ENTHUSIASTIC SHOURA COUNCIL ASKS SENATOR NELSON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 009173 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY PARA 11 ADDED SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA DAS SCARPENTER, NEA/ARP FOR SWALKER/BSHUKAN, DRL FOR EBARKS-RUGGLES, AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM KISL IZ SA SUBJECT: ENTHUSIASTIC SHOURA COUNCIL ASKS SENATOR NELSON FOR GREATER CONGRESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAUDIS REF: RIYADH 8524 RIYADH 00009173 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Enthusiastic Majlis Al Shoura members acknowledged the positive U.S. - Saudi bilateral relationship but asked Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) during a meeting on December 17 for increased engagement by members of Congress with the Council. Meeting participants agreed that any enhanced Saudi engagement with Iraq needs to be with all sects -- not just the Sunnis. Most Council members expressed concern about a nuclear-armed Iran, although there was some debate as to whether ISRAEL or Iran is the root of the current problems in the Middle East. There was general consensus that regional problems must be addressed collectively and that constructive dialogue is a necessity. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) met on December 17 with Majlis Al Shoura members Bandar Al Aiban, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Abdulrahman Al Zamil, Chair of the Saudi-American Friendship Committee, Usamah Al Kurdi, Abdulrahman Al Saif, Abdelaziz Al Orayer, and Mohammed Al Hulwah. This enthusiastic group warmly welcomed Senator Nelson, who explained he was in Saudi Arabia at the request of CIA head General Hayden to seek Saudi assistance in efforts to stabilize Iraq. ¶3. (C) Al Zamil opened the discussion by requesting greater engagement on the part of congressional committees with Council committees. He emphasized that, although the Council is appointed by the King, it represents the Saudi people. He said the ruling family is "legitimate," but that the real work -- program development -- is done by the "elites." Al Aiban said that the weakest link in the U.S.- Saudi relationship is the congressional link. He hoped that there would be more exchanges in both directions in the future. Al Kurdi noted that there is much room for improvement in U.S.- Saudi relations, saying more exposure between the Council and the U.S. Congress is needed. He said the U.S. needs to do a better job of connecting these two representative bodies. He emphasized the importance of members of Congress publicly acknowledging that the relations between the two countries are "excellent" and "important," adding, "there is no alternative to collective dialogue, especially on regional issues." ¶4. (C) Al Orayer, who is from the Eastern Province, expressed hope that the U.S. would correct the "mistakes" it had made in Iraq and praised Senator Nelson's recent meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al Asad as a "breakthrough." Al Zamil added that based on his interactions with the Syrian business elite, it is clear to him they want ties with the U.S. Many, he said, were educated in the U.S., and want good relations with the Americans. ¶5. (C) Al Kurdi continued that Iraq must not be addressed in the context of the Sunni-Shi'a dynamic, but rather as a unified entity. Addressing Iraq in sectarian terms, he insisted, only exacerbates the problems there. Al Zamil said the SAG "clearly" told America that if the Kingdom supported Iraq's Sunnis, it would be accused of terrorism. He emphasized the strong tribal connections that extend across the region's borders, and suggested engagement by both Syria and Saudi Arabia on Iraq would be helpful. ¶6. (C) Al Kurdi agreed, stating there is no alternative to dialogue with Syria and Iran. Senator Nelson noted the criticism aroused by his visit to Syria and conveyed that President Al Asad had told him he wants to cooperate on border issues with Iraq. The senator indicated that many in the SAG appear to be reluctant to engage with Syria because they see it as a "vassal of Iran." He repeated his statement to Al Asad that a nuclear-armed Iran will be a threat to all Arabs. Al Aiban stated that he is "absolutely alarmed" at the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. "God forbid if there was an accident," he said, "it would make this hell." RIYADH 00009173 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Al Zamil disagreed, saying most Arabs do not see Iran as a threat. Most, he claimed, see a nuclear-armed ISRAEL as the problem. He stated that Iran does not need nuclear weapons to be a threat to the Kingdom due to its geographic proximity. The issue, he said, is ISRAEL versus Arabs and Muslims, not Iran and Syria. He identified former President Carter as a "good man," describing Carter's new book, "Palestine: Peace, not Apartheid," as truthful and fair. Al Aiban agreed that the Israel/Palestine issue is at the root of the Middle East's problems, saying that it is due to the region's negligence that HAMAS had become what it is today. ¶8. (C) Al Kurdi insisted that regional issues must be addressed collectively, saying it is unacceptable to "pick and choose what country can or cannot do something." He used as an example of positive collective engagement the recent Gulf Cooperation Council announcement that it will undertake a nuclear program for peaceful purposes. He pointed to the Makkah Conference on Reconciliation in Iraq (reftel) as another example of what can be accomplished when regional players work together. ¶9. (C) Al Kurdi told Senator Nelson that it is becoming increasingly difficult to be a friend of the U.S. In part, he said, this is due to the unpopularity of President Bush. It is also, he claimed, because Americans took a combative approach to the events of 9/11 and went "running with guns blazing." Al Hulwah suggested that the Democrats' approach to Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine is that of "no approach." Senator Nelson countered that there is broad, bipartisan consensus regarding both Palestine and Lebanon. However, he said, there are differences of opinion regarding how to best deal with Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Americans want stability in Iraq, he stated, but have "no appetite for further American casualties." ¶10. (C) Al Aiban recounted how he bumped into late Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) shortly after 9/11, who told him (Al Aiban) to "do whatever it takes" to keep the U.S. out of Iraq. "We all agree on the importance of stability in Iraq," said Al Aiban, "but our 'friends' have given Iraq to Iran on a golden platter." Al Aiban echoed the sentiments of his Council colleagues that it is necessary to focus on all of Iraq's sects. To do otherwise, he stated, would be a "moral injustice." He continued that the Iraqi constitution is not reflective of the will of the people because it was drafted by "the few behind closed doors." He also insisted that federalism would not work in Iraq because "it is not America" and all Iraq's people must be assured that they have a stake in the country. ¶11. (U) CODEL NELSON HAS NOT REVIEWED THIS MESSAGE. GFOELLER