Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DOHA11
2007-01-03 13:44:00
SECRET
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR UNDER SECRETARY FORE'S JANUARY

Tags:  PREL AMGT PGOV ASEC CMGT QA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7971
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #0011/01 0031344
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 031344Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5995
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 000011 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT FORE
M ALSO FOR DENNY OFFUTT
NEA/EX FOR NED ALFORD AND MICHALENE KACZMAREK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AMGT PGOV ASEC CMGT QA
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR UNDER SECRETARY FORE'S JANUARY
17-19 VISIT TO DOHA

Derived from: DSCG 05-1, B,D.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 000011

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT FORE
M ALSO FOR DENNY OFFUTT
NEA/EX FOR NED ALFORD AND MICHALENE KACZMAREK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AMGT PGOV ASEC CMGT QA
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR UNDER SECRETARY FORE'S JANUARY
17-19 VISIT TO DOHA

Derived from: DSCG 05-1, B,D.


1. (C) Embassy Doha is pleased to welcome you to Qatar. The
Government of Qatar remains a key ally of the U.S. in the war
on terror and supports a significant U.S. military presence
in the country. Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al
Thani, took power from his father in 1995 and embarked on a
program of political reform and economic development. Sheikha
Mozah bint Nasser al-Missnad, his consort, has made equally
important strides in leading social change. Qatar's relations
with Iran are outwardly cordial but like other Arab Gulf
states, Qatar is concerned about the activities of its large
neighbor across the waters and by the proximity of the site
for the nuclear power plant at Bushehr. Qatar's economy is
growing at a record pace thanks to both oil and gas
production. End Summary.

--------------
U.S.-QATARI MILITARY RELATIONS
--------------


2. (S) Bilateral military relations between the U.S. and
Qatar are excellent and the GOQ continues to demonstrate
unwavering support for U.S. military operations. Currently
Qatar hosts approximately 8,000 U.S. forces based at Camp
al-Sayliyah and al-Udeid Air Base. Some 100 U.S. and
Coalition fighter and support aircraft operate from al-Udeid
and represent the largest Air Expeditionary Wing in the
CENTCOM AOR. Qatar also hosts both the USCENTCOM Forward
Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center for
theater-wide command and control. Al-Udeid Air Base itself
continues to undergo a surge of both GOQ and U.S. funded
construction to support U.S. operational and logistical
requirements.

--------------
REGIONAL FOREIGN POLICIES
--------------


3. (C) Qatar has adopted an increasingly assertive foreign
policy. Its relationship with Saudi Arabia is strained as a
result of anti-Saud programming on Al-Jazeera and a history

of border issues, but primarily Qatar strives to emerge from
the Kingdom's "sphere of influence" in the Gulf. The result
is often policies that antagonize Riyadh. Qatar's effort to
mediate between Fatah and Hamas on a Palestinian unity
government, its continued relationship with Syrian president
Bashar al-Asad, Hamas leader (and PA Prime Minister) Ismail
Haniyah, and others, as well as Qatar's efforts to involve
itself in the August 2006 ceasefire between Israel and
Lebanon, has annoyed many regional governments - and often
the U.S.

--------------
IRAN
--------------


4. (C) Qatari regional diplomacy seeks to keep lines open to
all neighbors, of which Iran is the largest. Qatar has played
the Iran issue this way since the beginning of 2006, with the
Amir meeting the Iranian president in Tehran May 2. There
have been other senior-level bilateral visits. The policy
resulted in Qatar's 14 to 1 consensus-breaking UN Security
Council vote on Resolution 1696 in July. Qatar made amends
(of sorts) when it joined consensus on Resolution 1736 in
December. Nevertheless, Qatar is uncomfortable with having to
say or do anything publicly that might be seen as
antagonizing Iran. The two countries share the North Field
(South Pars to the Iranians),the largest non-associated gas
field in the world and the source of much of Qatar's future
prosperity.


5. (C) In private, Qatari officials are concerned about the
role of Iran in the region and about its nuclear weapons
ambitions and agree with our analysis of Iran's revolutionary
motivations and goals. They note Iran's active support for
subversive elements in Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, and eastern
Saudi Arabia, as well as Iraq. But Qatari officials believe
that Iran's nuclear program is nearly unstoppable. Qatar is
likely to continue trying to balance its U.S. military
cooperation - its ultimate strategic defense - with
diplomatic efforts that seek to avoid antagonizing Iran.

--------------
IRAQ
--------------


6. (S) Qatar has been a pillar of support for our efforts in

DOHA 00000011 002 OF 003


Iraq and Afghanistan. We continue to fly unimpeded combat
missions out of al-Udeid Air Base. The Amir shares our view
that restoration of order and a successful democratic
transition are of paramount importance not only to Iraq but
to the region. However, there is some feeling that Qatar's
efforts over the past three years are not fully appreciated
in Washington and this may drive Qatar's resistance to follow
through on some of our priorities for Iraq, including
comprehensive debt forgiveness. While the Foreign Minister
has expressed concerns about civil war in Iraq, he has stated
publicly that the coalition needs to stay in the country to
establish wider security. The GOQ also points to the
importance of establishing a power structure in Baghdad that
is fully inclusive of the Sunni bloc. The GOQ is not prepared
to open an embassy in Baghdad until the security situation
improves dramatically.

