KING ABDULLAH WARMLY WELCOMES POTUS AND REQUESTS

S E C R E T RIYADH 002439

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH WARMLY WELCOMES POTUS AND REQUESTS
DATE CHANGE

Classified By: Chief of Mission Ford Fraker
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (S) King Abdullah expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm
for the upcoming POTUS visit to the Ambassador on December 7.
King Abdullah urged the Ambassador to move the POTUS visit
from a Monday, January 14 arrival until a Tuesday, January 15
arrival so as not to conflict with French President Sarkozy's
visit to Riyadh on January 13-14. Specifically, the King
does not want to detract the focus of the media or the Saudi
society from POTUS. King Abdullah emphasized his pleasure at
POTUS' trip and requested three times during the discussion
that irrespective of the arrival date, he wants POTUS to
spend two nights in the Kingdom.


2. (S) Chief of Royal Protocol Mohammed Tubayshi reiterated
the two points made by King Abdullah during a December 8
meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and the
Management Counselor. Tubayshi emphasized King Abdullah's
suggestion to move the arrival date to January 15 so as to
not minimize the attention paid to the POTUS visit. He also
restated the King's strong desire to have POTUS spend two
nights in Riyadh. He shared the King's positive reaction to
the news of the POTUS arrival. (Note: On December 8,
Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir re-emphasized to the Ambassador the
King's desire to have the President stay for two nights.
Apparently the King said that the whole schedule would be
changed to suit the President but the only "non-negotiable"
point was that he stay for two nights. End Note.)


3. (S) Tubayshi presented the Ambassador with two draft
schedules for POTUS-- one based upon a January 14 arrival,
and the second upon a January 15 arrival. (Note and Comment:
It is extremely unusual for the SAG to have a plan and be
prepared so far in advance of any visit. Within 24 hours of
the King's notification, Royal Protocol had draft agendas,
presented them to the Ambassador, and offered copious amounts
of logistical support. This advance planning shows the
King's high level of interest in the POTUS visit. End Note
and Comment.)


4. (S) Draft Schedule from Saudi Royal Protocol:

Day 1:

-- H.E. President George W. Bush of the United States of
America arrives at the Royal Terminal of King Khaled
International Airport. He will be met by the Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz Al Saud, and
this will be followed by a traditional ceremony at the
airport.

-- King Abdullah will host an official dinner banquet in
honor of President Bush.

-- Official talks between King Abdullah and President Bush.

RON: Conference Palace Hotel

Day 2:

-- President Bush visits Shoura Council or King Saud
University and delivers a speech.

-- President Bush visits King Abdul Aziz Historical Center.

-- President Bush meets at King Abdullah's residence with a
select group of educated Saudi men and women, as well as
Saudi and American businessmen. Lunch to follow.

-- President Bush proceeds to King Abdullah's Farm, Al
Jenadriyah, where he will tour the farm and livestock
(Arabian horses, ostriches, etc). King Abdullah and
President Bush will have a private dinner.

RON: Al Jenadriyah Farm

Day 3:

-- President Bush and King Abdullah share traditional
Breakfast at Al Jenadriyah Farm

-- President Bush departs Farm.


5. (S) Requested Action: We request Washington's guidance
regarding the President's proposed date of arrival, in view
of the King's strong preference for January 15. We also
request guidance on whether the President will be able to
spend two nights in the Kingdom per King Abdullah's requests.
Finally, we request guidance regarding the Saudi's notional
schedule.
FRAKER