DEMARCHE ON QATAR'S HOLD ON UNSCR 1267 TERRORIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 001054

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP FOR ABAGWELL AND SRAMESH
IO/PSC FOR ECROWE
EEB/ESC/TFS FOR JJALLORINA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PTER ETTC KTFN UNSC QA IZ
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON QATAR'S HOLD ON UNSCR 1267 TERRORIST
LISTING REQUEST

REF: A. STATE 152242

B. STATE 138972

Classified By: Political/Economic Chief Steven C. Rice,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Econoff and British Political Secretary James Lynch
delivered Ref A demarche November 8 to Adel Al-Khal, Director
of International Organizations, Conferences and Treaties at
the MFA. Al-Khal explained that at the time of the UN 1267
Committee meeting, the Qatari mission at the United Nations
had not received guidance from Doha. Because Fawzi Mutlaq
Al-Rawi is a "political figure" (the leader of the Iraqi Wing
of the Syrian Ba'th Party),the Qatari representative in New
York put a hold on the designation out of caution. Al-Khal
said that the GOQ was conducting a one-month review on the
designation and asked for any information we could provide on
Al-Rawi. Econoff noted that a background paragraph providing
detailed information on Al-Rawi's material and financial
support for Al-Qaeda in Iraq had been provided to the MFA via
diplomatic note from the Embassy, and presumably the Qatari
mission in New York had received the same information from
USUN. (Note: Immediately after the meeting, Post sent to
Al-Khal another copy of the diplomatic note with the points
and background paper on Al-Rawi from Ref B).


2. (C) Econoff asked Al-Khal for a timeframe on the GOQ
review, and he replied that it would take no longer than one
month from the date of the meeting at the UN. Econoff
confirmed this meant it would be completed by November 24.
Econoff also pressed Al-Khal on the "political" aspect of the
proposed designee, noting that while Al-Rawi has a political
title, he is involved in serious terrorist activity in
support of Al-Qaeda. Al-Khal claimed the political aspect
would not affect the GOQ review and concluded by stating:
"Let me be clear: we will support action against anyone
involved in terrorism, even if he is the president of a
country."


3. (C) COMMENT: Al-Khal came across as sincere and
interested in a straightforward evaluation of the
designation. However, he does not have the final word on
such designations, and it is possible that the GOQ will
decide not to anger the Syrians by assenting to the
designation of a Syrian official.
RATNEY