Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH5516
2006-07-11 12:54:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

RIYADH RECORD: JUNE 30-JULY 7 2006

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0018
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #5516/01 1921254
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 111254Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9524
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 7455
S E C R E T RIYADH 005516 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SA
SUBJECT: RIYADH RECORD: JUNE 30-JULY 7 2006

REF: A. A) RIYADH 5167

B. B) RIYADH 5450

C. C) BEIRUT 2323.

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

S E C R E T RIYADH 005516

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SA
SUBJECT: RIYADH RECORD: JUNE 30-JULY 7 2006

REF: A. A) RIYADH 5167

B. B) RIYADH 5450

C. C) BEIRUT 2323.

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (S) SUMMARY: Majlis al-Shoura rejects an appeal to revote
on the religious police funding proposal, while at the same
time rejecting a proposal for them to wear
publicly-identifiable uniforms. Six women were added as
part-time consultants on women's issues to the Shoura
Council, bringing the total of women consultants to nine.
The Director General for the Commission of Promotion of
Virtue and Prevention of Vice had his service extended for
four years. Youth summer programs will include courses on
dialogue and tolerance for the first time. Prominent female
artist holds art exhibition in Riyadh. Egyptian President
Husni Mubarak met with King Abdullah in Jeddah. Crown Prince
Sultan will be visiting France next week to discuss military
sales. END SUMMARY.

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DEMOCRATIC REFORM:
--------------


2. (S) Majlis al-Shoura Continues Rolling Out Advisory
Opinions: Immediately following the Shoura Council's
rejection of additional funding for the religious police
(a.k.a. 'Mutaawa'),they rejected a proposal requiring the
Mutaawa from wearing uniforms to clearly identify themselves
to the public. This advisory opinion, won only by a slight
majority, shows the wavering stance that the Council takes on
the Mutaawa. Its dismissal of repeated claims of abuse and
impersonation, and therefore the need for uniforms, is
seemingly contrary to the Council's previous declaration of
the need for greater accountability (Ref A). Additionally,
the Mutaawa lost an appeal to revote on the earlier rejected
proposals for additional funding proposed by the Shoura
Council's subcommittee for Islamic Judicial and Human Rights
Affairs. The Shoura Council endorsed a law to name the
violators of the Kingdom's residency laws, both citizens and
non-citizens alike, in the local newspapers, in an effort to
curb the problem of overstayers. This action was approved by
an overwhelming majority and shows their support for items of

general popular concern. They also publicly condemned
Israel's actions in Gaza Strip and West Bank, calling on
regional and international Parliaments to confront the
"injustice inflicted upon the unarmed Palestinian people."


3. (SBU) Women Consultants Join the Majlis al-Shoura: The
Shoura Council selected six women to join the three current
part-time consultants as advisors, mostly on women's issues.
Although there was no proclamation made on the inclusion of
women as full time members of the Council, this was the first
addition of women consultants in over a year and demonstrates
their increased understanding of the importance of including
women in politics.

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COMMISSION OF PROMOTION OF VIRTUE AND PREVENTION OF VICE:
-------------- --------------


4. (C) The service of the Director General of the Commission
of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (a.k.a.
'Mutaawa'),Sheikh Ibrahim bin Abdullah al-Ghaith, has been
extended by royal decree for four more years at the rank of
Minister. This extension comes as a surprise, since a
majority of the complaints received by the National Human
Rights Commission are precipitated by Mutaawa actions.
Pushback to King Abdullah's reforms tend to originate from
the Mutaawa members and their followers.

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YOUTH AND CULTURE:
--------------


5. (C) Youth Summer Camps to Promote Dialogue: Annually the
Ministry of Education hosts summer programs for thousands of
Saudi youth; although these programs typically involve
sporting activities and religious courses, there has been
reporting in the past suggesting that they are breeding
grounds for extremism. These claims were raised in the
previous National Dialogue Center Forum, and as a result, the
Ministry is offering, for the first time in these summer
programs, two-day courses on dialogue and tolerance with
"each other and outsiders, including other Arabs, non-Arab
Muslims, non-Muslims and Westerners." In preparation for
these new courses, 250 counselors were trained on this issue.
Although this move is a positive response to the National
Dialogue, there are other reports that there will be a
koranic studies summer camp, called "Al-Aqsa", which will
bring more than twenty Israeli Arab children from another
summer camp in Jerusalem to Mecca and Medina for a
fifteen-day course on the Koran and Islam. This camp
specifically is reported to be used by more fundamentalist
sheikhs to teach about the importance of strengthening ties
between Israeli Arabs and the rest of the Arab world.


6. (U) Female Saudi Artist Holds Art Exhibition in Riyadh:
Dr. Nada Abdul Rahim Farhat held a three-day art exhibition
in Riyadh, focusing on the Kingdom's desert life. Raised in
New Mexico, but living in Saudi Arabia since 1994, Dr. Nada
states that she uses her art to convey "a message of peace to
the world, while calling on the West to change their
perception about the Arab world." As most art exhibitions
are held outside of the capital city, the Riyadh venue,
particularly for a female artist, was an unusual event.

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VIP VISITS TO THE KINGDOM:
--------------


7. (U) Egyptian President Husni Mubarak met with King
Abdullah in Jeddah on July 3. Their talks focused on the
recent developments in the Palestinian territories, with
particular attention paid to Israel's threats to Gaza, as
well as the security situation in Iraq. They noted that the
situation in the territories is "very serious" and that
coordinated efforts among Arab leaders are needed. Mubarak
was warmly received by the King, who held for Mubarak a
special luncheon party and personally accompanied him to the
airport.


8. (U) King Abdullah also met the Secretary General for the
Organization of Islamic Conference, Professor Akmaluddin
Ihsanuglu, on July 3, Yemeni Interior Minister, Dr. Rashad
al-Ulaimi, on July 2, and the Leader of Lebanon's Progressive
Socialist Party, Walid Junblatt, on July 4 (Ref C).

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UPCOMING SENIOR SAG VISIT TO FRANCE:
--------------


9. (S/NF) Crown Prince Sultan to Visit France: Crown Prince
Sultan, who is also the Minister of Defense and Aviation,
reportedly plans to visit France on July 20 to discuss
military sales. Embassy contacts allege that the French are
resorting to increasingly aggressive tactics to promote
defense sales to the SAG, including Airbus refueling tankers,
the Rafael fighter jet, helicopters, frigates and submarines.
Embassy contacts report that the SAG may soon conclude a
deal to purchase three Airbus A-330 refueling tankers, rather
than four Boeing 767 tankers (Ref B).
OBERWETTER