FOLLOW-UP ON DEMARCHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 008788

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (SHUKAN),INL, DRL (OZKAN, LURIE),PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KISL MOPS PINR PTER USUN
EPET, KTER, KCIP, SA, ECON, KDEM
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON DEMARCHES

REF: A. 2006 SECSTATE 178055

B. 2006 SECSTATE 180503

C. 2006 SECSTATE 182099

D. 2006 SECSTATE 182267

E. 2006 RIYADH 08313

Classified By: Political Counselor David Rundell for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On November 6, Deputy Political Counselor (DPC)
delivered reftels (A, B, C, D) demarches and talking points
to Saudi MFA, International Organization Affairs, UNGA
Issues, Mr. Talal Berri. The issues raised were: the UNGA
Third Committee (Iran, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Burma, and North
Korea resolutions; non-aligned movement (NAM) resolutions on
human rights and children in Lebanon); annual UN Cuba embargo
resolution; UN Human Rights Council; re-election of U.S.
candidate Matheson to the UN International Law Commission; UN
Counter-Terrorism Committee; women's empowerment factsheet;
Latin America and the Caribbean Group candidate Panama vice
both Venezuela and Guatemala for the UN Security Council;
removing intolerant language from Saudi textbooks; the
November 27 visit of the Human Rights Watch to the KSA; King
Abdullah's visit to Najran and the pardons he issued; the
mid-November visit of the Colorado state Attorney General to
the KSA to explain the Homaidan Al-Turki case; and SAG
licensing of NGOs.


2. (C) This demarche followed up on some of the demarches
delivered on October 9 (reftel E) to Minister Plenipotentiary
Hazem Karakotly, assistant to Director General for
International Organization Affairs. DPC followed-up on
Venezuela's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, UN
Human Rights Council issues, and general UNGA issues.


3. (C) Mr. Talal Berri, who has only been on the job for one
week, received the demarches and told DPC that he would
provide the information to his superiors as soon as possible.
Berri did not convey the SAG's official position on the
issues discussed. Post will follow up as appropriate.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) Mr. Berri's only comments were on the annual UN Cuba
embargo resolution, the Homaidan Al-Turki case, and the
factsheet on women's empowerment. He said that the SAG has
"no big differences" with the U.S. regarding the Cuba
embargo. Also, he said that the SAG will appoint lawyers to
assist in the appeal of the verdict against Mr. Al-Turki.
(NOTE: Post received other unconfirmed reports that the SAG
plans to hire U.S. lawyers through its embassy in Washington,
D.C. END NOTE.) Mr. Berri also indicated that he would like
any follow up information regarding upcoming meetings on
women's empowerment. END COMMENT.
OBERWETTER