Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DOHA953
2005-05-26 15:01:00
SECRET
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND'S JUNE 2,

Tags:  PREL PTER MARR QA 
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 DOHA 000953 

SIPDIS

FROM AMBASSADOR UNTERMEYER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND;
NEA/ARPI FOR SHAWN THORNE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR QA
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND'S JUNE 2,
2005 VISIT TO QATAR

Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 DOHA 000953

SIPDIS

FROM AMBASSADOR UNTERMEYER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND;
NEA/ARPI FOR SHAWN THORNE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR QA
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND'S JUNE 2,
2005 VISIT TO QATAR

Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Let me extend a warm welcome to you from me and the
team at Embassy Doha. Your visit fulfills a pledge President
Bush made to the Emir last April for you to visit Qatar to
explore enhanced counterterrorism cooperation. To that end,
we have requested meetings with the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani (addressed as "Your Highness"); the Heir
Apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (also
addressed as "Your Highness"); the Minister of State for
Interior, Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani
(addressed as "Your Excellency" or "Sheikh Abdulla"); and the
head of Qatari Security Services, Nassir Al-Ali ("Your
Excellency").


2. (S) The Heir Apparent, Sheikh Tamim, has been increasingly
invested with oversight and authority in the area of internal
security. You will find him to be open and forthright in
discussing Qatari shortcomings and needs in the security
area. He may also express his disappointment that the U.S.
did not immediately issue a public condemnation the March 19
terrorist bombing in Doha. (FBI Director Mueller called
Sheikh Tamim on March 25 to offer condolences and
assistance.) He will likely describe the intensive security
preparations underway for the
G-77 summit that will take place two weeks after your visit.
You will also find Sheikh Tamim and the ministers openly
looking to the U.S. for training and advice as Qatar seeks to
improve its own internal security operations.


3. (S) During your meetings, you should express appreciation
for the support Qatar extends to the U.S., in particular by
hosting CENTCOM's forward headquarters and allowing use of
bases in Qatar to conduct military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Specific issues to raise in talking point format:

-- The U.S. stands ready to assist Qatar to develop its
counterterrorism capabilities. I welcome your ideas on how we
can be best be of assistance to you in this regard.

-- Particularly interested in hearing about your security
plans for securing Qatar's oil and gas facilities, and about

your preparations for the Asian games.

-- In general, we believe our cooperation is excellent, but
there is more we can do. On several occasions in recent
months we have passed to your security services information
about individuals with links to terrorism who are in Qatar or
are traveling through Qatar. In some cases we have asked you
to take these individuals into custody, but you did not do
so. We can do better in this regard.

-- One important request I have to make is for your
cooperation to remove certain American citizens residing in
Qatar who we want to bring to the U.S. to face criminal
charges. You do not want these people in your country, and
neither do we.

-- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established a
Legal Attache office at the Embassy in Doha, as His Highness
the Emir requested. This is a sign of our desire to work more
closely with Qatar on law enforcement matters. A good next
step would be for the U.S. and Qatar to sign a Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty.


4. (U) What follows is an overview of key current issues in
Qatar.


5. (S) The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani,
is working to cement a broad strategic partnership with the
U.S. Al-Jazeera's inflammatory broadcasting, however,
continues to cast a dark shadow over otherwise robust
military, economic and diplomatic cooperation. Security
issues have become increasingly important to Qatari
leadership in the wake of March 19 terrorist bombing in Doha
and as Qatar prepares for next month's G-77 Summit and the
Asian Games in December, 2006. Qatar actively seeks U.S.
advice and assistance to augment its anti-terrorism
capabilities.

--------------
Doha's Terrorist Attack
--------------


6. (S) Foreign and Qatari residents alike were shocked by the
March 19 bombing of a British-run amateur theater. Had the
terrorist bomber struck five minutes earlier, there is a
strong likelihood that 40 to 60 people would have been
killed; it was a powerful explosion. Qatari officials,
prominent business leaders, and religious figures all
condemned the attack. The only public demonstration in Qatar
in the last 12 months occurred March 21 when several thousand
Qataris gathered to condemned the attack and expressed
support for the expatriate community. The investigation
continues, and the government's public line is that the
bomber Omar Ali, a long-time Egyptian resident of Qatar,
acted alone. Business activity has not been hindered; the GOQ
signed several large investment deals in April and May and
business leaders remain focused on the country's enormous
potential. Reports of non-renewal of Egyptian, Jordanian, and
other third-country work permits may be tied to security
measures taken following the attack. Under-cover security
forces are present around town, perhaps in preparation for
the June 12-16 G77 Summit here.

--------------
Iraq
--------------


7. (S) Qatar has been a pillar of support for our efforts in
Iraq. We continue, for instance, to fly unimpeded combat
missions out of Al-Udeid Air Base. The Emir shares our view
that restoration of order and a successful democratic
transition are of paramount importance not only to Iraq but
to the region. However, there is some feeling that Qatar's
efforts over the past two years are not fully appreciated in
Washington. The GOQ is holding back on forgiving Iraqi debt
because of Washington's pressure to soften Al Jazeera
programming. While the Foreign Minister has expressed
concerns of civil war in Iraq, he has stated publicly that
the coalition needs to stay in the country to establish wider
security. The GOQ also points to the importance of
establishing a power structure in Baghdad that is fully
inclusive of the Sunni bloc.

