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