Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH366
2006-05-17 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
OIC AMBASSADOR SURPRISED AT INTEREST IN ANNUAL
how-toVZCZCXRO8042 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHMOS RUEHPW DE RUEHJI #0366 1371353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171353Z MAY 06 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9159 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1375 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1453 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6493 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000366
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR
TSOU; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; NSC FOR FARAH PANDITH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: ECON KISL KPAL PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: OIC AMBASSADOR SURPRISED AT INTEREST IN ANNUAL
ISLAMIC BOYCOTT MEETING
REF: JEDDAH 000236
Classified By: Tatiana C. Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000366
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR
TSOU; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; NSC FOR FARAH PANDITH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: ECON KISL KPAL PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: OIC AMBASSADOR SURPRISED AT INTEREST IN ANNUAL
ISLAMIC BOYCOTT MEETING
REF: JEDDAH 000236
Classified By: Tatiana C. Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In a May 14 telephone conversation with Conoff,
Ambassador Salem Al Honi, High Commissioner of the Islamic
Boycott Office at the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC),emphasized the routine nature of the Office's March
2006 meeting of OIC representatives and expressed his
surprise at the USG's sudden interest in the 22nd annual
session. According to Honi, representatives from all of the
OIC member countries attended the March meeting, though he
was later reluctant to confirm specifically that a Saudi
delegate was present. (NOTE: In a separate conversation with
Riyadh PolCouns the same day, SAG Deputy Minister of Commerce
for Technical Affairs Fawaz al Alamy stated clearly that a
Saudi representative had not attended.)
2. (C) Unwilling to provide many details, Honi said that the
Boycott Office was established in 1984 with the aim of
implementing a boycott under the "same rules" as that of the
one practiced by the Arab League, with which there is "some
liaison." Honi said that the resolution creating the Office
was adopted at a meeting of the member states'
representatives to the OIC, without the direct involvement of
the countries' foreign ministers. He acknowledged that
participation in the boycott is voluntary and that several of
the member states have relations with Israel. Honi seemed
resigned to this fact and said there was no formal mechanism
to exert pressure on individual states to comply with the
boycott. With regard to the Office's activities beyond
organizing the annual meeting, Honi said vaguely that it
played a coordinating role "like any other agency."
3. (C) COMMENT: Honi and other OIC representatives'
continuing surprise at sudden USG interest in the March
meeting of the Boycott Office (see reftel) may be an
indication of the body's traditionally ineffectual role. END
COMMENT
Gfoeller
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR
TSOU; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; NSC FOR FARAH PANDITH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: ECON KISL KPAL PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: OIC AMBASSADOR SURPRISED AT INTEREST IN ANNUAL
ISLAMIC BOYCOTT MEETING
REF: JEDDAH 000236
Classified By: Tatiana C. Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In a May 14 telephone conversation with Conoff,
Ambassador Salem Al Honi, High Commissioner of the Islamic
Boycott Office at the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC),emphasized the routine nature of the Office's March
2006 meeting of OIC representatives and expressed his
surprise at the USG's sudden interest in the 22nd annual
session. According to Honi, representatives from all of the
OIC member countries attended the March meeting, though he
was later reluctant to confirm specifically that a Saudi
delegate was present. (NOTE: In a separate conversation with
Riyadh PolCouns the same day, SAG Deputy Minister of Commerce
for Technical Affairs Fawaz al Alamy stated clearly that a
Saudi representative had not attended.)
2. (C) Unwilling to provide many details, Honi said that the
Boycott Office was established in 1984 with the aim of
implementing a boycott under the "same rules" as that of the
one practiced by the Arab League, with which there is "some
liaison." Honi said that the resolution creating the Office
was adopted at a meeting of the member states'
representatives to the OIC, without the direct involvement of
the countries' foreign ministers. He acknowledged that
participation in the boycott is voluntary and that several of
the member states have relations with Israel. Honi seemed
resigned to this fact and said there was no formal mechanism
to exert pressure on individual states to comply with the
boycott. With regard to the Office's activities beyond
organizing the annual meeting, Honi said vaguely that it
played a coordinating role "like any other agency."
3. (C) COMMENT: Honi and other OIC representatives'
continuing surprise at sudden USG interest in the March
meeting of the Boycott Office (see reftel) may be an
indication of the body's traditionally ineffectual role. END
COMMENT
Gfoeller