEMARCHE ON UN COUNTERTERRORISM DIRECTORATE [...] (U) Reftel demarche was delivered by hand to MFA duty officer on October 21. Post will follow up as appropriate after Eid al-Fitr. OBERWETTER [...] |
2006-10-21 15:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER USUN SA |
| 06RIYADH8401 |
THE SAUDI FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT I: STAB AT [...] (U) Summary: From September 16-19, Ahmed Elbashari, representative of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and EconOff, met with senior management of the Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SA FIU) to conduct a final on-site assessment [...] |
2006-10-22 09:56:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KTFN EFIN PTER ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8402 |
REFTEL DEMARCHES OF EID GREETINGS DELIVERED [...] (U) Reftel demarches of Eid al-Fitr greetings were delivered to the MFA by hand on Saturday, October 21. The Eid greetings were delivered to King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, and Organization of Islamic Conference Secretary-Gerenal Ihsanoglu. OBER [...] |
2006-10-22 09:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8404 |
THE SAUDI FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT II: POWER [...] (U) Summary: From September 16-19, Ahmed Elbashari, representative of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and EconOff, met with senior management of the Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SA FIU) to assess the SA FIU for membership in [...] |
2006-10-22 11:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8406 |
THE SAUDI FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT III: [...] (U) Summary: From September 16-19, Ahmed Elbashari, representative of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and EconOff, met with senior management of the Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SA FIU) to assess the SA FIU for membership in [...] |
2006-10-22 11:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8407 |
THE SAUDI FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT IV: [...] (U) Summary: From September 16-19, Ahmed Elbashari, representative of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and EconOff, met with senior management of the Saudi Arabia Financial Investigation Unit (SA FIU) to assess the SA FIU for membership in [...] |
2006-10-22 11:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8414 |
MAKKAH DECLARATION - WHERE HAVE ALL THE SHI'A [...] (U) Iraqi Sunni and Shi'a religious leaders signed on October 20 the "Makkah Declaration," which forbids Sunnis and Shi'a to kill each other (reftel). Many are likening the ten-point declaration to a "fatwa," or religious ruling, although the signatories have not described the document as suc [...] |
2006-10-24 13:41:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR KISL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH8415 |
SCENESETTER: APHSCT TOWNSEND VISIT TO SAUDI [...] (S) Ambassador Oberwetter and the entire US Mission in Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes your visit to Riyadh. Your visit to the Kingdom comes in the general context of improving U.S.- SAG relations. Saudi leaders have warmly welcomed a large number of senior USG visitors recently, and have confi [...] |
2006-10-24 20:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC CVIS PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8416 |
SCENESETTER: APHSCT TOWNSEND VISIT TO SAUDI [...] (S) Ambassador Oberwetter and the entire US Mission in Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes your visit to Riyadh. Your visit to the Kingdom comes in the general context of improving U.S.- SAG relations. Saudi leaders have warmly welcomed a large number of senior USG visitors recently, and have confi [...] |
2006-10-24 20:15:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC CVIS PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8432 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR SECRET SERVICE [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for U.S. Secret Service Special Agents: Advance Team Christopher Caruso, Faisal Alshami and Ross Yerger; midnight shift team Gillian Penswick and Scott Keenan; and working shift James Brian Dunlop, Andrew Ad [...] |
2006-10-28 13:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER EFIN KTFN ETTC PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8492 |
REVISED COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FRANCES [...] (C) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT), Homeland Security Council, Ms. Frances Fragos Townsend; Director for Combating Terrorism Strategy, National Security Counci [...] |
2006-10-29 12:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC ECON SA |
| 06RIYADH8634 |
CONCURRENCE - NON-PRO COURIER TO/FROM RIYADH O/A [...] (S) CHIEF OF MISSION RIYADH HAS BEEN BRIEFED AND APPROVES JOHN H. BURNS JR, OFFICIAL PASSPORT NUMBER 802064694, AS A NON-PROFESSIONAL COURIER. HIS ARRIVAL HAS BEEN COORDINATED AT POST. CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORIZES THE TRANSPORT OF CLASSIFIED MATERIAL IN DIPLOMATIC POUCH 2. (U) THE EMBASSY [...] |
2006-11-01 14:08:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | ADEP ASEC PTER |
| 06RIYADH8671 |
KING'S "LANDMARK" TOUR OF SOUTHERN REGION YIELDS [...] (U) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Azziz arrived in Najran on October 31 for his first visit to the region since ascending the throne. Najranis, who closed their shops and held a festival in honor of the King, prepared for months for the visit. In conjunction with [...] |
2006-11-04 15:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH8718 |
TERRORISM FINANCING COORDINATOR OFFICER [...] (C) Embassy Riyadh's Terrorism Finance Coordinating Officer (TFCO) is Robert Silverman, Economic Counselor, phone number (01) 488-3800, extension 4237 and email address RJSilverman@state.sgov.gov. The current Deputy TFCO is Lubaina Qaiyumi, Economic Officer, phone number (01) 488-3800, exte [...] |
2006-11-06 09:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8723 |
RIYADH RECORD: OCTOBER 16-31 (C-NE6-01865) [...] (C) SUMMARY: Iraqi religious leaders signed the Makkah Declaration on October 20, which forbids Sunnis and Shi'a from killing each other. King Abdullah issued a new succession law on October 20, which formalizes the succession process through the establishment of the Allegiance Committee. P [...] |
2006-11-06 13:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR KISL KWMN SA |
| 06RIYADH8787 |
SAUDI ARABIA RESPONSE TO WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT [...] (U) Post delivered reftel Fact Sheet on Summary Recommendations of the Women's Empowerment Working Session to Talal Barri at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 6. He indicated interest in the follow up activities to the Working Session. Post also delivered reftel Fact Sheet via dip [...] |
2006-11-07 12:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KWMN UNGA SA |
| 06RIYADH8788 |
FOLLOW-UP ON DEMARCHES [...] (C) On November 6, Deputy Political Counselor (DPC) delivered reftels (A, B, C, D) demarches and talking points to Saudi MFA, International Organization Affairs, UNGA Issues, Mr. Talal Berri. The issues raised were: the UNGA Third Committee (Iran, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Burma, and North Kore [...] |
2006-11-07 13:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KISL MOPS PINR PTER USUN |
| 06RIYADH8799 |
SAUDI PUBLIC REACTION TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S [...] (C) Saudi public reaction to the November 5 sentencing to death of Saddam Hussein has been mixed. While there are those who question the legality of Hussein's trial and the credibility of the proceedings, others agree with the verdict and sentencing. At the same time, some Saudis have expres [...] |
2006-11-08 10:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR PTER IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH8808 |
UPDATE ON HADI AL-MUTIF [...] (S) PolOffs met on November 6 with Human Rights First Society (HRFS) President Ibrahim Al-Mugaiteeb to discuss the October 31 and November 1 visit of King Abdullah to Najran and his pardon of Ismaili prisoners, ostensibly including Hadi Al-Mutif. Al-Mugaiteeb said that Al-Mutif has not been [...] |
2006-11-08 14:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PHUM PGOV PREL KISL KIRF SA |
| 06RIYADH8811 |
UNPRECEDENTED MEETING BETWEEN USG AND SAG ON [...] (S/NF) In light of recent threats to petroleum infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, on 31 October Vice Admiral Walsh, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, and Dhahran Consul General Kincannon met Saudi Arabian representatives from the Royal Saudi Naval Forces [...] |
2006-11-12 04:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC EPET PTER ENERG SA |
| 06RIYADH8813 |
UNPRECEDENTED MEETING BETWEEN USG AND SAG ON [...] (S/NF) In light of recent threats to petroleum infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, on 31 October Vice Admiral Walsh, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, and Dhahran Consul General Kincannon met Saudi Arabian representatives from the Royal Saudi Naval Forces [...] |
2006-11-12 04:41:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EPET ENERG PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH8815 |
PETITION SUPPORTS MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Culture and Information received a petition signed by 160 reform-minded scholars supporting Minister of Information Iyad bin Amin Madany. The signatories constituted a broad cross-section of Saudi society, including men and women, Sunni and Shi'a. The statement [...] |
2006-11-12 10:56:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR PKISL SA |
| 06RIYADH8825 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: POST'S RESPONSE ON THE RADICAL [...] (S/NF) Mission Saudi Arabia supports the aim of the Radical Ideologue Initiative to sanction individuals and entities that provide both monetary/material support and ideological support to terror organizations (ref a). This initiative underlines the international community's need to counter t [...] |
2006-11-13 06:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | KTFN EFIN PTER PREL ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8826 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: POST'S RESPONSE ON THE RADICAL [...] (S/NF) Mission Saudi Arabia supports the aim of the Radical Ideologue Initiative to sanction individuals and entities that provide both monetary/material support and ideological support to terror organizations (ref a). This initiative underlines the international community's need to counter t [...] |
2006-11-13 06:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | KTFN EFIN PTER PREL ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8835 |
FACILITATING GREATER SAG ENGAGEMENT ON IRAQ - A [...] (S) This constitutes Post's response to Ref A. The situation in Iraq remains of great concern to Saudis across the political, economic, and social spectrum. The press reported on November 13 that Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Naif called Iraq a "major base for terrorism," adding that the [...] |
2006-11-13 13:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER PINR ECON IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH8836 |
SAUDIS BOLSTER TROOP NUMBERS FOR ENERGY SECURITY, [...] (S/NF) In a series of meetings with the Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) from November 10-11, a joint State/Energy visiting delegation learned that the Saudis have made progress in improving security at critical energy facilities. A force of more than 35,000 soldiers, temporarily drawn from [...] |
2006-11-13 13:46:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC ENRG EPET PGOV PINR PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH8839 |
SAUDI ARAMCO CRUDE ALLOCATIONS FOR NOVEMBER DECLINE [...] (S) In line with recent announcements by Saudi Aramco regarding cuts in crude oil allocations to major oil company customers (reftel), a contact from another major energy firm who has reported consistently and reliably in the past, informed us Saudi Aramco had cut crude allocations to his fi [...] |
2006-11-13 14:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET ENERG SA |
| 06RIYADH8840 |
DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES MEETING WITH SAUDI MFA, MOJ, [...] (C) Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Erica Barks-Ruggles met on September 12-13 with the Majlis Al-Shoura (MAS) and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Justice (MoJ). These meetings were follow-up to the July 25 - 27, 2006, meeting of [...] |
2006-11-14 05:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM OTRA PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH8841 |
DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES MEETING WITH SAUDI HUMAN [...] (SBU) DRL DAS Erica Barks-Ruggles met the National Society for Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission, and the Human Rights First Society during her September 12-14 visit to Riyadh. Participants in all three meetings raised U.S. treatment of Homaidan Al-Turki (reftel)and Guantanamo Bay deta [...] |
2006-11-14 05:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM OTRA PGOV PHUM SA |
| 06RIYADH8858 |
SCENESETTER: APHSCT TOWNSEND VISIT TO SAUDI [...] (S) Ambassador Oberwetter and the entire US Mission in Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes your visit to Riyadh. Your visit to the Kingdom comes in the general context of improving U.S.- SAG relations. Saudi leaders have warmly welcomed a large number of senior USG visitors recently, and have confi [...] |
2006-11-15 11:39:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC CVIS PGOV PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8860 |
SAUDI MFA DEMARCHED ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS, CPC [...] (C) Deputy PolCouns demarched Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of International Organizations, human rights lead, Abdulrahman Al-Rassj, on November 15 regarding Afghan Hajj flights (Ref A), Saudi Arabia's November 13 redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) (Ref B), and UN [...] |
2006-11-15 16:09:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL EAIR ECON KIRF UNHRC AF SA |
| 06RIYADH8861 |
SAUDI ARABIA WILL SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDATE MATHESON [...] MFA human rights point of contact Talal Berri told PolOff on November 15 that the SAG will support U.S. candidate Matheson for re-election to the UN International Law Commission (reftel). OBERWETTER [...] |
2006-11-15 16:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ILC UNGA PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH8863 |
DELIVERY OF CASH COURIER TRAINING PROPOSAL [...] (C) On November 5, non-paper from reftel was delivered to Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Abdulrahman Al-Ahmed, Counselor for Counterterrorism matters. Simultaneously, non-paper was delivered through U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation's liaison channels to [...] |
2006-11-18 05:23:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8900 |
A SAUDI'S VIEWS ON THE U.S. AND RULE OF LAW IN KSA [...] (S) Echoing several other commentators and analyses, Saudi commercial lawyer and diplomat Dr. Waleed Nasser Al-Nuwaiser (strictly protect) told PolOff on November 8 that the heart of most problems in Saudi Arabia is the absence of rule of law. He stressed that the USG should emphasize the n [...] |
2006-11-21 07:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PHUM PGOV KISL EPET SA IZ |
| 06RIYADH8921 |
THE NEW SUCCESSION LAW PRESERVES THE MONARCHY [...] (C) SUMMARY: A SUCCESSION STRUGGLE AMONG THE AL SAUD FAMILY HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO SAUDI ARABIA'S STABILITY. THE FIRST TWO SAUDI STATES COLLAPSED PARTIALLY AS A RESULT OF SUCCESSION PROBLEMS. FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF KING ABDULAZIZ IN 1953, A FIERCE POWER STRUGGLE AMON [...] |
2006-11-22 04:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH8926 |
TRANSLATED TEXT OF NEW SAUDI SUCCESSION LAW [...] (U) KING ABDULLAH ISSUED A NEW SUCCESSION LAW ON OCTOBER 20 TO FORMALIZE THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A CROWN PRINCE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION (REFTEL). THE BASIC LAW OF 1992 -- ESSENTIALLY THE CONSTITUTION -- WAS AMENDED TO REFLECT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND AUTHORITY OF [...] |
2006-11-22 15:04:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 06RIYADH8987 |
THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 6 and 9. 2. (U) Summary. EconOff met with the Saudi Arabian Financial Intelligence Unit (SA FIU) on November 5 and December 4, 2006 to discuss the status of their Egmont application and technical assistance. In attendance at the m [...] |
