MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES SUDAN AND NUCLEAR

S E C R E T RIYADH 002264 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER SA SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES SUDAN AND NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION WITH THE ACTING DCM REF: A. STATE 155067 ¶B. STATE 21535 Classified By: AMBASSADOR FORD FRAKER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: On November 13 the A/DCM met with Ambassador Khalid Jindan, the Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the MFA, to deliver a demarche about Sudan (ref A) and discuss nuclear issues. The Ambassador said that the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) would do everything it can to help bring stability to Sudan and the Darfur region. He called the GCC's plan to create a nuclear consortium a "good idea," but he expressed disappointment by Iran's negative reaction to it. He also said that the SAG would look into endorsing the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism's Statement of Principles (ref B). The Ambassador called nuclear terrorism an "important issue." END SUMMARY. - - - SUDAN - - - ¶2. (S) On Sudan, the Ambassador said that the SAG would do everything it can to bring peace and stability to it. "Saudi Arabia will continue to push the Sudanese on these issues but we must be careful to not push too hard on President Bashir," said Ambassador Jindan. In his view, he had seen encouraging signs from the Sudanese at UNGA in regards to the UNAMID mission and the upcoming meeting between the government of Sudan and rebel factions in Tripoli. The Ambassador expressed disappointment that some of the rebel groups, referencing several groups based out of the south, did not show up in Tripoli. "Their absence," said Jindan, "prevented the conference from achieving its' goals." He promised to pass our message along to the Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal when he returns from a meeting in Qatar about the upcoming GCC summit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NUCLEAR CONSORTIUM AND IRAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (S) Ambassador Jindan said the recent announcement by the Foreign Minister that the GCC would develop a multinational consortium that would distribute uranium to member countries from a location outside of the Middle East was a "good idea." He expressed disappointment that Iran's initial reaction to Prince Saud's proposal was negative. Although Ambassador Jindan believes that it is difficult to deal with Iran, he said that the SAG and GCC will continue to discuss this proposal with Iran as a way to reduce tension between it and the global community. ¶4. (S) The Ambassador also said that further economic sanctions are needed to deal with Iran's negative behavior. He said that many people are beginning to see divisions in the government and opposition in Iran because of the current UN sanctions. He urged the international community to be "patient" with Iran and opined that the world will see results with Iran if this approach is taken. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (S) The A/DCM also discussed the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism with the Ambassador. The A/DCM urged the SAG to endorse the Statement of Principles so that it could participate in the activity of the group to develop national and international capacity to combat nuclear terrorism. Ambassador Jindan responded by saying that it is an "important issue" and that the MFA will give it consideration. FRAKER