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.

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SUDAN
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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.

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NUCLEAR CONSORTIUM AND IRAN
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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.

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GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM
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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