2006-12-04 12:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN PTER EFIN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH8989 |
MOI UNDERSCORES NEED FOR BROAD AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY [...] (S) Economic Counselor Silverman and Energy Attache Ross met with Dr. Saad al-Jabri, Advisor to the Assistant Minister of Interior, on November 26 to discuss the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation to improve security at critical infrastructure facilities. Dr. al-Jabri und [...] |
2006-12-04 13:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PGOV PINR PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH8990 |
MOI UNDERSCORES NEED FOR BROAD AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY [...] (S) Economic Counselor Silverman and Energy Attache Ross met with Dr. Saad al-Jabri, Advisor to the Assistant Minister of Interior, on November 26 to discuss the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation to improve security at critical infrastructure facilities. Dr. al-Jabri und [...] |
2006-12-04 14:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PGOV PINR PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH9 |
SAUDI VIEWS ON IRANIAN AND SYRIAN ACTIVITIES IN [...] (S/NF) Summary: Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal and General Intelligence Presidency (GIP) director Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz sought and shared views on Iran and Syria during a December 27 meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad. They told the Ambassador that while it was possible t [...] |
2006-01-02 14:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER PINR IR SA SY IZ |
| 06RIYADH9031 |
COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL MEETS WITH SAG REGARDING [...] (C) SUMMARY: At Post's invitation, Colorado Attorney General (AG) John Suthers visited the Kingdom from November 14-17 to explain the Homaidan Al-Turki case to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Saudi government officials, and the Al-Turki family. The very successful visit highlighted the [...] |
2006-12-09 14:47:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KPAO PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH9051 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: DEMARCHES DELIVERED [...] (U) On December 9, we delivered the following demarches to Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Counselor for Counterterrorism matters, Abdulrahman Al-Ahmed: --STATE 142684: Domestic USG Designation of Islamic Resistance Support Organization (IRSO); --STATE 148861: Terrorist Finance: Domestic US [...] |
2006-12-11 12:13:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KFTN PREL PTER ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH9056 |
THE CAPITAL MARKET AUTHORITY'S NEED FOR ASSISTANCE [...] (U) Summary. From September 11-14, experts from the U.S. Securities and Exchange (SEC) provided a three-day technical assistance seminar on market oversight and enforcement strategies to Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority (CMA). The CMA freely shared information and actively engaged wit [...] |
2006-12-12 10:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON SA |
| 06RIYADH9065 |
TERRORIST LISTS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-13 05:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN PTER ETTC EFIN SA |
| 06RIYADH9066 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: SAG'S RESPONSE TO ABOUSOFIAN [...] (SBU) On December 4, Post received the following diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the addition of Abousofian Abdelrazik (AKA Abu Sufian Abdulraziq) to the UN 1267 Sanctions list of individuals/entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Taliban or Al Qaida. [...] |
2006-12-13 07:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH9067 |
SAUDI ARABIA'S WAR ON TERROR -- NOT OVER YET [...] (C) While the SAG continues to make progress on its counterterrorism efforts (Ref A), recent events in the Kingdom clearly illustrate that the war on terror is far from over. On December 7, armed men opened fire on a guard post at Jeddah's maximum-security Al-Ruwais prison, killing two secur [...] |
2006-12-13 11:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 06RIYADH9068 |
THE REHABILITATION OF KING SAUD AND HIS TRIBAL [...] (C) Saud bin Abudulaziz was the eldest surviving son of the Kingdom's founder Abudulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. He became Crown Prince and Viceroy of the Nejd in 1933. Upon his father's death in 1953, he became King. He was deposed by his brothers in 1964 and died in exile a few years lat [...] |
2006-12-13 13:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA IZ |
| 06RIYADH9078 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND'S NOVEMBER 15 MEETING WITH SAUDI [...] (S/NF) Summary: In a meeting with Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Frances Fragos Townsend at his farm outside Riyadh November 15, the King focused on the multiple threats from Iran. He said he had sent strong messages to President Putin and Presi [...] |
2006-12-13 15:21:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER ECON IR SA |
| 06RIYADH9079 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND NOVEMBER 15 MEETING WITH SAUDI [...] (C) Summary: On November 15, 2006, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Frances Fragos Townsend met with SAG Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Al al-Sheikh to discuss SAG re-education of imams and mosque speakers bot [...] |
2006-12-13 15:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KISL KIRF PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH9083 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND NOVEMBER 15 MEETING WITH CROWN [...] (S) Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Fran Townsend met on November 15 with Crown Prince Sultan, who immediately steered the conversation to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He noted the ongoing violence and raised the Arab Peace Plan proposed by [...] |
2006-12-14 13:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PREL PGOV EFIN KTFN SA |
| 06RIYADH9085 |
DHAHRAN DIGEST 8 [...] (U) This cable is a continuation of a regular series of updates from the Eastern Province (EP) designed to capture some of the EP's local color and items of USG interest that are not necessarily appropriate for a topical cable. ---------------------------------------- PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN FA [...] |
2006-12-15 09:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET KIRF PA PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 06RIYADH9088 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND NOVEMBER 15 MEETING WITH SAUDI [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-16 07:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KISL KIRF PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH9089 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND NOVEMBER 15 MEETING WITH CROWN [...] (S) Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Fran Townsend met on November 15 with Crown Prince Sultan, who immediately steered the conversation to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He noted the ongoing violence and raised the Arab Peace Plan proposed by [...] |
2006-12-16 07:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PREL PGOV EFIN KTFN SA |
| 06RIYADH9093 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND'S NOVEMBER 15 MEETING WITH SAUDI [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-16 13:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER ECON IR SA |
| 06RIYADH9095 |
xxxxxxxxxxxx ON IRANIAN THREATS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-16 14:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL EFIN PTER IZ IR SA |
| 06RIYADH9106 |
PLANS FOR THE FEBRUARY JOINT WORKING GROUP ON [...] (S) On 16 December, Economic Counselor Silverman and Energy Attache Ross met with Dr. Saud al-Semari, Director of the Ministry of Interior's (MOI) modernization program, and Khaled al-Ageel, Manager of the MOI's Industrial Security Directorate, to discuss plans for a February 2007 meeting of [...] |
2006-12-18 13:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PGOV PREL PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH9107 |
DIPLOMATIC NOTE DELIVERED ON DELAY OF RSS WORKSHOP [...] (U) As per reftel request, on 16 December Mission delivered a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the delay of the regional workshop on safe management of radioactive sealed sources (RSS) until April, 2007. Mission also requested the MFA pass this information to th [...] |
2006-12-18 13:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ENERG TRGY SA |
| 06RIYADH9134 |
SAG ON UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS [...] On December 20, PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Mr. Talal Berri of the SAG MFA International Organizations Directorate. On December 18, PolOff hand-delivered and faxed reftel non-paper to the MFA. Mr. Berri could not state whether the SAG would support maintaining the UN Scale of Assess [...] |
2006-12-20 13:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT AORC PREL UNGA SA |
| 06RIYADH9155 |
KATRINA ASSISTANCE, COMING TO CLOSURE [...] (U) As per reftel request, on 17 December, Mission delivered a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) formally requesting information on the status of disbursements of the outstanding $48 million of $100 million the SAG pledged for Hurricane Katrina assistance. We request [...] |
2006-12-24 10:15:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL EPET SA |
| 06RIYADH9173 |
ENTHUSIASTIC SHOURA COUNCIL ASKS SENATOR NELSON [...] (C) SUMMARY. Enthusiastic Majlis Al Shoura members acknowledged the positive U.S. - Saudi bilateral relationship but asked Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) during a meeting on December 17 for increased engagement by members of Congress with the Council. Meeting participants agreed that any enhance [...] |
2006-12-26 11:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PHUM KISL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH9174 |
CROWN PRINCE REITERATES SAUDI NONINTERFERENCE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-26 11:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER PINR KISL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH9175 |
SAUDI MOI HEAD SAYS IF U.S. LEAVES IRAQ, SAUDI [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-26 11:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR PTER KISL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH9179 |
DEPUTY MOI TO SENATOR NELSON:THE KEY TO WINNING [...] (S) SUMMARY. Deputy Minister of Interior Mohamed bin Naif told Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) that the key to winning the war on terror is defeating the terrorists' ideology. He echoed the senator's other interlocutors in supporting Iraqi unity and the SAG's noninterference policy. The Deputy M [...] |
2006-12-26 12:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PGOV PREL PINR PHUM KISL IZ SA |
| 06RIYADH9182 |
DIPLOMATIC NOTE DELIVERED FOR DELTA CODE SHARING [...] (U) On December 23, Mission delivered a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) regarding the Delta Code sharing with KLM. Captain Mohammed Berenji, Vice President of GACA, responded verbally and reiterated his approval of the Del [...] |
2006-12-26 13:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR SA |
| 06RIYADH9183 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: SAG'S RESPONSE TO UN 1267 [...] (SBU) On December 4, Post received the following diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the addition of twenty names to the UN 1267 Sanctions list of individuals/entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Taliban or Al Qaeda. Complimentary opening -- The Minist [...] |
2006-12-26 13:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER SA |
| 06RIYADH9184 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: UN 1267 DOCKRAT DESIGNATION [...] (U) On December 27, non-paper from reftel was delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Ministry of Interior. Post will report any substantive Saudi response. GFOELLER [...] |
2006-12-26 13:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 06RIYADH9204 |
AVIAN FLU CONFERENCE INVITATION RESPONSE [...] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided a response to the reftel on 11 December 2006 thanking us for notifying them of the Avian Flu conference in Bamako, but regretting the SAG could not participate. The MFA also informed us the SAG has donated $1 million USD to the U.N. Food and Agricultur [...] |
2006-12-27 09:47:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR KFLU TBIO PREL EAID SA |
| 06RIYADH9205 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: POST VIEWS ON NGO KOMPAK [...] The Mission Counterterrorism Committee discussed reftel during its monthly December meeting and determined we have no relevant input. The charity in question does not operate in the KSA, nor are we aware of any other nexus with the KSA. GFOELLER [...] |
2006-12-27 09:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 07RIYADH1006 |
DOW AND SAUDI ARAMCO SIGN MOU FOR $20 BILLION [...] (C) On May 12, US firm Dow Chemical's CEO Andrew Liveris and Saudi Aramco's President and CEO Abdullah Jum'ah signed a detailed Memorandum of Understanding for a major petrochemical facility, the "Ras Tanura Integrated Project" (RTIP), the cost of which will likely reach more than $20 billio [...] |
2007-05-14 18:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EIND SA |
| 07RIYADH1018 |
NO DECISION YET: HRC ELECTIONS REFTEL DEMARCHES [...] (C) Reftel demarches were delivered by Ambassador Fraker to Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on May 12 and on the working level by PolOff to First Secretary Abdulrahman al-Rassi on May 13. Additionally, a non-paper was delivered via dip note on May 7. Prince Saud told the Ambassador th [...] |
2007-05-15 14:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC SA |
| 07RIYADH1028 |
JOINT WORKING GROUP ON CRITICAL ENERGY [...] (U) This is an action request for S/CT, DS/ATA, and DOE/Office of Energy Reliability. Please see paragraph three. -------- Summary -------- 2. (S) In a May 15 meeting with Ministry of Interior (MOI) Chief of Staff Saad al Jabri, Joint Working Group (JWG) Co-Chair Dr. Saud al-Semar [...] |
2007-05-16 15:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET ENRG PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH1030 |
MAY 15 MEETING OF GCC LEADERS YIELDS PREDICTABLE [...] (U) Leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states met in Riyadh on May 15 for the ninth consultative meeting. They agreed on three resolutions: 1) urging the removal of all obstacles to the establishment of a Gulf Customs Union before year's end; 2) recommending that measures be q [...] |
2007-05-16 17:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH1036 |
POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER SUPPORTS IRAQI EFFORTS BUT [...] (C) Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga met with the Saud Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Madani, Shoura Council Chairman Dr. Saleh bin Humaid, Deputy Minister of Oil Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, and Deputy Minister of Commerce Abdullah al Hammoudi during her May 9 visit to R [...] |
2007-05-19 04:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN ETRD SA |
| 07RIYADH1047 |
AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON RIYADH PROVINCIAL [...] (C) Riyadh Provincial Governor HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz emphasized the importance of U.S.-Saudi Arabia ties during Ambassador's courtesy call on May 16. The Prince stated that Saudi Arabia has no issues with nor is it a burden to the United States and discussed the important role tha [...] |
2007-05-20 05:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR CVIS SA |
| 07RIYADH1062 |
NEW H5N1 DISCOVERED IN PREVIOUSLY UNINFECTED AREA [...] (C) Summary: Two highly pathogenic H5N1 cases were discovered in Hail during a recent joint FAO-USDA rapid deployment mission to Saudi Arabia. While Saudi officials claim to have conducted bird culls within a 5 kilometer radius of the infected farm, the Ministry of Agriculture failed to prov [...] |
2007-05-21 04:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | AMED EPET IO PGOV PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH1074 |
EDUCATION REFORM: WILL KING ABDULLAH'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: King Abdullah announced on February 13 a six-year, SR 9 billion (USD 2.4 billion) project for the Development of Public Education, followed by an April 17 announcement of a general infrastructure project that allocates a total of SR 21.9 billion (USD 5.84 billion) for general and [...] |
