Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DOHA508
2007-05-17 13:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
QATAR "FIFTY-FIFTY" ON SUPPORT FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL
how-toVZCZCXRO8410 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHDO #0508 1371303 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171303Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6619 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0370 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 1225 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1311
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000508
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER LE SY QA
SUBJECT: QATAR "FIFTY-FIFTY" ON SUPPORT FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL
Derived from: DSCG 05-1, B,D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000508
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER LE SY QA
SUBJECT: QATAR "FIFTY-FIFTY" ON SUPPORT FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL
Derived from: DSCG 05-1, B,D.
1. (C) Assistant Minister Mohamed al-Rumaihi, who holds the
MFA's UN portfolio, told the Ambassador May 17 that Qatar was
"fifty-fifty" on supporting the Hariri assassination
tribunal. He said the tribunal was "important to approve,"
but then outlined reasons why Qatar believes the decision
should not be taken now. He said Lebanon is at a critical
moment, with the parliament frozen and the PM not recognizing
the president. Civil war could not be ruled out. "Is Hariri
more important than Lebanon's security and stability?" he
asked.
2. (C) Rumaihi said that Qatar was "not opposed to pressure
on Syria," but he pointed to November as a better time to
approve the tribunal. Lebanon's presidential election is
scheduled for that month, and the resulting new government
could approve the tribunal prior to a UN Security Council
decision." Rumaihi believes that postponing a decision until
November does not necessarily reduce pressure on Damascus.
3. (C) Regarding Qatar's decision process, Rumaihi said both
the MFA and its mission in New York would provide opinions to
the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hamad bin Jassim Al
Thani, who would also have his own views.
--------------
Amir's visit to Damascus
--------------
4. (C) Ambassador questioned Rumaihi regarding the Amir's
visit to Damascus, which took place immediately after the May
15 Gulf Security Council meeting in Riyadh. Rumaihi said the
trip was "not for love," but was based on a need to
understand Syrian thinking. "This is regional politics; we
have to deal with everybody," he said. He added that the trip
was not meant to counter U.S. policies in the region -- but
it was intended to "show the Saudis that we have relations
with Syria." He attempted to justify President al-Asad's two
visits to Doha in December 2006: "When you send 100
invitations (to the Asian Games),only the bullshitters come."
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Rumaihi may have claimed that Qatar was "fifty-fifty"
on the tribunal decision, but he outlined only the reasons
not to support the tribunal now. Given Qatar's apparent
policy of seeking a role in Lebanon and antagonizing the
Saudis by cozying up to the Syrians, evidenced most recently
by the Amir's visit to Damascus, we believe that a yes vote
on the tribunal is highly unlikely. An abstention is
possible, but the Qataris could also vote against using the
argument of bad timining, as they did on the Iran resolution
of July 31 2006.
UNTERMEYER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER LE SY QA
SUBJECT: QATAR "FIFTY-FIFTY" ON SUPPORT FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL
Derived from: DSCG 05-1, B,D.
1. (C) Assistant Minister Mohamed al-Rumaihi, who holds the
MFA's UN portfolio, told the Ambassador May 17 that Qatar was
"fifty-fifty" on supporting the Hariri assassination
tribunal. He said the tribunal was "important to approve,"
but then outlined reasons why Qatar believes the decision
should not be taken now. He said Lebanon is at a critical
moment, with the parliament frozen and the PM not recognizing
the president. Civil war could not be ruled out. "Is Hariri
more important than Lebanon's security and stability?" he
asked.
2. (C) Rumaihi said that Qatar was "not opposed to pressure
on Syria," but he pointed to November as a better time to
approve the tribunal. Lebanon's presidential election is
scheduled for that month, and the resulting new government
could approve the tribunal prior to a UN Security Council
decision." Rumaihi believes that postponing a decision until
November does not necessarily reduce pressure on Damascus.
3. (C) Regarding Qatar's decision process, Rumaihi said both
the MFA and its mission in New York would provide opinions to
the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hamad bin Jassim Al
Thani, who would also have his own views.
--------------
Amir's visit to Damascus
--------------
4. (C) Ambassador questioned Rumaihi regarding the Amir's
visit to Damascus, which took place immediately after the May
15 Gulf Security Council meeting in Riyadh. Rumaihi said the
trip was "not for love," but was based on a need to
understand Syrian thinking. "This is regional politics; we
have to deal with everybody," he said. He added that the trip
was not meant to counter U.S. policies in the region -- but
it was intended to "show the Saudis that we have relations
with Syria." He attempted to justify President al-Asad's two
visits to Doha in December 2006: "When you send 100
invitations (to the Asian Games),only the bullshitters come."
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Rumaihi may have claimed that Qatar was "fifty-fifty"
on the tribunal decision, but he outlined only the reasons
not to support the tribunal now. Given Qatar's apparent
policy of seeking a role in Lebanon and antagonizing the
Saudis by cozying up to the Syrians, evidenced most recently
by the Amir's visit to Damascus, we believe that a yes vote
on the tribunal is highly unlikely. An abstention is
possible, but the Qataris could also vote against using the
argument of bad timining, as they did on the Iran resolution
of July 31 2006.
UNTERMEYER