SCENESETTER FOR THE VISIT OF AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD

S E C R E T RIYADH 009490

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ARPI FOR SHUKAN, BAGHDAD FOR FORD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP PTER IZ SA
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR THE VISIT OF AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD
TO SAUDI ARABIA DECEMBER 27, 2005

REF: RIYADH 9489 RIYADH 9486 BAGHDAD 5104

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (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 bilateral
relations.


2. (S) On the counterterrorism front, during the past two
months that the Saudis have enjoyed significant successes
against terrorists in the Kingdom. Concerning regional
security issues, Saudi Arabia is an active and mostly
cooperative ally on such challenges as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq,
and Iran. Saudi leaders continue to be deeply ooncerned
about developments in Iraq, particularly the potential for
Iranian influence and predominance. Since December 15, Saudi
civilian and military officials have missed few opportunities
to convey to Embassy officials and USG visitors their view
that Iraq post-December 15 is increasingly susceptible to
Iranian influence and, therefore, threatening to the region.
Beyond Iraq, the Saudis are most anxious about Iran's
potential to become a nuclear power, and the regional power
imbalances this would portend, which they believe would make
them and other oil-rich gulf monarchies particularly
vulnerable to Iranian nuclear blackmail.


3. (C) On Iraq generally, the Saudis look to play a
constructive role and utilize their influence both
bilaterally and through regional organizations like the Arab
League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
The Saudis support Iraqi unity and have publicly supported
the dialogue among Iraq's various factions, including at the
November 18-21 Cairo Conference on Iraqi Reconciliation.
During the Cairo conference, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud
al-Faisal played a pivotal role in keeping the contentious
participants working towards a common agenda. Al-Faisal
recently commented that after the successful Cairo Conference
he feels somewhat more optimistic about the Iraqi political
process.


4. (S) Saudi Arabia, while careful to maintain an "equal
distance" from all groups in Iraq and avoid the perception of
advancing solely Sunni interests, tried to encourage Iraq's
Sunni political class to organize and actively participate in
the parliamentary elections on December 15. In addition, the
Saudis have pledged one billion dollars to Iraqi
reconstruction and are actively negotiating with the Iraqi
government and international financial bodies for significant
relief on the $25 billion dollar-plus Iraqi debt to Saudi
Arabia accumulated under Saddam Hussein.


5. (S) POINTS TO MAKE:

-- The United States is pleased by the electoral process
that took place in Iraq on December 15. For the first time
in recent memory. The Iraqi people, not a dictator, played a
key role in determining their future. The elections of
December 15 were positive events for the people of Iraq and
the region.

-- We are aware that the elections of December 15 were the
beginning of a larger process, and not an end in themselves,
in determining the future of Iraq. We believe that the Iraqi
people, encouraged and supported by their friends in the
region and the world, can develop a country that will
guarantee them peace, economic and political well-being, and
stability for themselves and the region.

-- Saudi Arabia has a played a key role in encouraging the
Iraqi people to seize the initiative and establish such a
country. The enouragement you have give to the Sunnis and
other Iraqis, as well as the generous reconstruction aid you
have pledged to the Iraqi people, have facilitate what we are
confident will be a positive outcome on the road to Iraqi
freedom and self-determination.

-- We hope that Saudi Arabia will continue to engage with
the people of Iraq, and make this outcome a reality.
GFOELLER