2007-05-21 15:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH1133 |
RELIGIOUS POLICE DETAINED FOR ALLEGED MURDER OF [...] (U) The Saudi press reported on May 27 that the religious police allegedly beat to death on May 23 a 28-year old Saudi, Sulaiman or Salman Al-Huraisi, who was detained for the possession/sale of alcohol. After various conflicting and incomplete media reports, the Riyadh Governorate subseque [...] |
2007-05-29 14:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KISL SOCI CASC KJUS SA |
| 07RIYADH1375 |
KING ABDULLAH'S 2007 EUROPEAN TOUR - PART 1 [...] (U) King Abdullah kicked off a week-long series of state visits to both European and Arab nations on June 18. The King has already visited Spain, France, and Poland, and will next visit the Kingdom of Jordan before concluding his tour at Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt, where he will meet with Egypti [...] |
2007-06-26 12:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PINR PREL PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH1388 |
JOINT WORKING GROUP MARITIME TEAM DEBRIEFS SAUDI [...] (S) On June 23, an assessment team in Saudi Arabia from the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) debriefed members of the Saudi Coast Guard on a four-day visit to Coast Guard facilities at and near oil facilities in the Eastern Province. While the maritime [...] |
2007-06-28 12:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET ENRG ECON PTER DHA SA |
| 07RIYADH1412 |
GROWING PAINS: IMPROVEMENTS IN SAUDI MEDIA [...] (C) In the past five years, there have been significant and positive changes in the Saudi media thanks to King Abudullah, gains by moderates in the SAG, and subsequent ministry restructuring. There are more moderate commentary in the press, more reporting done on previously taboo subjects, [...] |
2007-07-02 13:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM ECPS SOCI SCUL SA |
| 07RIYADH1414 |
MIRA LEADER CITES RELIGIOUS DUTY AS REASON FOR SAG [...] (S) SUMMARY: London-based Saudi extremist leader and head of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA) Sa'ad al-Faqih in continuing his public appeal for Kingdom-wide support against the Saudi government (SAG). In recent months, al-Faqih has attempted to utilize tribal ties to rally [...] |
2007-07-02 14:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH1437 |
SAUDI AND EGYPTIAN LEADERS CALL FOR DIALOGUE IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: King Abdullah discussed Lebanon, Palestinian issues, Iran, Iraq, and bilateral relations with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during their June 26 meeting in Sharm al-Sheikh. The meeting immediately followed the quadripartite meeting on the West Bank and Gaza situation also hel [...] |
2007-07-07 14:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH1438 |
NEW SUMMER CAMP REGS-- NO NEW PROTECTIONS AGAINST [...] (U) The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced new regulations for youth summer camps in late February and, on June 26, the creation of an oversight committee composed of 45 members from the MOE to monitor these new regulations. The new regulations state that the Ministry must approve all requ [...] |
2007-07-08 08:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PINR KISL SCUL KOCI SA |
| 07RIYADH1452 |
REQUEST FOR IDENTIFIER AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION [...] (C) On July 3, PolMilOff delivered reftel nonpaper to Dr Adel Babsil of the MFA,s International Organizations Department. After the details of nonpaper were explained, Dr. Babsil said that it would take a couple of months before any type of response could be provided due to the large number of [...] |
2007-07-08 14:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP EFIN PARM |
| 07RIYADH1454 |
GCC MINISTERIALS -- MORE OF THE SAME ON IRAQ, [...] (C) Summary: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and national security met on July 3 in Riyadh. This second extraordinary meeting of the GCC ministers focused primarily on Iraq, and was followed on July 4 by a meeting of the GCC foreign ministers. The m [...] |
2007-07-08 15:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH1475 |
NOPEC WORRIES US, ARAMCO LAWSUITS WORRY US MORE [...] This is an action request. Please see paragraph six. --------- SUMMARY --------- 2. (C) In a July 8 meeting, HRH Deputy Minister of Petroleum (MinPet) Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud indicated his concern with pending NOPEC legislation, but frankly told Embassy offi [...] |
2007-07-10 15:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV IR SA |
| 07RIYADH1481 |
NO LASHES FOR QATEEF RAPE VICTIM; CASE DROPPED [...] (S) Post reported in reftel the case of Qateef resident Aqilah bint Eisa al-Dhamin, who, along with her ex-boyfriend, was raped by seven men in January 2006. Following the investigation and trial, the perpetrators were sentenced to between eight months and five years in prison and between 80- [...] |
2007-07-11 15:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PHUM PGOV KWMN SOCI KIRF SA |
| 07RIYADH149 |
INCSR 2006: SAUDI ARABIA SUBMISSION [...] (U) In response to reftel, Post submits its 2006 International Narcotics Control Straetgy Report. BEGIN TEXT: I. Summary Saudi Arabia has no appreciable drug production and is not a significant transit country. Saudi Arabia,s conservative cultural and religious norms discourage drug abu [...] |
2007-01-24 06:04:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SNAR KCRM |
| 07RIYADH1508 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: JULY 31 GCC+2 MEETING [...] Above-referenced demarche was hand-delivered via diplomatic note on July 15. FRAKER [...] |
2007-07-17 06:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH1519 |
AMBASSADOR FRAKER MEETS PRINCE ABDULAZIZ ON NOPEC, [...] This is an action request. Please see paragraph six. --------- SUMMARY --------- 2. (C) In a July 16 meeting with Ambassador Fraker, HRH Deputy Minister of Petroleum (MinPet) Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud continued to underscore his concern with on-going lawsuits [...] |
2007-07-18 09:40:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ENRG EPET VE SA |
| 07RIYADH1525 |
MOVING FORWARD ON THE JOINT WORKING GROUP: [...] This is an action request. S/CT, DS/ATA, and DOE/OE please see paragraphs 3 4, and 5. 2. (C) In a July 17 meeting with Ministry of Interior (MOI) Joint Working Group (JWG) Co-Chair Dr. Saud al-Semari and MOI Industrial Security Director Khalid al-Ageel, the U.S. JWG Co-Chair/Economic Co [...] |
2007-07-18 12:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PTER ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH1526 |
THANK YOU FOR DBT WORKSHOP [...] No summary [...] |
2007-07-18 12:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG ECON PTER ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH1528 |
DESPITE PUBLIC OUTCRY, MUTAWWA'IN REMAIN ROOTED IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In recent weeks, there has been unprecedented media coverage of three legal cases involving the mutawwa'in or religious police working for the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV). Two cases allege that CPVPV members, including non-field staff, [...] |
2007-07-18 13:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH1529 |
SAUDI ARABIA SUPPORTS PRESIDENT BUSH'S INITIATIVE, CALLING [...] (U) The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) issued an official statement on July 17 welcoming President Bush's initiative, announced on July 16, to resolve the Israeli/Palestinian crisis. The statement specifically supported the President's call to "end occupation, establish an independent and contiguo [...] |
2007-07-18 13:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH1624 |
CHEVRON UPDATE ON CONCESSION EXTENSION, KUWAIT [...] (C) In a July 31 meeting, Arabian Chevron Business Manager Mohammed Ayaz updated Embassy officers regarding on-going negotiations between Chevron and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MinPet) for the renewal of the firm's concession in the partitioned neutral zone (PNZ) share [...] |
2007-08-01 16:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH1628 |
OFFICIAL SAUDI GOVERNMENT ATTENDANCE AT 62ND UN [...] (U) Post requested from Saudi MFA on July 28 reftel information regarding official Saudi Government attendance at the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. According to Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, First Secretary in the International Organizations Department, the final list of attendees will be com [...] |
2007-08-03 16:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OVIP UNGA SA |
| 07RIYADH1632 |
SAUDIS UNDECIDED ON SUBMITTING IRAQIS TO UN 1518 [...] (S) The Saudis are still considering whether to support the submissions to the UN 1518 and 1267 Sanctions Committees requested in reftel. Abdulrahman Al-Ahmad, a First Secretary in the International Organizations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs working on terrorism issues, repo [...] |
2007-08-05 13:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EFIN PTER ETTC KTFN PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH1641 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAUDI MFA: U.S. CANDIDATE [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche and talking points to Saudi MFA on August 5. Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, First Secretary in the International Organizations Department, SIPDIS noted Ms. Gaer's impressive qualifications and said he would submit the talking points and Ms. Gaer's curriculum [...] |
2007-08-06 12:16:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH1649 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAUDI MFA: U.S. CANDIDATE [...] Poloff delivered reftel demarche and talking points to Saudi MFA on August 5. Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, First Secretary in the International Organizations Department, SIPDIS noted Ms. Gaer's impressive qualifications and said he would submit the talking points and Ms. Gaer's curriculum vita [...] |
2007-08-07 10:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH1659 |
MAJLIS EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH CONGRESS; REQUESTS [...] (C) PolCouns met with Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council) member Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban recently to discuss the possible participation of Majlis members in the new International Visitor Leadership Program for Saudi regulatory body members, including the Capital Market Authority, C [...] |
2007-08-08 10:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO SA |
| 07RIYADH1691 |
SAUDI PRINCE BANDAR TRAVELS TO MOSCOW TO DISCUSS [...] (C) Saudi National Security Advisor Prince Bandar bin Sultan traveled to Moscow on July 31-- the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense SIPDIS Robert Gates were in Jeddah meeting with top SAG officials. According to Saudi and international press repo [...] |
2007-08-12 11:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR RS SA |
| 07RIYADH1699 |
SAUDI MISSION TO OPEN EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, NOT JUST [...] (C) Following Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal's August 7 announcement regarding the SAG's intention to send a delegation to Baghdad this week to look into reopening its Embassy in the Iraqi capital, Norwegian Charge d'Affaires Paal Bjornestad told Poloff that the Saudi Head of th [...] |
2007-08-13 08:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR IZ SA |
| 07RIYADH1710 |
SAUDI DELEGATION TO BAGHDAD REQUESTS LOGISTICAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: A/DCM and EmbOffs met on August 13 with Prince Mohammed bin Faisal bin Turki al-Saud, head of the delegation that will travel to Baghdad to set up the Saudi mission there. The Prince, who said the Saudis are sending this delegation to Baghdad to fulfill the King's commitment to [...] |
2007-08-14 15:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR IZ SA |
| 07RIYADH1743 |
SAG SUPPORT TO SOMALI NATIONAL RECONCILIATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal reportedly pledged approximately USD 30 million towards the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and offered to host a final peace agreement signing ceremony in the Kingdom during his July meeting with Somali Transitional Federal Governm [...] |
2007-08-19 14:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SOCI SO SA |
| 07RIYADH1767 |
U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Members and staff of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) met with representatives of Saudi Arabia,s Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) during their May 27-June 5, 2007 visit to the Kingdom. HRC President Tur [...] |
2007-08-25 10:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR KIRF KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH1776 |
AT LAST -- EGYPTIAN COPTIC CHRISTIAN DEPARTS [...] (S) SUMMARY: After repeated attempts to leave Saudi Arabia, Egyptian Coptic Christian Dr. Mamdouh Full Fahmy flew home to Cairo on August 15. Fahmy claims that Egyptian Muslim co-workers harassed him from 2004-2006 and tried unsuccessfully to convert him to Islam. After his co-workers accused [...] |
2007-08-25 14:40:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PHUM KIRF EG SA |
| 07RIYADH1787 |
MAY 27 - JUNE 5, 2007 VISIT BY U.S. COMMISSION ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Members and staff of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) visited the Kingdom from May 27 to June 5, 2007, traveling to Jeddah (Ref A), Dhahran, and Riyadh. Describing itself as independent -- but part of the USG, the Commission met with SAG ministries [...] |
2007-08-26 13:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF KISL PGOV PINR PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH1821 |
SAUDI SHI'A CELEBRATIONS A SUCCESS IN THE EP [...] (C) SUMMARY: Two Consulate staff members traveled to the Saudi Shi'a stronghold of Qateef to observe local celebrations of the birthday of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, the twelfth or so-called "hidden Imam." (NOTE: Virtually all Saudi Shi'a in the Eastern Province are so called "Twelvers." END NO [...] |
2007-08-29 12:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PA PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH1822 |
SAUDI EDITION AL-HAYAT CROSSES THE LINE, GETS [...] (C) Summary: According to KSA's most influential newspaper editor, Turki Al-Sudairi, Al-Hayat has been shut down for three days for implying a connection between respected religious scholars and a Saudi university, and Al-Qaeda Iraq in a Monday, August 27 article. While an unusual shut-down [...] |
2007-08-29 15:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KPAO PGOV PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH186 |
KING ABDULLAH TO HOST URGENT HAMAS AND FATAH TALKS [...] (SBU) On January 29, the media reported that on January 28 King Abdullah invited Hamas and Fatah leaders to an emergency meeting in Mecca in order to end the current conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. The King invited them to settle their differences through dialogue, saying their fighting [...] |
2007-01-30 09:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KWBG KPAL KISL PREL IS XF |
| 07RIYADH1886 |
SAUDI OFFICIALS DID NOT WANT NAWAZ SHARIF TO [...] (U) The Saudi press has run several front page news items in the past week clarifying its position regarding the return of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan -- which took place on September 10, 2007. (NOTE: Developing news reports indicate that Sharif was arrested shortly [...] |
2007-09-10 13:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR PK SA |
| 07RIYADH1889 |
GCC "100 PERCENT" BEHIND PROPOSED MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) SUMMARY. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers met on September 1, 2007, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for their 104th session, which was led by Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Madani. The resulting communiqu renounced terrorism, reiterated the GCC's position t [...] |
2007-09-10 14:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ECIN PTER IZ IS SA |
| 07RIYADH1890 |
SAUDI GOVERNMENT SAYS NO OFFICIAL VISITORS TO THE [...] Post received on September 10 a diplomatic note from Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stating that it is not possible for SAG officials to receive visitors during Ramadan, which is expected to take place approximately September 13 through October 12. Government offices will also be clo [...] |
2007-09-10 14:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH1891 |
