Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH4724
2006-06-13 09:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
A LOVE FEST: THE "KING OF HEARTS" VISITS THE EP
how-toVZCZCXRO6795 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHRH #4724 1640935 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130935Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8561 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2653 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0591
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 004724
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV SA
SUBJECT: A LOVE FEST: THE "KING OF HEARTS" VISITS THE EP
Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reason 1.4
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 004724
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV SA
SUBJECT: A LOVE FEST: THE "KING OF HEARTS" VISITS THE EP
Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reason 1.4
(d).
1. (U) King Abdullah visited the Eastern Province (EP) June
10-12, provoking great public displays of adoration and
allegiance and some private questioning about his commitment
to reform. The King's agenda included a ceremonial opening
of planned industrial city Jubail-II, launching of numerous
petrochemical and other ventures, two receptions in the Qatif
area (one organized by the Sunni Banu Khalid tribe, which
dominates the Sunni enclave of Ank just outside the Qatif
oasis, the other organized by Qatifi Shi'a),a trip to
Al-Ahsa, and the weekly Council of Ministers meeting.
Government spokesmen and the press billed the King's visit to
the EP as the first stop in his first regional inspection
tour as King.
2. (U) The province's notables, led by EP Emir Prince
Mohammed bin Fahd (MbF),organized impressive displays of
adoration and allegiance to the King. ConOffs estimate that
the Emirate arranged for at least 50 large welcoming
billboards within a two-mile radius of the King Abdulaziz Air
Base in Dhahran, where the King's plane landed. Similar
signage covered the highway to Jubail. The local daily
newspaper, Al-Youm, carried extensive and adoring coverage of
the visit and even more extensive welcoming advertisements
sponsored by the region's top companies. "Welcome, King of
Hearts" read the advertisement from Ma'an Al-Sanea's Saad
Group, which covered the bottom half of Al-Youm's front page
for several days running.
3. (C) The visit also offered various EP actors
opportunities to promote their own agendas, albeit
discreetly. The Shi'a appeared to have two main messages for
the King: that the area needs more development projects,
especially in education; and that the Shi'a are loyal. "It
was a great opportunity to greet the King and tell him how
loyal we are to this country," noted Dr. Mohammed
Al-Khunaizi, who attended the reception in Qatif. On the
business side, SipChem, a rapidly expanding, privately held
petrochemical company whose largest shareholder is the
Al-Zamil group and which recently was granted a coveted
additional allocation of gas feedstock, received a public
vote of confidence in King Abdullah's "launching" of its
butanediol plant in Jubail. Ma'an Al-Sanea, one of the
wealthiest EP magnates and a rumored front-man for MbF's
business interests, also received press coverage for his role
in arranging (and likely funding) the initial welcoming
festivities for King Abdullah in Dammam on June 10.
4. (C) Comment: Most Saudi EP residents genuinely like and
feel allegiance to the King. His visit to the EP astutely
touched the province's major bases: economic development, as
symbolized by the booming petrochemical industry in Jubail;
the Shi'a community; the major population centers - Greater
Dammam, Qatif, and Al-Ahsa; and the tribes. (Note: While
Saudi Aramco was not included on the King's agenda this
visit, he opened an Aramco project in December 2004 on his
most recent visit to the EP, when he was Crown Prince. End
note.) While the King's visit to Qatif will surely cement
his reputation among Shi'a as the most sympathetic of the
senior Al Saud, our Shi'a contacts make a clear distinction
between their affection for the King and their evaluation of
SAG performance. "I am optimistic, yes, and I know the King
has good intentions, but changes are coming too slowly," one
prominent Shi'a businessman told the CG several weeks ago.
Asked on the evening of the King's visit to Qatif whether he
thought King Abdullah was a true believer in reform, a Shi'a
cleric replied, after a moment's hesitation, "Even if he is
convinced, there are still so many other people in the
government, down to the officials in our communities, who
must also be convinced. I don't see that happening." End
comment.
(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
OBERWETTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV SA
SUBJECT: A LOVE FEST: THE "KING OF HEARTS" VISITS THE EP
Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reason 1.4
(d).
1. (U) King Abdullah visited the Eastern Province (EP) June
10-12, provoking great public displays of adoration and
allegiance and some private questioning about his commitment
to reform. The King's agenda included a ceremonial opening
of planned industrial city Jubail-II, launching of numerous
petrochemical and other ventures, two receptions in the Qatif
area (one organized by the Sunni Banu Khalid tribe, which
dominates the Sunni enclave of Ank just outside the Qatif
oasis, the other organized by Qatifi Shi'a),a trip to
Al-Ahsa, and the weekly Council of Ministers meeting.
Government spokesmen and the press billed the King's visit to
the EP as the first stop in his first regional inspection
tour as King.
2. (U) The province's notables, led by EP Emir Prince
Mohammed bin Fahd (MbF),organized impressive displays of
adoration and allegiance to the King. ConOffs estimate that
the Emirate arranged for at least 50 large welcoming
billboards within a two-mile radius of the King Abdulaziz Air
Base in Dhahran, where the King's plane landed. Similar
signage covered the highway to Jubail. The local daily
newspaper, Al-Youm, carried extensive and adoring coverage of
the visit and even more extensive welcoming advertisements
sponsored by the region's top companies. "Welcome, King of
Hearts" read the advertisement from Ma'an Al-Sanea's Saad
Group, which covered the bottom half of Al-Youm's front page
for several days running.
3. (C) The visit also offered various EP actors
opportunities to promote their own agendas, albeit
discreetly. The Shi'a appeared to have two main messages for
the King: that the area needs more development projects,
especially in education; and that the Shi'a are loyal. "It
was a great opportunity to greet the King and tell him how
loyal we are to this country," noted Dr. Mohammed
Al-Khunaizi, who attended the reception in Qatif. On the
business side, SipChem, a rapidly expanding, privately held
petrochemical company whose largest shareholder is the
Al-Zamil group and which recently was granted a coveted
additional allocation of gas feedstock, received a public
vote of confidence in King Abdullah's "launching" of its
butanediol plant in Jubail. Ma'an Al-Sanea, one of the
wealthiest EP magnates and a rumored front-man for MbF's
business interests, also received press coverage for his role
in arranging (and likely funding) the initial welcoming
festivities for King Abdullah in Dammam on June 10.
4. (C) Comment: Most Saudi EP residents genuinely like and
feel allegiance to the King. His visit to the EP astutely
touched the province's major bases: economic development, as
symbolized by the booming petrochemical industry in Jubail;
the Shi'a community; the major population centers - Greater
Dammam, Qatif, and Al-Ahsa; and the tribes. (Note: While
Saudi Aramco was not included on the King's agenda this
visit, he opened an Aramco project in December 2004 on his
most recent visit to the EP, when he was Crown Prince. End
note.) While the King's visit to Qatif will surely cement
his reputation among Shi'a as the most sympathetic of the
senior Al Saud, our Shi'a contacts make a clear distinction
between their affection for the King and their evaluation of
SAG performance. "I am optimistic, yes, and I know the King
has good intentions, but changes are coming too slowly," one
prominent Shi'a businessman told the CG several weeks ago.
Asked on the evening of the King's visit to Qatif whether he
thought King Abdullah was a true believer in reform, a Shi'a
cleric replied, after a moment's hesitation, "Even if he is
convinced, there are still so many other people in the
government, down to the officials in our communities, who
must also be convinced. I don't see that happening." End
comment.
(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
OBERWETTER