Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DOHA1575
2006-10-30 05:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

QATARI MFA: AL JAZEERA S NOT A BILATERAL

Tags:  KDEM KPAO PGOV QA TS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDO #1575 3030505
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 300505Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5756
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0989
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//PASS TO USCENTCOM FWD//
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 001575 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PD, NEA/ARP, NEA/MAG
INFO NSC FOR ABRAMS, DOD/OSD FOR SCHENKER AND MATHENY
LONDON FOR ARAB MEDIA OFFICE
DUBAI FOR REGIONAL PD HUB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2011
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PGOV QA TS
SUBJECT: QATARI MFA: AL JAZEERA S NOT A BILATERAL
QATAR-TUNISIA ISSUE

REF: TUNIS 2639 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, reasons 1.4 (b&d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 001575

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PD, NEA/ARP, NEA/MAG
INFO NSC FOR ABRAMS, DOD/OSD FOR SCHENKER AND MATHENY
LONDON FOR ARAB MEDIA OFFICE
DUBAI FOR REGIONAL PD HUB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2011
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PGOV QA TS
SUBJECT: QATARI MFA: AL JAZEERA S NOT A BILATERAL
QATAR-TUNISIA ISSUE

REF: TUNIS 2639 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) Summary: After recalling its Ambassador from Qatar
October 19 in protest at the content of an Al Jazeera
interview with a Tunisian opposition member concerning the
Tunisian government's hijab policy, the Tunisian government
(GOT) announced the closure of its mission to Qatar October

25. A Government of Qatar (GOQ) news blackout on the topic
for Qatari media was lifted October 26, with the local
publication of the GOT statement announcing the closure, and
condemning what it termed "a hostile campaign meant to harm
Tunisia." The GOQ has not issued a statement on the matter
and a GOQ rep told post that the GOT has not officially
informed the GOQ of its decision to close its embassy. The
Tunisian ambassador is the second Arab ambassador to Qatar to
be recalled over Al Jazeera programming, following the recall
of the Saudi ambassador in 2002. End summary.

GOQ reaction
--------------


2. (C) Although it initially instructed local media to stay
away from the story before lifting the embargo October 26,
the GOQ has yet to issue any official statement concerning
the incident. PAO spoke October 29 to Ibrahim Al Sahlawi,
Director of Arab Affairs at the MFA. Al Sahlawi confirmed
that the GOQ has not issued any official statement, noting
that it has not yet received official notification from the
GOT of their intent to close their mission. Furthermore, Al
Sahlawi said, the issue is not a bilateral one: "This is not
an issue between the two governments," he said.

Al Jazeera reaction
--------------


3. (C) PAO also spoke with Al Jazeera Chief Editor Ahmed
Sheikh, who echoed points made by Al Jazeera chief Wadah
Khanfar and reported by international media, to the effect
that Al Jazeera is not waging any campaign against the GOT,
does not endorse the positions of its guests, and is willing
to provide a platform for the GOT's point of view on the
topic. "They are very sensitive, autocratic and
totalitarian," said Sheikh of the GOT. He confirmed that Al
Jazeera has no bureau or registered correspondent in Tunisia:
"We have never been allowed to work in Tunisia," he said.

Local Tunisian reaction
--------------



4. (C) Faisal Baatout (protect),the AFP correspondent in
Qatar who covered the story, is also a Tunisian national. He
told PAO October 29 that the GOT is blaming the GOQ because,
"They don't believe that Al Jazeera is independent. They have
tried to stop programs in the past through political
intervention and they succeeded, so they try this." He said
the local Tunisian community consists of some 7,000
individuals, according to the recently-departed Tunisian
Ambassador to Qatar, and all are concerned about the
provision of GOT services to Tunisian citizens here. Baatout
said there is speculation that the Tunisian mission to Kuwait
will send a representative to Doha on a weekly or bi-weekly
basis to meet the needs of local Tunisians.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) The Tunisian ambassador is the third to be recalled
from Qatar in the past four years and the second to be
recalled because of Al Jazeera programming. The Saudi
Ambassador to Qatar was recalled in 2002 (and has not been
replaced) because of a debate aired by Al Jazeera critical of
the Saudi royal family. In a development unrelated to Al
Jazeera, the Jordanian ambassador was recalled last month in
protest at the Qatari Government's refusal to vote for the
Jordanian candidate to replace UNSYG Kofi Annan.The Al
Jazeera establishment is well accustomed to receiving
criticism from foreign governments for its coverage and has
effectively adopted a blase "take a number" approach to such
criticism.
UNTERMEYER