FOLLOW-UP ON SAUDI "REFORMERS" [...] (S//NF) The international media recently published several articles about a ten-page petition addressed to King Abdullah demanding that the SAG release a group of nine "reformers" arrested on February 2-3, 2007 in Jeddah. The articles focused on the legitimate fundraising efforts of certain [...] |
2007-09-10 14:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PTER KTFN KDEM PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH1894 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: DESIGNATION OF FIVE SAUDIS [...] (S/NF) Summary: On September 5, Post's Terrorism Finance Coordinator delivered reftel A points to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing USG's interest in submitting a request to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee on or about September 12. Embassy Riyadh fully supports the objectives o [...] |
2007-09-11 08:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH1905 |
KING ABDULLAH MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT [...] (U) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with King Abdullah on September 11 to discuss the ongoing Palestinian crisis. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the King and President Abbas also discussed ways to reinvigorate the Middle East Peace Process. Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi Arab [...] |
2007-09-13 11:56:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR IS SA |
| 07RIYADH1906 |
SAG SUPPORT FOR MINNAWI APPEARS LIMITED TO [...] (S) SUMMARY: The Saudi Arabian Government has increased its African peace-making profile by calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in western Sudan; however, SAG officials, some foreign diplomats in Riyadh, and members of the Kingdom,s Sudanese diaspora express considerable doubt a [...] |
2007-09-15 05:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL SU SA |
| 07RIYADH1909 |
SPECIAL 301 INITIATIVE ACTION PLAN DELIVERED [...] On September 15, EmbOffs met with Mohamad Al-Aiyash, Chairman of the IPR Committee, to discuss the Special 301 Initiative. The Special 301 Initiative non-paper action plan was delivered to the SAG on August 14th. Al-Aiyash reported that upon receipt it was forwarded to the Ministry of Cultur [...] |
2007-09-15 14:45:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH1920 |
CONOCO PHILIPS INSIDER DEBUNKS MEED ON [...] (C) A respected ConocoPhillips (COP) insider and consultant has told us that press reports of the cancellation of the planned 400,000 barrel a day joint-venture Saudi Aramco/COP refinery are not true. While the project economics are indeed daunting in this era of stretched petroleum supply [...] |
2007-09-16 15:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH1923 |
IRAQI DEBT: MEETING WITH SAUDI MINISTRY OF FINANCE [...] (C) Summary. In a meeting on September 16 with the DCM, Hamad Al-Baz'y, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, conveyed a lack of urgency in reconciling the debt owed by Iraq to he Kingdom. Al-Baz'y described the three meetings in which the Saudis and the Iraqis h [...] |
2007-09-17 10:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PREL IZ SA |
| 07RIYADH1950 |
TOO DARN HOT: SAUDI EP BOOM REACHING LIMITS? [...] SUMMARY (C) With temperatures reaching 115 degrees, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is both literally and metaphorically "too darn hot." With vast investments being made in oil and petrochemical projects, post hears constant complaints of shortages of materials, qualified workers, and i [...] |
2007-09-19 15:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH1981 |
PROMINENT SAUDI SCHOLAR PUBLICLY CRITICIZES BIN [...] (U) On the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Saudi Arabian Sheikh Salman bin Fahd al-Awdah posted a letter on his popular internet website, www.islamtoday.com, strongly criticizing Al-Qa'ida for its militant ideology and targeting of innocent civilians. In [...] |
2007-09-25 13:58:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PTER KTFN KDEM KPAO PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH1983 |
SAUDI TEXTILE AND APPAREL PRODUCTION [...] Per reftel request, Post compiled the most recent data available regarding Saudi Arabia's textile and apparel industry: Total Finance of Operating Industrial Units(2006): US$79.1 Billion Total Finance of Textiles, Ready Made Garments and Leather Products(2006): US$1.3 Billion Textile [...] |
2007-09-26 06:45:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KTEX |
| 07RIYADH1987 |
JOINT WORKING GROUP ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE [...] This message has been cleared by DOE A/S Kolevar. ---------- Summary ---------- 2. (S) On September 11, the US-Saudi Joint Working Group (JWG) on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) met at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Riyadh, co-chaired by the MOI Director of Modernization [...] |
2007-09-26 09:42:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH199 |
NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN: SAUDI ARABIA [...] (SBU) In response to reftels post submits the names of five influential women in Saudi Arabia: (1) Name: Dr. Fwaziya Abu-Khalid Title: Professor, Sociology Department Institution: King Saud University Field: Politics Contact [...] |
2007-01-30 14:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH1999 |
REGIONAL CONOCOPHILLIPS PRESIDENT CONCURS WITH [...] (C) In a September 25 teleconference, ConocoPhillips (COP) Abu Dhabi-based Regional President Nick Spencer reiterated that press reports regarding the cancellation of the planned 400,000 barrel a day joint-venture Saudi Aramco/COP refinery were not true (ref A). Recent press reports indica [...] |
2007-09-30 08:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH2024 |
SAUDI WOMEN PETITION KING ABDULLAH FOR RIGHT TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Saudi press reported that on Saudi National Day, September 23, Saudi women activists submitted a petition to King Abdullah urging him to lift the ban on women driving in the Kingdom. The Committee of Demanders of Women's Right to Drive, a component of the newly formed Socie [...] |
2007-10-01 13:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KWMN KPAO SA |
| 07RIYADH2034 |
ANOTHER "HOLY" PEACE AGREEMENT IGNORED: SOMALIS [...] (U) In one of dozens of attempts to end the sixteen-year civil war, Somali leaders signed a peace agreement on September 16 in the presence of King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan during the final session of the Somali reconciliation conference in Jeddah. The reconciliation conference was i [...] |
2007-10-02 09:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPAO XW SO SA |
| 07RIYADH2044 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR CONGRESSIONAL STAFF [...] (SBU) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants country clearance for Professional Staff Member Bradley Bowman from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to visit Riyadh from October 26-30, 2007 (reftel). 2. (U) The Mission must directly charge all visit support costs. Countr [...] |
2007-10-02 13:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AFIN SA |
| 07RIYADH2048 |
G8-BMENA DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAG [...] (U) Post delivered reftel demarche on October 2, 2007 to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is no response from the SAG to date. FRAKER [...] |
2007-10-03 09:01:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2049 |
SAUDI,S GRAND MUFTI DISCOURAGES SAUDI YOUTH FROM [...] (U) SUMMARY: Saudi press gave extensive coverage to an October 1 sermon given by Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Muhammed al-Asheikh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia warning young "zealous" Saudis against traveling abroad under the pretext of jihad. Furthermore, he cautioned Muslims agains [...] |
2007-10-03 14:51:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER KISL KPAO SA |
| 07RIYADH2050 |
SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS DISCUSS PROGRESS [...] (C) SUMMARY. During her June 4 - 7, 2007 to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Erica Barks-Ruggles met with representatives of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), who conveyed tha [...] |
2007-10-03 14:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH2051 |
DRL DELEGATION DISCUSSES EXPANDING TIES WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Erica Barks-Ruggles visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia June 4-7, 2007, to discuss with SAG officials opportunities for legal and legislative exchanges, as well as possible programs for technical support [...] |
2007-10-03 15:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM ECPS SOCI SCUL SA |
| 07RIYADH2056 |
NOVEMBER OPEC SUMMIT IN RIYADH [...] This is an action request. DOE/International Policy and EB/ESC please see paragraphs five and nine. -------------- Summary -------------- 2. (C) On September 30, Energy Attache and DOE Officer met with Advisor to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MinPet) and Director [...] |
2007-10-07 13:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH2057 |
SHELL ON GAS EXPLORATION AND MOTIVA EXPANSION [...] (C) In an October 1 conversation, Chairman of Shell Companies in Saudi Arabia, Robet Weener, provided updates on the status of Shell's gas exploration efforts in the Rhub al Khali (RAK) region, as well as the late September final investment decision (FID) to move ahead on the expansion of the [...] |
2007-10-07 13:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH2059 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAUDI MFA: U.S. CANDIDATE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-07 14:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH2080 |
MORE SUPPORT FOR GRAND MUFTI'S FATWA DISCOURAGING [...] (U) SUMMARY: Commentary from the Saudi press on the October 1 sermon of Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Muhammed Al-Asheikh, the most senior Wahhabi cleric and the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, continues to be strongly positive. Saudi Islamic scholars and officials are voicing full suppor [...] |
2007-10-10 13:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER KISL KPAO SA |
| 07RIYADH2085 |
UPDATED DEMOCRACY STRATEGY FOR SAUDI ARABIA [...] (C) Per Ref A request, this constitutes Post's updated strategy for supporting reform in Saudi Arabia. To bolster and advance reform in Saudi Arabia, we need to assist the Majlis Al-Shoura and municipal councils in efforts to expand their role to include oversight, increase independence, and [...] |
2007-10-10 15:08:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KMPI AMGT KDEM ECON KPAO PREL PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2096 |
FUROR OVER THE CASE OF SAUDI NATIONAL HOMAIDAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Al-Arabiya aired a two-part investigative program in early September regarding Saudi national Homaidan al-Turki, who was sentenced by a Colorado court in August 2006 to 28 years to life for sexually assaulting his Indonesian maid (ref A). The program featured interviews with offi [...] |
2007-10-12 14:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAO PGOV PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH21 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SECURING REGIONAL BORDERS [...] (S) Charge' delivered reftel demarche to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani on January 7. Dr. Madani emphasized that it the SAG's policy to refrain from interfering in the internal issues of other states, pointing out that Saudi Arabia does not share a bor [...] |
2007-01-08 11:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH2100 |
SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED [...] Ambassador Ford M. Fraker and the entire U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia warmly welcome the First Lady of the United States Mrs. Laura Bush to Riyadh and Jeddah. The First Lady's visit comes at an opportune moment to underscore the importance and strength of the U.S.- Saudi bilateral relationsh [...] |
2007-10-16 13:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN OVIP PHUM PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2105 |
SAUDI ARABIA: NOMINATION OF PRINCESS LOULWA AL [...] (U) Post is pleased to nominate Princess Loulwa Al Faisal for the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage. Princess Loulwa is the daughter of the late King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz and Queen Effat Al Thunayaan, as well as the sister of Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal. She is [...] |
2007-10-18 12:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PHUM PREL KPAO LE |
| 07RIYADH212 |
SCENESETTER FOR APHSCT TOWNSEND VISIT TO SAUDI [...] (S) Ambassador Oberwetter and the entire US Mission in Saudi Arabia warmly welcome you back to Riyadh. As you have witnessed during the course of your many visits to the Kingdom, our bilateral relationship is developing into robust, multi-faceted cooperation. One indication of this was King [...] |
2007-02-01 12:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL EFIN CVIS KTFN PTER GCC SA |
| 07RIYADH2131 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAUDI MFA REGARDING LEBANON [...] PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Saudi MFA on October 22. Ambassador Saleh al-Kuhaimi, head of the Arab States Department, said he would follow up with his MFA colleagues to determine SAG support for PM Siniora's initiative. FRAKER [...] |
2007-10-23 13:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LE PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2138 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED REGARDING UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE [...] (U) Post delivered reftel demarche on October 23, 2007 to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). There is no response from the SAG to date regardign a meeting request. Post will follow-up with a meeting with an appropriate official from the MFA and provide results via separate cable. F [...] |
2007-10-24 11:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL KTIA UN |
| 07RIYADH2139 |
SAUDI ARABIA PHRMA ISSUES: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE [...] This is an action request for EEB/TPP/BTA, USDOC and USTR. Please see paragraph 9. 2. (SBU) Summary. Multinational pharmaceutical companies are vigorously lobbying Post, the Department, USDOC and USTR for high-level USG involvement in two ongoing issues impacting their interests in Sau [...] |
2007-10-24 14:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV KIPR SA |
| 07RIYADH2149 |
SAUDI PHRMA ISSUES: MEETING WITH DEP. MINISTER OF [...] (SBU) In a meeting on October 27 with the Foreign Commercial Service Counselor and the Economic Counselor, Dr. Mansour N. Al Howasi, Deputy Minister of Health for Executive Affairs, stated that he will meet with local distributors of pharmaceuticals to present and discuss the Ministry of Heal [...] |
2007-10-27 14:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV KIPR SA |
| 07RIYADH2159 |
POST DELIVERS USG GOALS FOR EXPANDED IRAQ [...] (C) Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller delivered reftel demarche to HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal, Head of Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prince Turki asked for further clarification of the support mechanism-- which was provided, then questioned whether Iraqi Prime [...] |
2007-10-28 14:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ SA |
| 07RIYADH2174 |
AMBASSADOR INVITED TO OPEC SUMMIT-RELATED EVENTS [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-30 13:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2176 |
SAG RESPONSE: ISTANBUL MINISTERIAL SIDE MEETING ON [...] (C) Acting PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Ambassador Talal Berri from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 30. Ambassador Berri remarked that although he cannot immediately confirm the Foreign Minister's acceptance of this invitation, he is optimistic that Foreign Minister Princ [...] |
2007-10-30 14:16:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE SA |
| 07RIYADH2182 |
SAUDI LEADERSHIP ON PEACE CONFERENCE -- FAILURE IS [...] (S) The Ambassador met with Saudi Foreign Minister (FM) Prince Saud Al Faisal on the margins of First Lady Laura Bush's October 23 meeting with King Abdullah. The FM told the Ambassador that the key for ensuring the success of the upcoming peace conference is for the U.S. to pressure the Isr [...] |
2007-10-31 06:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR IS SA |
| 07RIYADH2192 |
SAUDIS STILL STUDYING SPECIAL 301 INITIATIVE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-11-03 11:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2193 |
