Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DOHA1040
2007-11-04 13:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

SENIOR MFA OFFICIAL OUTLINES QATAR'S FOREIGN POLICY

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM QA 
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VZCZCXRO7380
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #1040/01 3081342
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041342Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7200
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 001040 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM QA
SUBJECT: SENIOR MFA OFFICIAL OUTLINES QATAR'S FOREIGN POLICY

REF: IIR 6 957 0005 08

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 001040

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM QA
SUBJECT: SENIOR MFA OFFICIAL OUTLINES QATAR'S FOREIGN POLICY

REF: IIR 6 957 0005 08

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


1. (C//NF) Summary: MFA Assistant Minister for Follow-up
Affairs Mohamed Al-Rumaihi in an October 23 presentation to a
group of recently promoted senior U.S. military officers
(CAPSTONE) gave a noteworthy overview of Qatar's foreign
policy and made some significant remarks about domestic
policy. Al-Rumaihi stated that the United States was and is
Qatar's first ally, but that Qatar has a dynamic foreign
policy that includes a dialogue with all nations and is
geared toward promoting stability in the region. The U.S.,
he said, must maintain a presence in the Arabian
Peninsula/Gulf region and remain engaged with the Gulf
nations to ensure economic development and stability. End
Summary.

OVERALL FOREIGN POLICY OF QATAR
--------------


2. (C//NF) According to Al-Rumaihi, Qatar adopted a new
orientation toward reform in 1996 when the current Amir,
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, came to power. This orientation
encompasses three pillars: education, new development, and
industry. These three pillars must be present and promoted
in Qatar and throughout the region and world in order for
prosperity to advance, stated Al-Rumaihi. It is on this
premise that Qatar has adopted these pillars as the
underpinnings of its foreign policy. In its foreign policy,
explained Al-Rumaihi, Qatar aims to project itself outside of
its borders not only to provide energy, which is a necessity
for its development, but also to promote Persian Gulf and
overall regional stability and new development. This foreign
policy, he continued, is coordinated at a "high and dynamic
level" because that is the only way to ensure its
effectiveness.


3. (C/NF) Elaborating on this point, Al-Rumaihi stressed
that "high and dynamic" meant that Qatar is not afraid to
assert itself on the world political stage and engage in
dialogue with all nations and organizations, including some
nations or organizations that the U.S. may have chosen to
isolate. This is because the foreign policy of Qatar is

geared toward the concept that a relationship with all allies
and neighbors fosters cooperation and promotes stability.
Qatar, according to Al-Rumaihi, believes that the countries
of the Gulf have been weakened and are more susceptible to
instability due to conflicts in the region. When asked what
is the number one threat to Qatar, Al-Rumaihi responded
"anything that will prevent progress or threaten the
transportation of energy, and anyone who will try to impose
an ideology."

U.S.-QATAR RELATIONSHIP
--------------


4. (C//NF) Al-Rumaihi remarked that the United States was and
is Qatar's first ally. Qatar cannot create regional
stability, he said, without a major ally. Al-Rumaihi added
that Qatar understands that the U.S. is its strongest ally,
but there are other regional powers that can have influence,
such as Turkey, India and Pakistan. These regional powers,
however, can only backup U.S. power, underscored Al-Rumaihi,
who said a superpower is important. When asked if in 20-30
years the U.S. military would still be welcome in Qatar,
Al-Rumaihi replied: "To ensure economic development and
stability, the U.S. must continue to be present."

IRAN, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, AND ISRAEL
--------------


5. (C//NF) Al-Rumaihi remarked that, "Iran has the right to
enrich uranium. The challenge is how does that threaten the
region." He stated that Iran is too active outside its
borders instead of internally. (Comment: We believe
Al-Rumaihi meant that Iran needs to take care of its internal
challenges instead of meddling in foreign affairs. End
Comment.) He said that Iran represents a threat to regional
stability and that Iran takes advantage of opportunities to
destabilize the region. He added that "Iran will not go too
far." On the Israeli/Palestinian situation, Al-Rumaihi said
the issue must be resolved. "Let Palestine have its rights
as a country and let Israel have security."

ASIA, RUSSIA, CHINA, AND AFRICA
--------------


6. (C//NF) As part of his overall remarks, Al-Rumaihi offered
that China is not participating in Asian security. (Comment:
We take this to mean that China is not interested in the

DOHA 00001040 002 OF 002


security of other Asian countries, only its own. End
Comment.) Al-Rumaihi remarked that Russia is only vying for
power and trying to achieve control in the region for Russian
energy companies and is not interested in fostering regional
development. Qatar would like to strike a balance between
the U.S./Europe on one hand and China/Russia on the other.
Qatar would also like the U.S. and Europe to take advantage
of opportunities for development in Asia and Africa, said
Al-Rumaihi, who noted that promoting African development is
critical to promoting African stability.

QATAR'S DOMESTIC POLICIES
--------------


7. (C//NF) Asked what will sustain the Qatari economy after
hydrocarbons, Al-Rumaihi remarked that Qatar has seen the
Kuwaiti model and has adopted a policy of foreign investment.
He stated that 33 percent of government revenues go toward
foreign investment, another 33 percent toward investment in
domestic oil/gas by-products industries, and seven percent to
other development. (Note: Al-Rumaihi did not comment on the
remaining 27 percent. End Note.) He also commented that
women are an important component of domestic policy.
Al-Rumaihi spontaneously elaborated on the role of women,
informing the assembled Americans that one-sixth of the MFA
work force is female. He said that Qatar wants to strengthen
the role of women. Asked how Qatar views the predominantly
foreign work force Al-Rumaihi said, "They (the foreign
workers) live with us; there will be change; it is rich to
know others."


8. (C/NF) Comment: Our DATT observed that Al-Rumaihi seemed
excited at the opportunity to address an audience of senior
U.S. military leaders and took advantage of the opportunity
to promote and advocate Qatar's foreign policy, as well as to
emphasize the importance of the relationship between Qatar
and the United States. It has been quite some time since a
senior Qatari official spoke at length to an American
audience on the broad themes of Qatar's foreign and domestic
policies. For that reason, we are essentially repeating
reftel here for the benefit of a wider State audience.

RATNEY