Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DOHA1798
2005-10-31 13:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO DOHA

Tags:  PREL SY QA UNSC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 001798 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2015
TAGS: PREL SY QA UNSC
SUBJECT: SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO DOHA

Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reason 1.4 (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 001798

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2015
TAGS: PREL SY QA UNSC
SUBJECT: SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO DOHA

Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (U) Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Moallem visited
Doha for several hours October 30, meeting with the Amir and
Foreign Minister. His tour also included Jeddah, Kuwait, and
Abu Dhabi. According to reports, Moallem emphasized Syria's
desire the cooperate with the Mehlis Committee and said that
President Bashar al-Assad has ordered the creation of a
judicial committee to investigate the Hariri assassination
while underscoring the dangers of destabilizing Syria.

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THREATENS REGIONAL STABILITY
-------------- --------------


2. (U) In a meeting with local Qatari press, Moallem
characterized the Security Council draft resolution as
"extremely dangerous." He warned that the "lack of stability
in the Syrian situation will reflect in a general way on the
situation in the region." He said the draft resolution
targets Syria and regional stability generally instead of
working to expose the truth of the Hariri assassination.

COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) The Syrian Deputy FM does not appear to be succeeding
in his efforts to garner broad Arab support for Syria
regarding his country's predicament at the UN. Nevertheless,
Qatari FM Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani travels to Damascus today
(October 31) and on to Cairo to continue discussions. The
Qataris will note that Moallem reported "solidarity" from
Saudi King Abdullah. But scenarios of regional instability
will have more weight in swaying Qatari leadership to help
protect Syria from serious consequences. Indeed a perception
that Article 7 of the UN Charter could be envoked might cause
concern in the GOQ, based on the article's authorization of
the use of force.
UNTERMEYER