EXCLUSIVE MARKETING RIGHTS: SAUDI COMMITTEE FORMED [...] In a meeting on November 3, Mohamad Al-Aiyash, Chairman of the IPR Committee, informed Emboffs that the SAG has formed a committee to consider the USTR-coordinated Exclusive Marketing Rights proposal to provide patent protection for identified pharmaceutical products that lost protection when [...] |
2007-11-03 12:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV KIPR SA |
| 07RIYADH22 |
FOLLOW UP ON AL MANAR AND AL AKSA TELEVISION; ARMS [...] (C) Charge' met with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani on January 7 to follow up on several demarches delivered during the Hajj and 'Eid holiday. Charge' asked for the SAG's support in discontinuing broadcasts of Al Manar television on Arabsat, as well as [...] |
2007-01-08 11:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER EAID PARM KPAO ASEC KPAL LE SA |
| 07RIYADH2208 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ARAB LEAGUE CENTRAL BOYCOTT [...] (U) Post delivered reftel points to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) via diplomatic note on October 31. Post will inform the Department of any substantive response. FRAKER [...] |
2007-11-05 12:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KBCT PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2209 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION [...] (U) Post delivered reftel points to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) via diplomatic note on November 5. Post will inform the Department of any substantive response. FRAKER [...] |
2007-11-05 12:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | UNGA ETRD PHUM UNAUS CU SA |
| 07RIYADH2224 |
MFA OFFICIAL APOLOGIZES FOR PRINCE BANDAR BIN [...] (S/NF) On November 6, the DCM met with Doctor Prince Turki Saud al-Kabeer, the Deputy Minister for Political Affairs and International Organizations and the highest ranking MFA official in-country, to deliver reftel remarks regarding recent comments by Secretary General of the Saudi National [...] |
2007-11-06 15:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER PGOV PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH2243 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAUDI MFA: UN GENERAL [...] No summary [...] |
2007-11-12 14:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH2260 |
SAG SAYS STOP IRAN FROM GETTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: During his late October 2007 visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staffer Bradley Bowman met with MFA,s HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal, Head of the Political Affairs section on October 28. The discussion focused on Iranian nuclear issues. During the mee [...] |
2007-11-13 13:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH2264 |
MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES SUDAN AND NUCLEAR [...] (S) SUMMARY: On November 13 the A/DCM met with Ambassador Khalid Jindan, the Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the MFA, to deliver a demarche about Sudan (ref A) and discuss nuclear issues. The Ambassador said that the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) would do everything it can to he [...] |
2007-11-13 14:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH228 |
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP VISITS KING [...] (C) SUMMARY. The U.S. delegation to the U.S. - Saudi Arabia Strategic Dialogue's Human Development Working Group (HDWG), led by Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS), Near East Affairs (NEA), Scott Carpenter, met with representatives of the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue on December 4 [...] |
2007-02-04 13:25:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PINR KDEM SA |
| 07RIYADH2292 |
SAUDI NUCLEAR POWER PROPOSALS: MORE BARK THAN BITE [...] (C) In a November 13 meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affair's (MFA) Naif Al-Sudeiry, Deputy Director of International Organizations, told us that Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal's recent proposal to set up a body to provide uranium to Iran through a consortium arrangement was essent [...] |
2007-11-18 22:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ENERG PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH23 |
SAG STATES NO HIGH-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT OF SYRIAN [...] (S) Charge' met with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani on January 7 to relay the request contained in reftel that the SAG refrain from allowing high-ranking Syrian officials to visit the Kingdom. In response, Dr. Madani told Charge' that he is unaware of any planned [...] |
2007-01-08 11:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PINR KPAL KISL SY SA |
| 07RIYADH2304 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED REGARDING UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-11-19 12:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH2320 |
SAUDI ARABIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE US ON PAKISTANI [...] (S) On November 20, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US Adel al-Jubeir invited the Charge d'Affaires and Executive Office Staff Assistant (note taker) to his residence for lunch. During the meal, Ambassador al-Jubeir said that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Saudi Arabia, today, [...] |
2007-11-20 16:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PK PREL PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH2321 |
PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAYIF CALLS PRINCE BANDAR'S [...] (S) On the evening of November 19, Prince Mohammed Bin Nayif (MbN), the Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, called the Charge d'Affaires to personally apologize for Prince Bandar's comments, in which he said that the USG could have prevented 9/11 if it had consulted with the [...] |
2007-11-20 16:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PTER PGOV PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH2322 |
SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE US ON IRAN, SANCTIONS [...] (S) Summary: In remarks November 20 to the Charge' d'Affaires, Saudi Ambassador to the US Adel al-Jubeir adopted a very harsh tone on Iran. Al-Jubeir asserted that Iran is behind most of the difficulties facing the US and Saudi Arabia in the region at present. He claimed that recent US-Irania [...] |
2007-11-20 16:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR ENRG PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH2323 |
SAUDI ARABIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE US COMMENTS ON THE [...] (S) On November 20, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US Adel al-Jubeir invited the Charge d'Affaires and Staff Assistant (note taker) to a lunch at his Riyadh residence. During the lunch, the Ambassador told the Charge that Saudi Arabian King Abdullah was following the case of a young Shi' [...] |
2007-11-20 16:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2331 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: REINFORCING AMBASSADOR [...] (C) Acting Deputy Chief of Mission delivered reftel demarche to Dr. Prince Turki Saud al-Kabeer, the Director of International Organizations and Political Affairs at the MFA. The Prince thanked the A/DCM for delivering the information, noted his enthusiasm to receive Ambassador Crocker, and [...] |
2007-11-24 13:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2335 |
2008 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT PROVIDED [...] Post provided information on Saudi Arabia's trade barriers for the 2008 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers to USTR on November 7, 2007. GFOELLER [...] |
2007-11-25 07:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EFIN SA |
| 07RIYADH2340 |
SAUDI ARABIA: MICROSOFT GM'S TAKE ON IPR [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Khaled al-Dhaher, General Manager of Microsoft in Saudi Arabia, shared his perception of intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement in the Kingdom during a meeting on November 20, 2007. Al-Dhaher identified three major areas of concern: (a) the failure of the SAG to lic [...] |
2007-11-25 14:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2348 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH [...] Post delivered reftel demarche via diplomatic note to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 26. Post suggests providing an Arabic translation to all Arabic-speaking posts to ensure uniformity of the message and to reduce duplication of effort. GFOELLER [...] |
2007-11-26 13:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2352 |
LESSONS LEARNED - CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXERCISE, [...] BACKGROUND: On November 4, the Embassy Riyadh participated in a Crisis Management Exercise (CME) facilitated by Ruth Abramson. The exercise served as a tool by which Post could evaluate security procedures and operations. Post compliments CME staff for the facilitation of a fruitful [...] |
2007-11-27 07:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR AMGT ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH2356 |
THE "SAUDIZATION" OF SERMONS IN THE EP [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to conversations with worshippers at various Eastern Province mosques, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MOIA) began a policy of "Saudizing" the delivery of the Friday sermon during the late summer of 2007. The alleged policy allows only Saudi citizens licensed by the [...] |
2007-11-27 09:16:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF KISL PGOV PREL PTER SOCI SA |
| 07RIYADH2362 |
SAUDI WOMEN QUESTION THE RIGHT TO VOTE OUTSIDE THE [...] (U) SUMMARY: According to the English language daily "Arab News" Saudi female students in the UK and Ireland were denied entry to the General Body of Saudi Clubs, 27th general committee elections. The elections took place on Saturday, November 17. According to media reports, the women who we [...] |
2007-11-27 14:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SCUL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH2382 |
SAG DEMARCHED ON U.S.-IRAQ BILATERAL RELATIONS MOU [...] (C) Post delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Western Department Head Dr. Riyadh Krimley on December 1. Dr. Krimley said that he had heard of this agreement between the Government of Iraq and the USG in the media and was very pleased that the USG was officially sharing th [...] |
2007-12-02 08:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2397 |
MFA OFFICIAL SHARES SAME USG CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN'S [...] (S) On December 4, the POL-MIL Counselor and the Executive Office Staff Assistant met with Dr. Riyadh Krimley, the Acting Director of International Organizations and the Deputy Director of the Western Department at the MFA, to deliver reftel remarks about the US National Intelligence Estimat [...] |
2007-12-04 10:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2404 |
SAG MFA ANNAPOLIS OBSERVER REPORTS CONFERENCE A [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Western Department Director Dr. Riyadh Krimley, who attended the November Annapolis conference with Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, told PolOffs during a December 1 meeting that the conference was a success in working towards peace on several i [...] |
2007-12-05 09:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH2407 |
PAKSITAN OFFICIALS QUESTION SAG NUCLEAR INTENTIONS [...] (S//NF) Pakistan Embassy political officers told PolOff in a December 2 meeting that they recently read a "report" about SAG development of nuclear weapons systems in conjunction with Pakistan. They asked PolOff if the USG knew anything about SAG weapons development or the SAG's intention to [...] |
2007-12-05 14:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH2428 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SAG: PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of Arab Department Ambassador Dr. Saleh al-Koheimi on December 8. Al-Koheimi did not have any direct comment, but he appeared pleased with the demarche and stated how important this conference will be for this issue. [...] |
2007-12-09 08:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KWBG KPAL AMGT PREL PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2429 |
SAG ALSO ENCOURAGING RAPID LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL [...] PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of Arab Department Ambassador Dr. Saleh al-Koheimi on December 8. Al-Koheimi stated that the SAG also supports the encouragement of immediate Lebanese presidential elections without condition, and he asserted that the Saudi [...] |
2007-12-09 08:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PGOV LE SA |
| 07RIYADH2437 |
USC A/S HERNANDEZ EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF IPR [...] In a meeting on December 3, 2007, with Fawaz al-Alamy, Advisor to the Minister of Commerce & Industry, U.S. Department of Commerce A/S Israel Hernandez emphasized that enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) is important because it encourages innovation, raises living standards and ensur [...] |
2007-12-09 12:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2439 |
KING ABDULLAH WARMLY WELCOMES POTUS AND REQUESTS [...] (S) King Abdullah expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the upcoming POTUS visit to the Ambassador on December 7. King Abdullah urged the Ambassador to move the POTUS visit from a Monday, January 14 arrival until a Tuesday, January 15 arrival so as not to conflict with French President S [...] |
2007-12-09 13:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2441 |
FORMER ARAMCO INSIDER SPECULATES SAUDIS WILL MISS 12.5 MBD IN 2009 [...] No summary [...] |
2007-12-10 05:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH2447 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED UNGA PLENARY VOTES ON [...] No summary [...] |
2007-12-10 10:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH2453 |
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MINISTER OF LABOR GHAZI [...] Summary. During the Ambassador's call on Minister of Labor Ghazi al-Gosaibi on December 10, al-Gosaibi discussed the challenge of curbing Saudi unemployment in the midst of demographic expansion. Al-Gosaibi explained that he is trying to make employing Saudis more attractive by making hirin [...] |
2007-12-10 15:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PHUM TIP SA |
| 07RIYADH2461 |
KING ABDULLAH SNUBS AHMEDINEJAD'S INVITATION [...] (S) On December 7, Ambassador Fraker and POL/C met with King Abdullah at his Al-Jandriyya farm to discuss President Bush's planned visit to Saudi Arabia (SA) in January. During the discussion, the King told the Ambassador that on the margins of the GCC summit in Doha, Iranian President Mahmo [...] |
2007-12-11 11:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH2462 |
KING ABDULLAH MAKES THE CASE FOR LONGER US VISA [...] (C) During the Ambassador's December 7 meeting with the King, King Abdullah made a specific point of stating his hope that visa reciprocity between Saudi Arabia and the United States soon be increased from two to five years. He reiterated Saudi Arabia's willingness to move forward on this i [...] |
2007-12-11 11:35:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2467 |
THE KING ON SECURITY ISSUES [...] (S) During lunch at Janadriah on December 7, King Abdullah told the Ambassador he was pleased with the recent arrest of over 200 terror suspects, including terrorist financiers. However, he recognized that it would take twenty years to eliminate the terrorists completely. The key, accordin [...] |
2007-12-11 14:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PINR PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2471 |
STILL NO SAUDI RESPONSE ON SPECIAL 301 INITIATIVE [...] Mohamad al-Aiyash, Chairman of the IPR Committee, informed Econoff on December 12 that the IPR Committee is still analyzing the Special 301 Initiative Action Plan (reftels). Al-Aiyash reports that the Committee is working to have a response prepared in time for Assistant Trade Representative [...] |
2007-12-12 10:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2474 |
INTERAGENCY VISIT TO LAUNCH DEEPER MOI COOPERATION [...] This cable has been cleared by Deputy Assistant Secretary Gray, Assistant Secretary Kolevar, and S/CT Deputy Coordinator Feierstein. -------- Summary -------- 2. (S) An interagency team traveled to Riyadh on December 3-5 to signal the USG's strong support for the Ministry of Interio [...] |
2007-12-12 14:37:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH2475 |
MOHAMMED BIN NAYIF UNDERSCORES NEED FOR MOI [...] No summary [...] |
2007-12-12 14:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH2476 |
