SAUDI ARABIA MAY SOON ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000683 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS RIYADH PASS TO DHAHRAN STATE FOR EAP/CM AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID MG SA ZR SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA MAY SOON ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH MONGOLIA SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Chief Ambassador Dambiniam told DCM September 8 that his office received a surprise query from the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Beijing regarding the presentation of credentials of its Beijing-based Ambassador. It was a surprise because the two nations had yet to establish diplomatic relations, Dambiniam said, though he welcomed this prospect. He noted that Mongolia has for many years sought to establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, but had not been successful. Dambiniam, who was assigned to Mongolia's Embassy in Cairo which covers most of North Africa and the Gulf states, said the two nations had generally favorable relations but had not taken the final step to formalize them. For example, there were regular visits by members of the Saudi royal family, largely to purchase falcons and for falcon hunting, and ministers from the two nations exchanged annual visits. He thought the two nations might now engage in discussions, and he predicted relations might be established by year's end. (COMMENT: The GOM has periodically sought USG support with Riyadh for this purpose.) GOLDBECK