QATAR GIVES ORAL ASSURANCES THAT DIPLOMATIC POUCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 001020

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

MANAMA FOR DS/MRDCH
DEPT FOR DS/C/DC AND L/DL SUSAN BENDA;
CA FOR CA/VO JUNE KUNSMAN AND DONI PHILLIPS;
CA/OCS KIM RICHTER; AND CA/EX DEAN HAAS AND EMELY SIMONE
FRANKFURT FOR DS/FRDCD
CAIRO FOR RIMC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: ADCO ADPM PREL CVIS ASEC ACOA ATRN KRIM QA
SUBJECT: QATAR GIVES ORAL ASSURANCES THAT DIPLOMATIC POUCH
DELIVERIES MAY RESUME WITHOUT X-RAYING

REF: DOHA 1009

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael A. Ratney,
for reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C/NF) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed
Al-Mahmoud convoked Charge October 25 to discuss delivery of
U.S. diplomatic pouches (see reftel for background.)
Al-Mahmoud informed Charge that following the GOQ's review of
the bilateral discussions on this matter, the GOQ had taken
the decision to suspend x-raying of all U.S. diplomatic
pouches "due to the excellent bilateral relations" between
the two countries. During the suspension, Qatar would
review its screening procedures of diplomatic pouches in the
context of Qatar's interpretation of the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations.


2. (C/NF) Charge thanked Al-Mahmoud and asked if the MFA
would be sending a diplomatic note confirming this new
policy. Al-Mahmoud said that wouldn't be possible, but the
U.S. has his word that our pouches will not be x-rayed. When
pressed, Al-Mahmoud said the MFA could provide a non-paper
confirming the new arrangement. Al-Mahmoud said the MFA
would work out the modalities, but that essentially the
Embassy would return to the system employed before the
Qataris introduced the x-ray requirement in April/May 2007.


3. (C/NF) Noting that x-raying of diplomatic pouches
concerned other countries, especially the United Kingdom and
France, Charge asked Mahmoud how the Embassy should
characterize the resolution of the pouch dispute if asked by
our diplomatic colleagues. Mahmoud stressed the importance
of keeping the new understanding on permitting pouch
deliveries without x-raying inspection "between Qatar and the
U.S." He said speaking of it openly would "create problems"
that should be avoided, and he advised Charge to tell other
countries that the resolution of the dispute was a matter
between Qatar and the U.S. Al-Mahmoud observed that only
diplomatic pouches from the U.S. would be exempted from the
x-ray screening. He explained that x-raying of diplomatic
pouches began because Qatari authorities had discovered
abuses of the diplomatic pouch by some countries (other than
the United States).


4. (C/NF) Prior to May 2007, the Embassy routinely gave
blanket notification of diplomatic pouch shipments to the MFA
via diplomatic note covering an eight-week period.
Al-Mahmoud advised Charge to make no mention of inspection
procedures in the Embassy's diplomatic notes and reiterated
that MFA would follow up with the directly with Embassy on
the procedures to be followed.


5. (C/NF) Al-Mahmoud asked if the Embassy had yet posted on
its web site the draft announcement Charge had previously
provided to MFA. (The announcement would have informed the
public that the U.S. Embassy in Doha was no longer able to
issue visas due to a shortage of visa foils resulting from
Qatar's unwillingness to fulfill its Vienna Convention
obligations.) Charge responded that the announcement had not
yet been posted and told Al-Mahmoud that as a result of the
GOQ decision to suspend x-raying, the Embassy would not do
so. The Embassy would request routine permission for a
classified diplomatic pouch delivery in the coming days so
that pouches could be received and visa services need not be
curtailed. Charge closed by expressing appreciation again
for the GOQ's favorable resolution of this issue.


6. (C/NF) Comment: Our impending public announcement of visa
suspension - explicitly fingering Qatari policy as the reason
- appears to be what caused the GOQ to back down. The test
will be the contents of the promised non-paper and then the
first actual pouch shipment, which we will work to arrange
for the week of October 28. This is nevertheless an
imperfect solution: the GOQ policy thus far remains
unwritten, secret, and covers only the U.S. rather than all
Vienna Convention signatories. It is preferable, however, to
the situation that has prevailed for the past six months.




DOHA 00001020 002 OF 002



RATNEY