MOI DISCUSSES DE-RADICALIZATION PROGRAMS DURING [...] This cable has been cleared by S/CT Deputy Coordinator Feierstein. ------- Summary -------- 2. (C) During a December 3-5 Interagency visit (ref A) to discuss greater USG cooperation with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) on its modernization drive, Dr. Hadleg, Director of the MOI's [...] |
2007-12-12 14:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH2485 |
SAUDI KING OFFERS UNPRECEDENTED ACCOMMODATIONS TO [...] (S) In an unprecedented show of hospitality and friendship, Saudi King Abdullah graciously offered POTUS the finest, most prestigious, and most luxurious accommodation ever offered to a USG official-- 'the' Royal Palace for POTUS and SecState, should she accompany POTUS, on the Riyadh Confere [...] |
2007-12-13 10:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | OVIP ASEC PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2486 |
FOLLOW ON MEETING TO INTERAGENCY VISIT [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs two and three. ------ Summary -------- 2. (S) Embassy Riyadh notes the impending January POTUS visit provides a unique opportunity to help us move approval for a high-priority Ministry of Interior(MOI)-inter-agency cooperation a [...] |
2007-12-13 10:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH2501 |
SAUDI GRAND MUFTI CALLS FOR TERRORISTS TO BE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Saudi Interior Ministry announced on November 28 the arrest of 208 suspected terrorists. The Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Alsheikh declared two days later during his Friday November 30 sermon (translated text attached) that deviant groups are corrupting [...] |
2007-12-15 14:39:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER CVIS KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH2505 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ELECTION FOR THE COMMITTEE ON [...] (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche and talking points to Saudi MFA, November 18. Post received the following response from the MFA on December 16. Begin Translated Text: With reference to the Embassy's note number 07-1648 dated November 18, 2007 regarding the request of the United States [...] |
2007-12-16 11:52:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH2514 |
DELETION [...] SAWAF, HASSAN AKA: EL SAWAF, HASSAN 2. DOB: 23-MAR-1961 3. POB: DAMASCUS 4. REFUSAL GROUNDS: P6C1 5. (SBU) Post requests deletion of the following CAT 1 CLASS hit: NAME: EL SAWAF, HASSAN DOB: XXXX1961 POB: QTAR REF. CODE: P6C1 CAT: 1 REF. SITE: RID REF. DATE: 24-SEP-199 [...] |
2007-12-17 09:40:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CLOK |
| 07RIYADH2515 |
SAUDIS REHABILITATE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES [...] (S) SUMMARY: The Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) presented a two-day orientation of its de-radicalization and rehabilitation program for extremists to an inter-agency delegation (NSC/DOS/DOD/DOJ), Embassy Pol-Mil, LEGAT, BPM and Pol staff. The SAG has invested considerable resources personne [...] |
2007-12-17 09:42:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | CIA KCRM PGOV PINR PREL PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH2517 |
QATEEF GIRL RECEIVES FULL ROYAL PARDON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Through media reports and Mission contacts, we are able to confirm the Qateef rape victim (reftels) referred to as "Qateef Girl" in media reports, today was granted a full royal pardon by King Abdullah. Her lawyer, Abdulrahman al-Lahem has also had his law license returned to h [...] |
2007-12-17 11:51:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SA SOCI |
| 07RIYADH2519 |
RIYADH EAC - 16 DECEMBER 2007 [...] (S) The Ambassador convened an EAC meeting on Sunday, December 16, to review the Embassy's security posture, special security considerations of the Hajj season, and the handling of a security threat on Consulate General Jeddah. Also present were DCM, ECON, POL-MIL, BPM, MGT, LEGAT, DAO, and [...] |
2007-12-17 12:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | AMGT ASEC CASC PGOV PTER PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH2528 |
SAUDI'S JUDICIAL REFORM WILL LIKELY HAVE IMPACT ON [...] (U) SUMMARY: According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), King Abdullah, custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, issued a Royal decree on October 3, which will introduce safeguards and mechanisms to strengthen the independence of the judiciary in the Kingdom. The new regulations will establish two S [...] |
2007-12-18 12:21:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH2531 |
ISMAILI SHI'A ACTIVISTS THREATEN TO "UNLEASH HELL" [...] (C) SUMMARY: PolOff met with five Ismaili Shi'a activists recently to discuss the latest efforts to free Hadi al-Mutif, an Ismaili Shi'a who has been in prison for the past 15 years for uttering a profanity against the Prophet. (reftel A) Shi'a and human rights activists maintain that al-Mutif' [...] |
2007-12-20 12:39:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH2532 |
SAUDI REACTIONS TO THE QATEEF GIRL PARDON [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) released an official statement on December 17 that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz had pardoned the "Qateef Girl" and her male companion. (SPA text attached) Justice Minister Abdullah Al-Alsheikh read the statement aloud during his December 17 late night [...] |
2007-12-22 08:17:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SOCI SA |
| 07RIYADH289 |
AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD'S MEETING WITH SAUDI [...] (S) On January 30, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) James C. Oberwetter, and the DCM met with Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs HRH Prince Mohammed bin Naif to discuss recent developments in, and SAG views on, Ir [...] |
2007-02-12 09:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS SA IZ IR LE |
| 07RIYADH296 |
CROWN PRINCE SULTAN BACKS THE KING IN FAMILY [...] (S) Summary: The Al Saud are a political party as well as a family. As with any political party, there are always internal rivalries and policy disputes. Ruling family disputes currently center on the role of seniority in succession, policy towards Israel, and cuts in royal compensation. [...] |
2007-02-12 12:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH299 |
HUMAN APPEAL INTERNATIONAL: POST RESPONSE TO [...] (S/NF) Mission Saudi Arabia appreciates the opportunity to comment on the potential UNSCR 1267 designation of the NGO Human Appeal International (HAI). After consulting internally within Embassy Riyadh, we have concerns with the reliance of evidence of this case on Hamas, which is not sanctiona [...] |
2007-02-12 16:28:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | ECON EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH305 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: REQUEST FOR POST ASSISTANCE IN [...] (S/NF) Embassy Riyadh appreciates the opportunity to comment on the effectiveness of tranche I designations under the Terrorist Facilitators and Inciters Initiative. While the Mission of Saudi Arabia fully supports the objective of this initiative - to sanction individuals that both financially [...] |
2007-02-13 16:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH313 |
ENERGY WORKING GROUP MEETS IN RIYADH, DISCUSSES [...] (SBU) Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs Karen Harbert and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al-Saud, Assistant Minister for Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MOPMR) convened an Energy Working Group (EWG) in Riyadh on February 3. The E [...] |
2007-02-14 15:04:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV SA |
| 07RIYADH318 |
UNOFFICIAL SAUDI REACTION TO PUTIN VISIT: CLEARLY [...] (U) Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded on February 12 a two-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- the first ever by a Russian head of state. Described by some analysts as an "historic visit," Putin was accompanied by a delegation that included approximately 60 businessmen. The [...] |
2007-02-16 13:45:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ECON EPET RU SA |
| 07RIYADH32 |
SAG'S RESPONSE ON DELTA CODE SHARING WITH KLM [...] (SBU) On January 6, Post received the following diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Delta/KLM code share. Complimentary opening -- The Ministry wishes to refer to the Embassy's diplomatic note no. 3363, dated 12/21/2006, regarding Delta Airlines' request to [...] |
2007-01-09 11:53:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR SA |
| 07RIYADH329 |
DAS CARPENTER AND DAS BARKS-RUGGLES DISCUSS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Scott Carpenter, Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) DAS Erica Barks-Ruggles, and Department of Commerce Legal Advisor James Filpi met with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Law and Administrative Science Departmen [...] |
2007-02-18 14:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KISL |
| 07RIYADH345 |
AMMAN EL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION [...] Embassy Riyadh submits the requested information for participant Gina El Koury in the March 2007 Entry Level conference in Amman, Jordan. Information is as follows: Name: Gina Beth El Koury Title: Political Officer Date of Birth: 19 October 1978 Passport Number: 910001297 Social Security [...] |
2007-02-21 13:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGMT PREL |
| 07RIYADH347 |
GWOT: BIOMETRICS AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN SAUDI [...] No summary [...] |
2007-02-21 13:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS |
| 07RIYADH36 |
RUMORED SAG CABINET CHANGES [...] (S) Abdul Wahab Al-Faiz, Editor-in-Chief of several Saudi newspapers and magazines, told PolOff on January 6 that within the next month or two (approximately before the end of March), the King will announce major changes in the SAG Cabinet. He said these changes will be in accordance with t [...] |
2007-01-09 13:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV KDEM SA |
| 07RIYADH364 |
SAUDI ARABIA'S INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT [...] Chapter Headings: -- Openness to Foreign Investment -- Conversion and Transfer Policies -- Expropriation and Compensation -- Dispute Settlement -- Performance Requirements and Incentives -- Right to Private Ownership and Establishment -- Protection of Property Rights -- Transparency of R [...] |
2007-02-24 08:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV EFIN EPET PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH366 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND FEBRUARY 6 MEETING WITH CROWN PRINCE SULTAN [...] (S) SUMMARY: Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Townsend met on February 6 with Crown Prince Sultan at the Crown Prince´s offices in Jeddah. Both parties reiterated the positive cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi governments, and the Crown Prince expressed [...] |
2007-02-24 12:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PGOV PREL PINR EFIN KTFN KWMN GCC SA |
| 07RIYADH367 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND FEBRUARY 6 MEETING WITH FOREIGN [...] (S) SUMMARY: Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Francis Fragos Townsend covered both counterterrorism cooperation and regional political issues in her meeting with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal at his home in Jeddah on February 6. Saud described the Feb [...] |
2007-02-24 12:20:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PTER PGOV PREL PINR EFIN KTFN MEPP KPAL SA |
| 07RIYADH368 |
FEMALE LAWYERS MAY SOON HAVE RIGHT TO PRACTICE IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Minister of Justice Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Al-Sheikh announced at the inauguration of the third Annual Meeting of Arbitrators on January 30 that a new consultancy law allowing female lawyers to open their own legal consulting firms is under consideration. As proposed, the [...] |
2007-02-24 12:40:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR KISL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH369 |
APHSCT TOWNSEND'S FEBRUARY 6 MEETING WITH SAUDI [...] (C) Summary: On February 6 in Jeddah, Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf told Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Frances Fragos Townsend that the SAG would implement the Royal Decree requiring individuals carrying those funds in excess of $16,000 to decl [...] |
2007-02-24 12:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER EFIN KTFN CVIS GCC SA |
| 07RIYADH37 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: SAG RESPONSE TO AL-TAIBA UN [...] (SBU) On January 6, 2007 Post received the following diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the addition of Lashkar al-Taiba to the UN 1267 Sanctions list of individuals/entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Taliban or Al Qaida. Complimentary opening -- Th [...] |
2007-01-09 13:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH373 |
U.S.-SAUDI ARABIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE HUMAN [...] (C) SUMMARY. The U.S. delegation to the U.S. - Saudi Arabia Strategic Dialogue's Human Development Working Group (HDWG), led by Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS), Near East Affairs (NEA), Scott Carpenter, met with representatives of the Majlis Al Shoura on December 4, 2006. Secretary General [...] |
2007-02-24 14:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PINR KIRF KDEM SA |
| 07RIYADH397 |
DECEMBER 2006 MEETING OF STRATEGIC DIALOGUE HUMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2007-02-26 10:15:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPAO PINR KISL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH428 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR SANDIA LABS BYRON GARDNER [...] (SBU) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for Mr. Byron H. Gardner, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Defense Programs, Sandia Laboratories, to participate in the Joint Working Group and related meetings from March 3-20. 2. [...] |
2007-03-01 10:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ASEC AMGT |
| 07RIYADH460 |
POTENTIAL ABUSE IN PROPOSED ORGAN DONATION LAW [...] (C) SUMMARY: Following imminent approvals from the Saudi Organs Transplant Center (SOTC), the Prince Salman Charitable Center for Kidney Diseases, and the Medical Services Council (MSC), the SAG will implement a new organ donation regulation allowing for live donors to donate their organs to u [...] |
2007-03-06 09:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KHUM TBIO |
| 07RIYADH475 |
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE JOINT WORKING GROUP MEETS [...] (S) On March 4-5, the US-Saudi Joint Working Group on Critical Infrastructure Protection met in the MOI Officers Club in Riyadh, co-chaired by the Ministry of Interior's Director of Modernization Saud al-Semari, and Embassy Economic Counselor. The two government delegations met March 4, fol [...] |
2007-03-07 13:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PTER PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH479 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARCH 9-11 CLDP VISIT [...] (SBU) Although country clearance has not been formally requested, due to the importance of this program, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants provisional country clearance for a visit to Riyadh March 9-12 by Mr. Thomas Moritz, U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Develo [...] |
2007-03-07 15:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL |
| 07RIYADH495 |
KING ABDULLAH LAUNCHES ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY [...] (S) SUMMARY: The Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy to Protect Honesty and Combat Corruption during its weekly meeting on February 19. The strategy includes procedures for investigating officials suspected of corruption at most levels of the government and establishes the Na [...] |
2007-03-11 15:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH497 |
ARREST OF SAUDI "REFORMERS" [...] (S//NF) SUMMARY: On February 2-3, the SAG internal security service (Mabahith) arrested ten men in Jeddah on the suspicion that they were collecting donations illegally and distributing them to unspecified "suspicious" persons (reftel). The Mabahith initially charged these individuals with [...] |
2007-03-12 07:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PINR PTER KTFN KDEM PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH499 |
MINIMAL CONTROVERSY REIGNS AT RIYADH BOOK FAIR [...] (SBU) The Ministry of Culture and Information held its third annual book fair in Riyadh March 2 to March 9. Over 400 vendors had their publications available for sale, and topics included children's literature, history, fiction, and religion. The book fair had family hours each morning, aba [...] |