--------------
Terrorism/Terrorist Financing
--------------


8. (S) Qatar has been a full and responsive partner in our
campaigns against terrorism and terrorist financing. Qatar
actively seeks U.S. advice and assistance to augment its
anti-terrorism capabilities, strengthen relevant laws, and
enhance intelligence exchange. In particular, the GOQ is
interested in joint exercises, counterterrorism training,
information sharing, combating organized crime and money
laundering, and setting up a regional police training center.
The FBI is scheduled to do a one-week Terrorist Financing and
Money Laundering course in June; one was also completed in
October 2004. However, an FBI training assessment concluded
that Qatar would best benefit from an integrated training
program rather than multiple courses; the MOI has responded
favorably. FBI intends to offer a two- to three-year year
program to raise the skill level of officers in a number of
disciplines and provide exposure to new critical areas such
as cyber crimes, securities fraud, and internet crimes.
DS/ATA has an active and robust training program in Qatar.
The focus of most of the courses for the past two years have
been in counter-terrorism and preparing Qatar for the 2006
Asian Games.

--------------
Political and Education Reform
--------------


9. (S) Qatar's own program of reform, launched by the Emir
after he assumed power in 1995, took a significant step
forward in June when a constitution was officially
promulgated. The constitution calls for elections of a
national advisory council consisting of 45 elected and 15
appointed members. The election is expected to take place by
mid 2006; the current appointed advisory council will
dissolve at the end of June 2005 as stipulated by
constitution. Qatari women will have the right to vote and
will be encouraged by the government to run for office. In
municipal elections in 1999 and 2003, women here were the
first in the Gulf region to cast votes.


10. (S) Education reform, headed by the Emir's wife, Sheikha
Mozza, is a becoming a showcase. This reform includes a
sweeping revamp of Qatar's pre-university and higher
education system based on Rand Corporation recommendations.
As part of this effort, Qatar has brought to Qatar's
"Education City" branch campuses of Texas A&M University,
Virginia Commonwealth University, Carnegie-Mellon, and the
Weill-Cornell Medical College. Georgetown University signed
an agreement to open a branch campus in September 2005. These
have been ground-breaking efforts that have been hailed by
many as models for other states in the region.
--------------
Economic Issues
--------------


11. (U) Qatar's economy is the fastest growing in the world,
at 20.5% for 2004. Per capita income is nearing $40,000,
putting it on par with the U.S. and within the top five
richest by that measure. Qatar's primary accomplishment in
the past 10 years has been becoming a leading supplier of
liquefied natural gas. Under the leadership of Minister of
Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Qatar
Petroleum is moving on all fronts to maximize utilization of
Qatar's natural resources to diversify the economy and
provide business and employment opportunities to Qataris.
Since 1999, there has been $60 billion in foreign investment
in Qatar's energy sector, about $40 billion of it coming from
U.S. companies. Qatar plans to invest $70 billion in the
natural gas sector over the next seven years.


12. (U) The GOQ estimates Qatar's oil reserves are at 14.6
billion barrels. Qatar's daily average production is
currently estimated to be 850,000 barrels per day; at current
production rates, oil reserves are expected to last about 60
years. Qatar's goal is to increase overall production
capacity to over 1 million bpd by 2006. Occidental and
Anadarko are the two U.S. companies operating in this sector.


13. (U) The majority of Qatar's current development in the
energy sector is focused on its natural gas reserves. Qatar's
North Field contains 14.7% of world natural gas reserves,
estimated at 900 trillion cubic feet. The industrial
development of the energy sector has created a boom
atmosphere, with firms already here increasing staffing, and
new firms energetically seeking to participate.


14. (U) Qatar signed a Trade and Investment Framework
agreement with the U.S. in March 2004, but has watched
neighbors Bahrain, Oman, and UAE move faster toward achieving
Free Trade Agreements. Qatar's obstacles are trade
restrictions that favor Qatari-owned businesses, labor
standards that do not conform to international standards,
sectors such as telecom and financial services which are
closed to foreign investment.

--------------
Al-Jazeera
--------------


15. (S) Al-Jazeera remains a blight on our robust cooperation
that is impacting an increasing number of areas. In response
to our repeated protests and appeals, Al-Jazeera's management
claims to reduced the air time given to Al-Qaeda and
kidnappers' videos, and have made efforts to address the
inflammatory nature of its reporting from Iraq. A new board
of directors was appointed last year, and a number of
personnel changes have been made. Al-Jazeera points to its
recently introduced code of ethics, a new quality control
committee, and 3-person editorial board as part of an effort
toward greater journalistic professionalism. The channel has
highlighted to us its coverage of pro-democracy movements in
Lebanon and Egypt as well as broader coverage of Middle
Eastern politics. Al Jazeera Managing Director told the
Ambassador, "If the Americans want to find a proper partner
in its effort to get democracy and reform, they won't find a
better one than Al Jazeera." Ambassador has worked with
Foreign Minister and Al Jazeera senior management to
implement a 4-page list of improvements in the channel's
broadcasts.


16. (S) FBIS monitoring indicated a period of fairly balanced
coverage earlier this year, with the most recent report
showing a regression from this positive trend. Most recently,
a CENTCOM report suggested that Al Jazeera had prior
knowledge of a border control post in Afghanistan. When
questioned about the report, the channel's Managing Director
told the Ambassador that the incident had been investigated
and that there had been no breach of journalistic ethics; the
stringer had responded quickly to the attack because he had
been based only 60 kilometers from it. Nevertheless, the
Managing Director promised, "If there are any problems, I
will correct them."


17. (S) During the Ambassador's May 2005 visit to Washington,
the consensus of opinion among USG agencies monitoring
Al-Jazeera is that the station has shown some signs of
improved broadcasting but still remains unacceptably sloppy
in its journalist practices and in its anti-American
editorial bent.
UNTERMEYER