Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN7592
2006-10-03 14:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA LASH OUT AT QATAR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0022 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #7592 2761433 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031433Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4606 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0036
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007592
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016
TAGS: PREL UN AL QA JO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA LASH OUT AT QATAR
REF: AMMAN 6932
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons
1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007592
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016
TAGS: PREL UN AL QA JO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA LASH OUT AT QATAR
REF: AMMAN 6932
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons
1.4 b and d.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Jordan's official government spokesman
sharply criticized Qatar for failing to support the candidacy
of Prince Zeid for SecGen. Media and lawmakers also piled
on. END SUMMARY.
GOJ: QATAR BROKE FROM ARAB RANKS
2. (U) GOJ spokesman Nasser Judeh told media October 2 that
the GOJ was concerned with Qatar's "lack of commitment" to
the Arab League's position in support of the candidacy for UN
Secretary General of Jordan's PermRep, Prince Zeid bin Raad
SIPDIS
(ref A). An editorial in the leading, semi-official Arabic
daily Al-Rai blamed Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassem
al-Thani for Qatar's support of South Korean candidate Ban
Ki-Moon, saying "Qatar's Foreign Minister has left his
negative fingerprints on Qatar's relations with Arab
countries since he assumed his post" and that Qatar's lack of
support for Prince Zeid demonstrates "the level of hatred and
meanness that Qatar's diplomacy has reached."
3. (U) Several pro-government members of parliament joined in
the Qatar-bashing. MP Nabil al-Nahar, (Irbid 6th District)
was typical when he told media that Qatar's position was a
"disaster" and that Qatar is at the forefront of "those who
conspire against the Arabs." Not to be outdone, opposition
Islamist MP Taysir al-Fityani, (Amman 2nd District) deployed
an Arabic proverb: "I side with my brother against my cousin,
and I side with my cousin against a stranger." Qatar, he
told the press, "has sided with a stranger against its
brother."
4. (C) The King told the Ambassador that two members of the
security council had informed Jordanian officials that Qatar
was actively lobbying against Prince Zeid's candidacy, thus
reinforcing his certainty of Qatar's opposition. This is one
event in a series that has contributed to a steady
deterioration of Qatari-Jordanian relations. Others include
the perception that Qatar promoted Iranian interests in the
Arab League debate on Lebanon, and used al-Jazeera to attack
King Abdullah and other moderate Arabs.
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
Hale
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016
TAGS: PREL UN AL QA JO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA LASH OUT AT QATAR
REF: AMMAN 6932
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons
1.4 b and d.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Jordan's official government spokesman
sharply criticized Qatar for failing to support the candidacy
of Prince Zeid for SecGen. Media and lawmakers also piled
on. END SUMMARY.
GOJ: QATAR BROKE FROM ARAB RANKS
2. (U) GOJ spokesman Nasser Judeh told media October 2 that
the GOJ was concerned with Qatar's "lack of commitment" to
the Arab League's position in support of the candidacy for UN
Secretary General of Jordan's PermRep, Prince Zeid bin Raad
SIPDIS
(ref A). An editorial in the leading, semi-official Arabic
daily Al-Rai blamed Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassem
al-Thani for Qatar's support of South Korean candidate Ban
Ki-Moon, saying "Qatar's Foreign Minister has left his
negative fingerprints on Qatar's relations with Arab
countries since he assumed his post" and that Qatar's lack of
support for Prince Zeid demonstrates "the level of hatred and
meanness that Qatar's diplomacy has reached."
3. (U) Several pro-government members of parliament joined in
the Qatar-bashing. MP Nabil al-Nahar, (Irbid 6th District)
was typical when he told media that Qatar's position was a
"disaster" and that Qatar is at the forefront of "those who
conspire against the Arabs." Not to be outdone, opposition
Islamist MP Taysir al-Fityani, (Amman 2nd District) deployed
an Arabic proverb: "I side with my brother against my cousin,
and I side with my cousin against a stranger." Qatar, he
told the press, "has sided with a stranger against its
brother."
4. (C) The King told the Ambassador that two members of the
security council had informed Jordanian officials that Qatar
was actively lobbying against Prince Zeid's candidacy, thus
reinforcing his certainty of Qatar's opposition. This is one
event in a series that has contributed to a steady
deterioration of Qatari-Jordanian relations. Others include
the perception that Qatar promoted Iranian interests in the
Arab League debate on Lebanon, and used al-Jazeera to attack
King Abdullah and other moderate Arabs.
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
Hale