2007-03-12 09:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL SA |
| 07RIYADH507 |
SAUDI MFA INFORMATION DIRECTOR ON ARABSAT [...] (C) Saudi MFA Director of Information Osama Ahmed Nugly told PolOff on March 10 that while the Saudis are concerned about the possible transmission via Arabsat of Al-Zawraa television, the SAG cannot unilaterally take steps to block the transmission of any licensed provider's broadcasts. Nugly [...] |
2007-03-13 16:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAO PTER ETTC ASEC IZ SA |
| 07RIYADH523 |
MARCH 12 JOINT WORKING GROUP MEETING WITH PRINCE [...] (U) Action Request: This is an action request. Please see paragraph nine. --------- SUMMARY --------- 2. (S) After two weeks of meetings and site visits, USG experts from the Joint Working Group (JWG) on critical infrastructure protection (CIP) capped off their visit with a highly [...] |
2007-03-14 15:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PTER PGOV SA |
| 07RIYADH525 |
SAUDI PLANS FOR UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM EXPANSION [...] (U) This cable reviews Saudi plans for upstream and downstream expansion, discussed during the February US-Saudi Energy Working Group meeting in Riyadh. The Saudi presenters confirmed Saudi Aramco's plans to reach 12 million barrels per day (mbpd) production capacity by 2010-2011, including [...] |
2007-03-14 16:18:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG SENV SA |
| 07RIYADH550 |
FROM QASSIM - ONE VIEW ON EDUCATIONAL REFORM AND [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. Governor of Qassim Province Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his advisor, Dr. Yousef Al Romaih, a professor at the University of Qassim, told Ambassador during their March 6 meeting that the merger of Imam College and Qassim University was a positive step that [...] |
2007-03-19 15:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PGOV PINR PREL PHUM |
| 07RIYADH551 |
SAUDI MFA OFFICIAL ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, IRAQ [...] (C) MFA Deputy Director for Arab Affairs Talal Al Maliki told PolOff on March 13 that he is not convinced that the recent public statements of the Israelis that they are ready to "treat seriously" the 2002 Saudi proposed Arab Peace Initiative carry any weight. He claimed that the Israelis typ [...] |
2007-03-19 15:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR PHUM IZ SA |
| 07RIYADH556 |
VIGNETTES FROM AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO CONSERVATIVE [...] (SBU) Ambassador traveled to Qassim Province, often referred to as the heart of conservatism in Saudi Arabia, on March 6 and 7. In addition to his meeting with the Governor of Qassim Province Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz (septel), Ambassador attended a dinner meeting with the Qassim [...] |
2007-03-20 09:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH558 |
DEMARCHE ON UN REFORM: INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF [...] (U) On March 19, PolOff delivered a copy of a March 18 diplomatic note with reftel non-paper to Talal Berri in the MFA International Organizations Department. Berri said he had not yet received the official diplomatic note with the non-paper. PolOff urged Berri to forward the non-paper to [...] |
2007-03-20 11:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC APER PREL UNGA SA |
| 07RIYADH56 |
USG'S SUCCESSFUL TRAINING FOR SAUDI ARABIA'S [...] (U) Summary. On December 20, 2006, EconOff and FBI representative to the Terrorist Financing Operations Section (TFOS), offered a one-day seminar to the Saudi Arabian Financial Intelligence Unit (SAFIU) geared towards basic analytical and investigative techniques for terrorism finance and m [...] |
2007-01-10 15:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PTER KTFN ETTC SA |
| 07RIYADH562 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UN HRC [...] (U) On March 19, PolOff delivered reftel non-paper to Talal Berri in the MFA International Organizations Department. (NOTE: On March 7, the reftel non-paper was originally sent to the MFA by diplomatic note. MFA had not responded to the original diplomatic note. END NOTE). Berri stated [...] |
2007-03-20 15:09:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM UNHRC SA |
| 07RIYADH580 |
FORCED DIVORCE: A NEW PHENOMENON IN SAUDI ARABIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Saudi press reported on March 11 that the Ministry of Justice has formed a committee to investigate the growing number of "forced" divorces in the Kingdom. Saudi poet and activist Nimah Nawwab is one of several women who have raised the visibility of this issue in the press t [...] |
2007-03-24 10:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KISL KWMN KPAO SA |
| 07RIYADH581 |
DRL DAS BARKS-RUGGLES MEETINGS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) On December 5, 2006, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Erica J. Barks-Ruggles had separate meetings with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR). These meetings followed up on meetings on Septem [...] |
2007-03-24 13:33:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KWMN KDEM SA |
| 07RIYADH619 |
MFA INSTRUCTS EMBASSIES TO FUNNEL ALL CHARITY [...] (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs distributed a notice on March 24 to all diplomatic missions in the Kingdom forbidding direct communication with philanthropic organizations. Begin Translated Text: The concerned agency in the Kingdom noticed that some embassies and consulates are directl [...] |
2007-03-26 15:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PCUL SA |
| 07RIYADH628 |
SAUDI TEXTBOOKS DISPLAY REDUCED INTOLERANCE; [...] (C) Post conducted a review of six 2006-2007 textbooks used in Saudi schools for the second, fourth, and eighth grades. The six textbooks do not advocate any particular philosophy toward non-Muslims, and on the whole, appear to be more tolerant than previously reviewed textbooks. Two of the [...] |
2007-03-27 16:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL PGOV PHUM SA |
| 07RIYADH631 |
KING ABDULLAH ANNOUNCES NO CABINET CHANGES- DOES [...] (U) King Abdullah issued a decree on March 22 extending the term of the entire Council of Ministers for four years and preserving their current portfolios. Media reported positively on this announcement generally commenting that it supports political stability in the Kingdom. The media also [...] |
2007-03-28 12:37:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 07RIYADH635 |
AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL MEETING WITH SAG JUSTICE [...] (C) Ambassador made a farewell call on Justice Minister Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Shaikh on March 25. The Minister reflected on changes during the past three years and announced that in the next two months, the SAG will establish a separate court for terrorism and national sec [...] |
2007-03-28 16:30:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SA |
| 07RIYADH636 |
19TH ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: OPENING SESSION [...] (C) Summary: King Abdullah used his speech to the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Riyadh on March 28 to criticize publicly U.S. policy in Iraq by referring to the "illegal foreign occupation" of that country, albeit without naming the U.S. or the Coalition Forces. The King issu [...] |
2007-03-29 10:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR PHUM KISL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH638 |
19TH ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: CLOSING SESSION [...] (C) The closing session of the 19th Arab League Summit in Riyadh on March 29 issued the "Riyadh Declaration," which calls for the implementation of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, demands the removal of weapons of mass destruction from the region, and supports the development of nuclear progra [...] |
2007-03-30 11:10:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR PHUM KISL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH651 |
AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON RIYADH PROVINCIAL [...] (C) Ambassador made a farewell call on Riyadh Provincial Governor HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz on March 25. The Prince emphasized personal ties to the U.S, as well as the strong bilateral relationship in the context of the SAG's reform agenda and efforts to resolve the Palestinian conflic [...] |
2007-04-01 08:55:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH67 |
PLANNED FEBRUARY VISIT OF PUTIN TO THE KINGDOM [...] (C) The Russian Embassy to the KSA confirmed January 8 media reports that Russian President Putin will visit the KSA in February, fulfilling a promise made over three years ago. Putin will be the first Russian President to visit the KSA. His visit follows up on the September 2003 visit to Rus [...] |
2007-01-14 17:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV SA RS |
| 07RIYADH711 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR STAFFDEL MAKOVSKY [...] (SBU) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants country clearance for STAFFDEL Makovsky (Senior Professional Staff Member Alan Makovsky, Professional Staff Member David Weinberg, and Professional Staff Member Yevgeny Gurevich) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee to visit Riyad [...] |
2007-04-09 12:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AFIN SA |
| 07RIYADH797 |
SAUDI RESPONSE TO THE NATANZ FUEL ENRICHMENT PLANT [...] (SBU) As per request in reftel, Embassy delivered a diplomatic note with a request that Saudi Arabia refrain from sending a representative to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Natanz Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Plant in Iran. In follow-up conversations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, In [...] |
2007-04-16 15:13:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP IR IAEA PARM MNUC TRGY AORC UNSC SA |
| 07RIYADH812 |
FOREIGN MINISTER SAUD AL FAISAL TO REPRESENT [...] (SBU) Per ref a, in a 17 April meeting, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal reported to Iraq Special Coordinator Satterfield, Treasury Deputy Director Nugent, Charge D'Affaires Gfoeller, and ADCM Rundell that he would represent the Saudi government at the May 3 International Compact for I [...] |
2007-04-18 15:29:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID EFIN IO IZ PGOV PREL SA |
| 07RIYADH873 |
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR CONTINUES TO UNDERSCORE [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph five. --------------------------------------------- Iranian Threat Weighs on MOI; MOI Requests Threat Brief and Addition to Agenda for JWG -------------------------------------------- 2. (S) During an April 21 meeting, Ministry of [...] |
2007-04-25 16:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PTER PGOV INR SA |
| 07RIYADH881 |
CODEL PELOSI APRIL 5 MEETING WITH MAJLIS AL-SHURA [...] (C) U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and delegation met on April 5 with Majlis Al-Shura Chairman Sheikh Dr. Salih bin Humaid, several other Shura Council members, and Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al-Jubeir. During a lively exchange of information and ideas, Humaid expl [...] |
2007-04-28 13:45:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG PTER CVIS IS IR SA |
| 07RIYADH922 |
A VICTORY IN THE SAUDI WAR ON TERROR [...] (S/NF) Summary: The Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) recently reported to the press that it detained 172 suspected terrorists, dismantled seven terror cells, and seized large amounts of weapons and explosives, along with SR 20 million (USD 5.3 million). The arrests and seizures occurred over [...] |
2007-05-02 15:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER PINR PGOV PREL KISL ASEC SA |
| 07RIYADH931 |
WOMEN VOTE: STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS A SUCCESS IN [...] (U) Prince Sultan University College for Women (PSU) held its first student council elections on April 25. This private university is the first in Riyadh to establish student councils and hold elections. Following a campus-wide awareness training on the purpose of student councils, the impo [...] |
2007-05-05 04:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL KWMN SA |
| 07RIYADH932 |
SAUDI OPPOSITION GROUP REACTIVATED IN PUBLIC SPHERE [...] (S) SUMMARY: The London-based Saudi opposition group Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA) began another unsuccessful public call on March 22 for protests in local mosques in Riyadh and Jeddah. The last time that MIRA called for protests was in August 2006 during the Lebanon crisis. [...] |
2007-05-05 04:48:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR KISL SA |
| 07RIYADH954 |
SAUDI ARABIA NOMINATES ITSELF FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE WMO [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3. 2. (U) Post received a diplomatic note from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing us the SAG intends to nominate itself for re-election to the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Following is the [...] |
2007-05-08 04:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV TPHY WMO SA |
| 07RIYADH955 |
TERRORISM FINANCE DEMARCHES DELIVERED [...] (SBU) Post delivered several terrorism finance demarches to the SAG on the following dates: --ref A, "Designation of Additional Syrian Entities," on 13 February via diplomatic note 07-248; --ref B, "Designation of Five Terrorist Facilitators and Inciters," on 13 February via diplomatic [...] |
2007-05-08 04:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON KTFN PGOV PINR PREL PTER SA |
| 07RIYADH960 |
SAUDI ARABIA REQUESTS USG VOTE FOR IMO COUNCIL [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3. 2. (U) Post received a diplomatic note numbered 42867/25/97 on 8 April from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting USG support in 2008 for the SAG to be re-elected as a member of the International Maritime Organization Council [...] |
2007-05-08 12:38:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT IO ECON SA |
| 07RIYADH965 |
JAPANESE PM SEEKS TO ENHANCE POLITICAL AND [...] (C) Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe traveled to Riyadh on April 28 to discuss with the SAG economic and political cooperation, the Middle East Peace Initiative, and Japan's permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council. According to a contact at the Japanese Embassy, the [...] |
2007-05-08 15:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM BTIO ECON KNNP UNSC SA |
| 07RIYADH966 |
GCC ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLITICAL [...] (S) SUMMARY. GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DR. ABDULKARIM HAMADI SIPDIS TOLD POLOFF ON APRIL 24 THAT HE FEARS A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IS CONFIDENT THAT IRAN WILL PROCEED WITH A NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. HE SAID INTERNATIO [...] |
2007-05-08 15:05:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINR KISL KNNP SA |
| 07RIYADH976 |
TREASURY A/S PATRICK O'BRIEN MEETS WITH SAUDI [...] (U) On April 23, the newly-appointed Saudi Customs Director General Saleh bin Manea Al-Khilwey told Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Patrick O'Brien that the implementation of new cash declaration procedures is imminent. The SAG has relayed the same m [...] |
2007-05-09 12:44:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH102 |
SARKOZY IN SAUDI ARABIA [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. French President Nicholas Sarkozy's visited Saudi Arabia on January 13-14 to make clear that Saudi Arabia is now "at the top" of the French Middle East policy list. Pres. Sarkozy met with Saudi King Abdullah, addressed the Shura council and spoke briefly with Saudi business lead [...] |
2008-01-26 11:36:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | FR PGOV PINR PREL SA |
| 08RIYADH1022 |
UPDATE ON JAILED POLITICAL ACTIVIST MATRUK AL-FALEH [...] (C) During a June 28 meeting with noted Saudi political and human rights activist Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb (protect), PolOff spoke by telephone with Jameela al-Ughla, wife of imprisoned Saudi political activist Matruk al-Faleh (Reftel A, B). An emotionally upset al-Ughla told PolOff that she had [...] |
2008-07-01 13:16:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS KMPI PGOV PHUM SA |
| 08RIYADH1033 |
SAUDIS CONSIDER ATTENDING KOSOVO DONOR'S CONFERENCE [...] (C) Riyadh Political Counselor delivered Reftel A demarche to Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Western Affairs Director Ra'ad Krimley on July 2. Krimley informed us he was aware of the invitation for the SAG to attend the July 11 Kosovo Donor's Conference in Brussels, adding that the Kosovars [...] |
