Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DOHA1136
2007-12-05 11:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

QATAR LIKELY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST GCC STATES TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL IZ IR TU QA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4100
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHDO #1136 3391159
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051159Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7326
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 001136 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR TU QA
SUBJECT: QATAR LIKELY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST GCC STATES TO
RE-OPEN BAGHDAD EMBASSY

REF: A. STATE 157485


B. DOHA 1042

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 DOHA 001136

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR TU QA
SUBJECT: QATAR LIKELY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST GCC STATES TO
RE-OPEN BAGHDAD EMBASSY

REF: A. STATE 157485


B. DOHA 1042

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


1. (C) P/E Chief delivered Ref A demarche December 5 to MFA
Director of GCC Affairs Yousef Al-Jaber. Al-Jaber said the
GCC heads of state discussed how to proceed on stabilizing
Iraq in their December 3-4 Doha summit. According to
Al-Jaber, the GCC states believed that the security situation
in Iraq has improved. There was nonetheless reluctance on
the part of the GCC to increase its engagement on the issues
that Ambassador Crocker discussed with Qatar's Prime Minister
(see Ref B) and other Gulf leaders in October and November.
Further improvements in the security situation were first
needed.


2. (C) When P/E Chief reminded Al-Jaber of the Iranian
presence and activity in Baghdad, Al-Jaber conceded that the
real issue was a demonstrable political balance between Sunni
and Shi'a on the ground in Iraq. He said, in this respect,
the GCC was looking to the United States to help the Iraqis
amend their constitution. Al-Jaber said the GCC states also
held the view that Iraq's border with Iran must be secured.
If more progress in this area were evident, the time frame
for GCC states to renew their diplomatic presence in Baghdad
would be shortened.


3. (C) Asked if the GCC states would re-establish a
diplomatic presence in Iraq alone or in concert, Al-Jaber
said different states would go at different speeds. He was
confident, however, that Oman and Qatar would be the first
two GCC members to re-establish a diplomatic presence in
Baghdad. On the return of expatriate Iraqis to their
homeland, Al-Jaber noted this was already underway,
especially from Syria. He said the improving security
environment was the best inducement to Iraqis to return, but
that GCC states would be politically supportive of this goal.



4. (C) Comment: Al-Jaber was the MFA primary orchestrator
of the recent GCC Summit, dealt directly with the Amir and
Prime Minister of Qatar on many facets of the agenda, and is
well-informed on GCC perspectives. He did not address
directly the question of extending an invitation to the Iraqi
leadership for bilateral visits. When that issue was raised,
he pointed out the need for greater "political balance"
between the Shi'a and Sunni in Iraq.
RATNEY