--------------
UN SECURITY COUNCIL
--------------


7. (C) The Qataris are halfway through their term on the UN
Security Council. They have not always behaved responsibly.
Under Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, Qatar has
staked out an independent path on Iran and Syria, which has
had troublesome consequences on the Council. Qatar sees
itself as holding the Arab/Muslim "seat," and it sometimes
gives interests of this region a priority over global
security issues. On Iran's nuclear program, we have described
how building and maintaining an international consensus is
vital. They have unfortunately also voted against our wishes
(and often against the broad international consensus) on
other issues, including Sudan and Burma.

--------------
Qatari Media and Al Jazeera
--------------


8. (U) The Qatari constitution, which came into force in
2005, states that "Freedom of expression and scientific
research is assured according to the conditions and
circumstances to be stipulated by the law." Also Article 48
stated, "Press freedom, printing and publishing is assured in
accordance with the law."


9. (U) Since the lifting of the Qatari censorship law in
October 1995 and the concurrent discontinuation of government
subsidies, there has been little direct censorship of the
media. Only sexually explicit materials or certain religious
tracts are censored on a regular basis. Self-censorship is
still the norm, however, and it is understood that criticism
of the Amir, the ruling family, and Islam will not be
tolerated.


10. (C) Though their coverage of Qatar itself is minimal, Al
Jazeera is by far Qatar's most prominent media outlet and the
bane of many governments in the region. With an
Arabic-speaking audience of around 50 million viewers, Al
Jazeera is now ten years old. In November it launched an
English-language edition and has ambitions to compete with
the major U.S. and British satellite networks worldwide.


11. (U) Since early last year, the USG has seen a bumpy
downward trend in inflammatory anti-Western bias and
inaccuracy in al- Jazeera's content. Al-Jazeera has increased
its use of U.S. government sources, limited its use of
inflammatory terminology, and devoted more time to stories of
interest in the region other than the U.S. role in Iraq.
However, al-Jazeera's track record remains far from
acceptable. Unprofessional, biased, and inaccurate propaganda
continues to appear on its newscasts, talk shows, and
website. The USG also views with concern Al Jazeera's
practice of airing terrorist-provided video tapes.

--------------
POLITICAL REFORM
--------------


12. (U) Qatar's own program of reform, launched by the Amir
after he assumed power in 1995, could take a significant step
forward this year if the government holds first-time
elections for its national legislature. Qatar has gone slow,
seeking to establish an institution that reflects local
social and political norms. The current sticking points are
who will be able to vote (a fraction of Qatar's 186,000
citizens) and who may stand for office. Qatari women will
have the right to vote and will be encouraged by the
government to run. Elections for the country's third

DOHA 00000011 003 OF 003


municipal council have already been scheduled for April,

2007. One woman was elected to the council in 2003.

--------------
ECONOMY
--------------


13. (U) At USD 61,540, Qatar's per capita income is ranked
fifth in the world and ahead of the U.S. The country's vast
wealth has resulted from the successful development of its
natural gas resources over the past 10 years with plans for
even greater expansion over the next decade. Qatar Petroleum
is maximizing use of Qatar's natural resources to diversify
the economy and provide business and employment opportunities
to Qataris. Qatar is extremely friendly to U.S. energy
companies: Since 1999, there has been USD 60 billion in
foreign investment in Qatar's energy sector with the majority
- about USD 40 billion - coming from the U.S. firms,
including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Anadarko, and Occidental.
Qatar plans to invest USD 70 billion in the natural gas
sector over the next seven years.


14. (U) The GOQ estimates Qatar's oil reserves are at 27
billion barrels. Qatar's daily average production is
currently estimated to be 806,000 barrels per day; at current
production rates, oil reserves are expected to last 20 to 60
years, depending on estimates. Qatar's goal is to increase
overall production capacity to over one million bpd by 2006.
Occidental and Anadarko are the two U.S. companies operating
in this sector.


15. (U) The majority of Qatar's current energy development is
focused on natural gas. Qatar's North Field contains 15.3% of
world natural gas reserves, third behind Russia and Iran. It
is the largest non-associated gas field in the world, and is
expected to support planned production for over 200 years.

--------------
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
--------------


16. (U) Qatar signed a Trade and Investment Framework
agreement with the U.S. in March 2004, but progress toward a
Free Trade Agreement is moving slowly at best. Achieving a
FTA will require Qatar to remove such obstacles as mandatory
majority Qatari ownership of most businesses, the government
telecom monopoly, restrictions on foreign investment in the
financial services sector, labor issues, and transparency in
government procurement.

--------------
Education City
--------------


17. (U) Education City is located on a 2500-acre campus on
the outskirts of Doha. It is managed by Qatar Foundation, the
umbrella organization chaired by Sheikha Mozah, the Amir's
consort. Education City is home to five U.S. college branch
campuses, with some 800 students currently enrolled. The
majority (roughly 60%) are Qatari; others come from around
the region and some from further beyond, including Bosnia and
the US. About two-thirds of the students are women, since the
Education City campuses allow them to live at home with their
families.


18. (U) Five U.S. branch campuses are currently represented
at Education City: Virginia Commonwealth University (fashion
design, interior design, graphic design); Weill Cornell
Medical College (medicine); Carnegie-Mellon University
(business, computer science); Texas A&M University
(engineering); and Georgetown University's School of Foreign
Service.


19. (U) The Foundation is currently recruiting a school of
communications (journalism),with five U.S. universities on
the short list: The University of Missouri, the University of
Florida, Boston University, Northwestern, and the University
of Indiana. Options for the future include a graduate school
in business; a law school (Cambridge University); an Islamic
Research Center; and possibly the Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard to teach public administration. Sheikha
Mozah has also asked for a branch campus of the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point to improve the professionalism of Arab
military officers and to teach them how to operate under
civilian control in a democracy.
RATNEY