2008-07-02 13:49:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | EU EUN KPKO PGOV PREL SA UNC YI UNMIK UN KV |
| 08RIYADH1034 |
SEN. KERRY IN SAUDI - IRAN, IRAQ AND OIL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Senator John Kerry (D-MA) traveled to the Kingdom on June 28-30 where he met with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chief of General Intelligence Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Asaf, and Assistant Interior Minister for Security Aff [...] |
2008-07-06 12:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | CIA ECON IR IS IZ MASS MCAP MOPS PGOV PINR |
| 08RIYADH1035 |
SAUDI KING ON MADRID INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a June 29 meeting with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in Jeddah, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud elaborated on furthering global religious tolerance and combating extremism through the Inter-Faith Dialogue he launched, where the next step will be a multi-faith conference, [...] |
2008-07-06 13:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC CIA EU EUN KISL PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH1069 |
DHAHRAN EAC - 9 JULY 2008 [...] (S) On 9 July 2008, Consulate General Dhahran convened a core Emergency Action Committee to discuss the recent attack against the US Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey. In attendance were the CG, RSO, and POLOFF, and an RAO representative was consulted. 2. (S) The EAC reviewed the curre [...] |
2008-07-09 14:02:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | ASEC PTER AMGT CASC SA |
| 08RIYADH107 |
CANADIAN FM IN SAUDI ARABIA [...] (C) SUMMARY. Canadian FM Bernier visited Saudi Arabia on January 9-11. Bernier met with various SAG officials, including Saudi King Abdullah. Topics included aid to the Palestinians, Syria/Lebanon, Iran's nuclear ambitions, operations in Afghanistan, UN make-up and commercial interests. T [...] |
2008-01-26 14:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | AF CA FATAH IR IS MOPS PGOV PINR PREL SA |
| 08RIYADH1070 |
SECTARIANISM UNDERMINES LOCAL CONFIDENCE IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite King Abdullah's efforts to foster religious tolerance, an increase in local sectarian tension and a series of perceived anti-Shi'a actions by Saudi authorities in the Eastern Province have undermined confidence among many Saudi Shi'a that the SAG's interfaith efforts will [...] |
2008-07-10 13:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | CIA KIRF KISL PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH1077 |
UPDATED PERSONAL INFO ON SAUDI KING [...] (S/NF) A western physician whose professional duties include frequently consulting with members of the Saudi Royal family shared with DCM on July 11 personal information gleaned from Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud's personal medical file, including King Abdullah's true age and curre [...] |
2008-07-13 06:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | CIA INRA INRO PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH1078 |
THE VISIT OF THE MNF-I COMMANDER TO THE KINGDOM OF [...] (U) SUMMARY: Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) Commander David Petraeus met with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and the primary cabinet officials responsible for the national security of Saudi Arabia. The meetings were frank yet quite cordial and appeared to establish Petraeus as an off [...] |
2008-07-13 08:34:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | MARR MASS MCAP PGOV PINS PREL PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH108 |
PAKISTAN OFFICIAL: SAG LOOKING TO RUSSIANS FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-27 07:19:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR KNNP PK SA |
| 08RIYADH1090 |
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN MADRID - AGENDA AND MUSLIM [...] (C) SUMMARY. The Muslim World League (MWL), under the auspices of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has organized a global interfaith dialogue in Madrid from July 16-18 (Reftels). This is a ground breaking event as the Saudis have organized an event that puts Christianity and Judais [...] |
2008-07-15 05:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC CIA EU EUN KISL PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH1094 |
WOODS HOLE RESEARCH VESSEL OCEANUS [...] This is an action request. 2. Per reftel A, on 15 July, the Embassy informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of and provided background documentation for the visit of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute's (WHOI) research vessel Oceanus from 5 October to 21 November 2008. In a recent r [...] |
2008-07-16 05:50:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KRVC TPHY EWWT SENV SA |
| 08RIYADH111 |
MOI FEEDBACK ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION [...] (S) The Saudi Government has made a decision to expand the relationship between the USG and and Ministry of Interior (MOI) with regards to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), building on the existing Joint Working Group relationship. This will involve the USG working with many, probab [...] |
2008-01-27 15:04:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SA |
| 08RIYADH1114 |
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORK PROGRESSES IN RIYADH [...] (U) This cable has been cleared by DOE A/S Kevin Kolevar. 2. (S) During a July 8 visit to Riyadh, DOE A/S Kevin Kolevar met with Ministry of Interior representatives Joint Working Group (JWG) on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Co-Chair Dr. Saud A-Semari and Dr. Khalid Al-Ageel [...] |
2008-07-19 09:43:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SA |
| 08RIYADH1119 |
SAUDI MESSAGE TO EMBASSY RIYADH RE: SETTLEMENTS [...] (C) Post has received a diplomatic note from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs soliciting support for the Arab Group's draft resolution on Israeli settlements. The dip note contains the following text: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presents its com [...] |
2008-07-19 13:57:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | IS KPAL KWBG PA PGOV PREL PTER UNSC |
| 08RIYADH1121 |
SAUDIS ON SUDAN'S BASHIR - DON'T PUSH TOO HARD [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. The Ambassador met on July 15 with the Saudi-American Friendship Committee at the Majlis Al-Shoura, chaired by Chief Bandar Mohamed Al-Aiban. Al-Aiban discussed his committee's recent trip to the United States as a "complete success and a turning point" in USG relations with [...] |
2008-07-20 09:04:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | KCRM PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA SU UNC UNCRIME |
| 08RIYADH1128 |
TIMING AND LOCATION - NEXT GCC MINISTERIAL [...] (C) In a meeting with Pol Counselor, Saudi MFA Deputy Director for Western Affairs Department Mojahid Ali Alwahbi confirmed that the next Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial will be held on September 7, but the location is still undecided. 2. (C) Traditionally the GCC Ministerial is held [...] |
2008-07-21 12:06:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SA |
| 08RIYADH1133 |
Saudi Arabia: Media Reaction to the Madrid Interfaith [...] Summary and comment: The Madrid Interfaith Dialogue Conference provided Saudi press with an excellent opportunity to advance King Abdullah's agenda of promoting interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance among the broader Saudi society. Highlights include a commentary by a prominent editor w [...] |
2008-07-22 04:58:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KMDR KPAO KDEM PHUM SA |
| 08RIYADH1134 |
SAUDIS ON IRAN REF UPCOMING NAM FM MEETING [...] (S) On July 21, Pol Counselor delivered demarche on the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled for Tehran from July 27-30 (Reftel A) to Saudi MFA Deputy Director for Western Affairs Department Mojahid Ali Alwahbi. 2. (S) Alwahbi informed us that Saudi Minist [...] |
2008-07-22 05:00:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | MNUC PGOV PREL SA TRGY KNNP IR |
| 08RIYADH1136 |
C-NE8-01188 - SAUDI GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE ON [...] (S/NF) The following is post's response based on various discussions with our interlocutors in response to INR's inquiry regarding Saudi Arabian views on Lebanon (Reftel): A. (S/NF) How do senior officials in Saudi Arabia see the political situation in Lebanon developing over the next year? [...] |
2008-07-22 14:27:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | IR IS LE MCAP MOPS PGOV PINR PREL PTER SA |
| 08RIYADH1137 |
SAUDI ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON [...] (S) SUMMARY. The Saudi government has so far contributed over half a billion USD in 2008 to support the Palestinian Authority (PA). The SAG acknowledges the strategic importance of keeping the PA funded to prevent Hamas from gaining full control of the Palestinian territories. The Saudis, as [...] |
2008-07-22 14:41:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | ECON IR IS KWPA PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SA |
| 08RIYADH114 |
PAKISTAN OFFICIAL: SAG LOOKING TO RUSSIANS FOR NUCLEAR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-28 09:15:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | KNNP PGOV PINR PK PREL SA |
| 08RIYADH1150 |
SAUDI POLICY ON PREVENTING FOREIGN FIGHTERS FROM [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. The SAG has long been active in stemming the flow of Saudis attempting to enter Iraq as foreign fighters, and has been highly cooperative in broadly addressing this issue with the USG. END SUMMARY. 2. (S/NF) The SAG shares the overall USG policy objective of establishing a s [...] |
2008-07-26 14:39:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | AG EG IZ JO LY MCAP MO MOPS PGOV PINR PREL |
| 08RIYADH1151 |
STEEL MARKET ILLUSTRATES CHALLENGES IN REALIZING [...] (C) SUMMARY: With Gulf countries eager to translate windfall oil profits into global commercial leadership, the GCC project market has boomed, recently surpassing two trillion USD - more than double the combined GDP of the GCC economies. With massive industrial, utility, and real estate proje [...] |
2008-07-27 05:11:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV EMIN ENRG EPET ETRD SA |
| 08RIYADH1153 |
SAUDIS SUPPORT KAZAKHSTAN OVER SYRIA FOR IAEA [...] (S) Pol Counselor delivered reftel demarche to Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations Director Ambassador Saleh Al-Kuhaimi on July 27. Al-Kuhaimi fully concurred that Syria is an unqualified candidate for a seat on the IAEA Board of Governors, outlining a long list of w [...] |
2008-07-27 13:54:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | AORC IAEA KNNP KZ SA SY |
| 08RIYADH1155 |
SAUDIS WILL ENGAGE EUROPE OVER SYRIA [...] (S) Pol Counselor delivered Reftel A demarche to Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations Director Ambassador Saleh Al-Kuhaimi on July 27. Al-Kuhaimi stated the SAG is engaged with the EU and all major European governments. He fully agreed that Syria has long been a sour [...] |
2008-07-28 07:59:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EUN PGOV PREL SA SY |
| 08RIYADH1159 |
PASSAGE OF INFORMATION ON DESIGNATION OF IRANIAN [...] (U) As requested in ref action message, Post passed ref information on the designation of Iranian entities and individuals under E.O. 13382 to the Saudi government on July 27, 2008. GFOELLER [...] |
2008-07-28 12:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP EFIN PARM IR |
| 08RIYADH1160 |
SAUDIS PREFER SEPTEMBER FOR CIVILIAN NUCLEAR [...] (SBU) Post formally advised the MFA of the Department's invitation to participate in discussions on civilian nuclear cooperation on July 21 in an urgent diplomatic note. We also conveyed the information to the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), which functions as the de [...] |
2008-07-28 14:26:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENERG IAEA KNNP SA |
| 08RIYADH1162 |
DEPORTATION OF CHRISTIANS IN TAIF [...] (S) SUMMARY: On July 26 and 27, 16 Indian Christians were notified that they have been ordered for immediate deportation. They were reportedly told by their sponsors, who were told "not by the police, but thobe-claded secret agents from Makkah Governate." There is currently no evidence of a [...] |
2008-07-28 15:12:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | KIRF PHUM PGOV SA |
| 08RIYADH1163 |
EMBASSY DELEGATION MEETS WITH SAUDI HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Embassy POLOFFs met with Dr. Mufteh Al-Kahtani, the Vice President of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) on July 21. We received a briefing by Al-Kahtani on the NSHR, including the role it plays between citizens lodging human rights complaints and the SAG, as well as [...] |
2008-07-28 15:14:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM SA |
| 08RIYADH1170 |
KING ABDULLAH'S INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AND THE MADRID [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. The Saudi-hosted Madrid Conference for Interfaith Dialogue won King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud praise from local media and Embassy contacts alike. It has the potential to lead to greater religious tolerance, with the tangible effect of defusing extremism and associated ter [...] |
2008-07-30 05:22:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC CIA EU EUN KDEM KISL KMDR KPAO PGOV |
| 08RIYADH1174 |
SAUDIS INVEST IN FOREIGN AGRICULTURE FOR FOOD [...] (C) Summary: One of the unintended consequences of the dramatic increase in oil prices has been huge inflation in basic commodities, including grain. Food security continues to be a concern in Saudi Arabia, especially with regard to lower and middle income population, and foreign workers. Th [...] |
2008-07-30 13:20:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EAGR ETRD EINV PGOV PREL SA |
| 08RIYADH1175 |
SAUDI OIL ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN PROCEEDING SLOWLY [...] (S) Recent conversations with the Assistant Minister of Petroleum, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, and the Pakistani Embassy point to one conclusion: the Saudi offer to assist Pakistan by deferring crude oil payments is proceeding slowly. With King Abdullah, Petroleum Minister Naimi, [...] |
2008-07-30 14:24:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EPET PREL PK SA |
| 08RIYADH1176 |
SAUDI ATTENDANCE AT 63RD UNITED NATIONS GENERAL [...] (SBU) Per reftel A, Post obtained the official Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) delgation list for the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). No specific dates for arrival or departure are available, nor has SAG provided Post with information regarding the travel of spouses. Post will se [...] |
2008-07-30 14:32:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KSEP OTRA OVIP PREL USUN |
| 08RIYADH118 |
SAG RESPONSE TO THE JANUARY 27 ARAB LEAGUE [...] (C) Demarche delivered via diplomatic note on January 26 with the assurances from the Arab States department that it would reach the delegation attending the January 27 ministerial meeting in Cairo. It was also delivered in person on January 27 to Head of the Arab States Department of the Mi [...] |
2008-01-28 14:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SA |
| 08RIYADH1190 |
SAUDIS SLOWLY MOVING TOWARD KOSOVO RECOGNITION [...] (S) SUMMARY. According to the no. 3 official in the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) is slowly moving toward official SAG recognition of Kosovo. He ascribed the SAG's reluctance to recognize the newly independent Balkan republic heretofore to concern over Russian se [...] |
2008-08-04 10:37:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | EU EUN FR GR KPKO PGOV PREL RS SA UNC KV YI |
| 08RIYADH1192 |
PASSAGE OF INFORMATION ON DESIGNATION OF AL-QAIDA [...] (U) As requested in ref action message, Post has passed ref information on the designation by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee of individuals associated with an Al-Qaida affiliated terror group in Algeria to the Saudi government on July 27, 2008. GFOELLER [...] |
2008-08-04 13:46:00 | Embassy Riyadh | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL PINR UNSC |
| 08RIYADH1196 |
FRENCH DCM ON RELATIONS WITH SYRIA [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. The French DCM in Riyadh commented to us that GOF will be wary in its engagement with Syria. END SUMMARY. 2. (S/NF) In a meeting between Pol Counselor and French DCM in Riyadh Emmanuel Bonne on August 2 to discuss Kosovo (Septel), Bonne raised the issues of Syria and Leban [...] |
2008-08-05 10:03:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET//NOFORN | EUN PGOV PREL SA SY |