WEBSITE REPORTS MEETING OF THIRD GENERATION ROYALS

S E C R E T RIYADH 006818 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SA SUBJECT: WEBSITE REPORTS MEETING OF THIRD GENERATION ROYALS REF: A. A) 05 RIYADH 1293 ¶B. B) 05 RIYADH 406 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) A moderate Saudi-based and owned website reported on August 15 that Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz held a meeting with key princes of the royal family's third generation in his Riyadh palace earlier this month. Notable attendees were his son Prince al-Waleed, one of the wealthiest businessmen in the Kingdom, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, Assistant Minister of Defense, Prince Muhammed bin Naif, Assistant Minister of Interior, Prince Mansur bin Mit'ib, who organized the 2005 municipal council partial elections, Prince Sultan bin Salman, Chairman of the Tourism Authority, and several other grandsons of King Abdul Aziz. This meeting was reported as the first of its kind, since all previous family meetings were reportedly held under the authority of the Saudi Family Council, of which Prince Talal is a member. ¶2. (C) Prince Talal reportedly said that the goal of the meeting was to promote "love and unity" among the third generation of the Al Saud, and that it was successful. Prince Talal has been vocal in the past about encouraging the future leaders of Saudi Arabia to take greater responsibility and has pushed for the principle that any qualified son or grandson of King Abdul Aziz should be considered potentially eligible for the throne, in accordance with the Basic Law of the Kingdom. ¶3. (C) NOTE: Some analysts have speculated that Prince Talal's interest in the third generation of Al Saud princes is merely a way to promote his own son's career. Prince al-Waleed, son of Prince Talal, is considered by many Saudis to be inferior to other members of the royal family because his mother was non-tribal and of Lebanese descent. Additionally, it is rumored that the Saudi elite does not favor Prince al-Waleed because they find his "arrogance," as exemplified by his business dealings as owner of Kingdom Holdings, incompatible with the diplomatic skills needed to rule the Kingdom. END NOTE. ¶3. (S) COMMENT: For the past few years, Prince Talal has been advocating for a mechanism whereby the top young talent of the Al Saud family can be groomed for senior ruling positions in the future (Ref A, B). In his efforts, Prince Talal has periodically held meetings with the third generation to discuss potential options. The fact that Prince Talal, a perceived patriarch and well-respected, high-ranking member of the Al Saud family, is dealing with these issues shows that the Al Saud family are thinking about the succession issue in a long-term manner, and not merely in a 10-15 year time frame. Such long-term thinking is one reason for the dynasty's staying power and longevity. END COMMENT. OBERWETTER