Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DOHA1725
2006-12-10 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
QATARIS WILL USE ARAB LEAGUE OR TEMPORARY
how-toVZCZCXRO1149 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDO #1725 3441416 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101416Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5906 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS DOHA 001725
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL EFIN EAID PTER GZ IS QA
SUBJECT: QATARIS WILL USE ARAB LEAGUE OR TEMPORARY
INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM FOR PALESTINIAN AID
REF: DOHA 1712
UNCLAS DOHA 001725
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL EFIN EAID PTER GZ IS QA
SUBJECT: QATARIS WILL USE ARAB LEAGUE OR TEMPORARY
INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM FOR PALESTINIAN AID
REF: DOHA 1712
1. (SBU) P/E Chief spoke to Assistant Minister for Foreign
Affairs Mohamed al-Rumaihy December 7 regarding the mechanism
for transfering funds promised by the Qatari government to
the Palestinian Authority (reftel). Rumaihy said that Qatar
will "certainly" use the Arab League bank account or the
Temporary International Mechanism, which he described as the
"European mechanism." The MFA's Arab Affairs department did
not have further details. Its director reviewed Qatar's
previous countributions to the Palestinian Authority: USD 50
million through the Arab League in March 2006, and in
September a second USD 50 million for salaries through the
account controlled by the PA presidency, presumably referring
again to the Arab League mechanism.
2. (U) Meanwhile, Qatari press hailed the pledge as having
"broken the embargo imposed on the Palestinians." One paper
close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized it as
a challenge to other nations to meet their obligations toward
the Palestinians. The issue garnered additional coverage
because of the Secretary's meeting December 7 with Qatari
Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani (HBJ); Al Jazeera
picked up the Department spokesman's remark that funneling
the contribution to the Hamas-led government would "cross a
line." After the HBJ's meeting with the Secretary, only one
local Arabic paper kept the issue on the editorial agenda,
saying that "It is strange that Washington refuses this
Qatari initiative. This is a position lacking in both
courtesy and common sense."
UNTERMEYER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL EFIN EAID PTER GZ IS QA
SUBJECT: QATARIS WILL USE ARAB LEAGUE OR TEMPORARY
INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM FOR PALESTINIAN AID
REF: DOHA 1712
1. (SBU) P/E Chief spoke to Assistant Minister for Foreign
Affairs Mohamed al-Rumaihy December 7 regarding the mechanism
for transfering funds promised by the Qatari government to
the Palestinian Authority (reftel). Rumaihy said that Qatar
will "certainly" use the Arab League bank account or the
Temporary International Mechanism, which he described as the
"European mechanism." The MFA's Arab Affairs department did
not have further details. Its director reviewed Qatar's
previous countributions to the Palestinian Authority: USD 50
million through the Arab League in March 2006, and in
September a second USD 50 million for salaries through the
account controlled by the PA presidency, presumably referring
again to the Arab League mechanism.
2. (U) Meanwhile, Qatari press hailed the pledge as having
"broken the embargo imposed on the Palestinians." One paper
close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized it as
a challenge to other nations to meet their obligations toward
the Palestinians. The issue garnered additional coverage
because of the Secretary's meeting December 7 with Qatari
Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani (HBJ); Al Jazeera
picked up the Department spokesman's remark that funneling
the contribution to the Hamas-led government would "cross a
line." After the HBJ's meeting with the Secretary, only one
local Arabic paper kept the issue on the editorial agenda,
saying that "It is strange that Washington refuses this
Qatari initiative. This is a position lacking in both
courtesy and common sense."
UNTERMEYER