FOLLOW ON MEETING TO INTERAGENCY VISIT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 RIYADH 002486

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR DAS GGRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY PASS TO A/S KKOLEVAR, A/S KHARBERT, AND
MWILLIAMSON
S/CT FOR GFEIERSTEIN AND BAVERILL
DS/ATA FOR KMALOY
TREASURY PASS TO A/S CLOWERY
DHS PASS TO TWARRICK AND DGRANT
CIA PASS TO TCOYNE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: KCIP EPET ENERG PTER SA
SUBJECT: FOLLOW ON MEETING TO INTERAGENCY VISIT

REF: A. RIYADH 2475

B. RIYADH 2474

C. RIYADH 1974

Classified By: DCM Michael Gfoeller for reasons
1.4 (b) (c) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs
two and three.

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Summary
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2. (S) Embassy Riyadh notes the impending January POTUS
visit provides a unique opportunity to help us move approval
for a high-priority Ministry of Interior(MOI)-inter-agency
cooperation agreement through an often sclerotic Saudi
bureaucracy at an accelerated pace. In a December 11 meeting
with the Saudi Minister of Interior, MOI officials provided
additional information and clarification regarding their
request to deepen cooperation with several agencies
represented during a December 3-5 visit to Riyadh (reftels A
and B). MOI officials also provided preliminary answers to a
list of questions submitted by the visiting delegation.

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Action Requests
--------------


3. (S) Action Request: Embassy Riyadh requests NEA
coordinate with the interagency group to provide a draft text
of an inter-agency-MOI agreement to Embassy Riyadh for
submission to the MOI by December 31. Submission of a draft
document would allow us to include this inter-agency
agreement as an agenda item for POTUS in discussions with
King Abdullah or relevant ministers. While we recognize this
document is unlikely to be ready for final signature by the
mid-January POTUS visit, we could significantly accelerate
approval of the agreement if we had a draft under
consideration during this historic visit. Embassy Riyadh
trusts the additional details below from the MOI should prove
useful in guiding the inter-agency discussion and drafting of
an initial text.


4. (SBU) Action Request: Embassy Riyadh requests the
Department of the Treasury urgently provide a copy of the
original financial documentation for the 1970s U.S.-Saudi
Joint Economic Commission (JECOR). This organization is
currently being studied as a possible model for a new
inter-agency technical assistance group. Additional details
and documentation, particularly regarding the project's
financial structure, would be most appreciated. Information
may be sent to Economic Counselor Robert Murphy at
murphyrb2@state.gov or Energy Attache Shannon Ross at
rosssm2@state.gov.

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Keen Interest in JECOR Model
--------------


5. (S) On December 11, Pol Counselor Rundell and Energy
Attache Ross met with MOI officials Dr. Saud al Semari,
Director of Modernization and Joint Working Group Co-Chair;
Dr. Kahlid Al-Ageel, Manager, High Commission on Industrial
Security; Abdullah Al-Hammad, Budget Director; and Captain
Bandar Al-Subaie, Assistant to Major General Dr. Saad
Al-Jabri, Senior Security Advisor to the Assistant Minister
of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayif. MG Dr. Al-Jabri also

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later joined the meeting. The MOI remains eager to move the
inter-agency cooperation project forward quickly.


6. (C) The MOI is clearly eager to learn more about the
1970s to 1990s era JECOR project, and our interlocutors have
expressed a strong desire to meet with both former U.S.
officials and Saudi officials who worked on JECOR projects to
better understand how they functioned. End of year holiday
and Hajj travel have complicated scheduling this meeting, but
we anticipate holding a meeting for our MOI counterparts to
meet former U.S. officials by early January. The MOI also
requested we ask our former officials to write a short
account of how JECOR functioned during their time there; we
have agreed to relay this request.

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Tightening the Focus of Assistance to CIP
--------------


7. (S) Dr. Al-Semari stated the primary focus of the MOI's
request for assistance concerned critical infrastructure
protection (CIP),which involved the work of many of the
MOI's directorates. He emphasized the request goes beyond
the Facilities Security Force (FSF),the entity which the SAG
is in the process of creating to protect critical
infrastructure facilities.

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Questionnaire Feedback
--------------


8. (S) While waiting for the MOI to complete a white paper
in response to our questions presented by the interagency
group during the December 5 meeting (reftel B),they provided
some initial feedback to most of the questions as follows:


A. Program Organization

--Does the MOI prefer the single point of contact (aka JECOR)
model for interfacing with various agencies of the USG, or
would the MOI prefer to negotiate separate agreements with
each USG agency? Does the MOI prefer to work with a unified
funding mechanism for administering all programs?

Answer: Yes, the MOI prefers a single point of contact.
However, our interlocutors seemed less certain regarding
their preferred funding model. Dr. Al-Semari asked for
additional details on JECOR's financial model. Pol Counselor
Rundell detailed several of the mechanics of the project:
funds were transferred from the SAG to the USG as a lump sum
into a "trust fund" covering many projects, but each project
was individually budgeted with a detailed financial plan.
Dr. Al-Semari asked how this model differed from the
administration model currently used by several of the SAG's
European partners. The MOI appears to be in an
information-gathering phase regarding their preferred
financial model.

--Is it possible to obtain a copy of the Bearing Point report
produced for the MOI? Has Bearing Point produced other
reports for the MOI on other modernization issues of which we
should be aware? When completed, could we obtain a copy of
your Strategic Plan, which we understand is currently in
process?

Answer: The strategic plan is still in process, but the MOI
appeared amenable to sharing it once it is completed. The
officials seemed unsure about precise Bearing Point report we
were requesting.

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B. Program Mission

--Can you please provide a mission statement for the Facility
Security Force? What are the other elements within the MOI
that you envision the USG cooperating with as part of this
cooperation program? If so, can you please describe these
elements?

Answer: The MOI will provide a mission statement for the FSF.
Dr. Al-Semari then provided an overview of the major MOI
directorates, to include:

--Public Security - law enforcement, highway patrol, special
emergency forces, special response forces;

--Border Guard - including land-based and Coast Guard
components;

--Civil Defense - including fire and emergency response;

--Facilities Security Force - A recently-established 35,000
man force to protect critical infrastructure facilities;

--"Mujahaddin," or Protective Security - Provides protective
security details in remote or under-populated areas. For
example, the Mujahaddin escorts Saudi Aramco drilling rigs on
operations in the remote Rhub-al-Kali zone, the "Empty
Quarter."

--Special Security Forces - Provides protection for
high-threat buildings and installations, such as government
and diplomatic installations. Includes an anti-terrorist
component, and special forces.

--Prisons Directorate;

--Passports and Immigration;

--Narcotics Control;

--Intelligence; and

-- Administration and Service Delivery.

Dr. Al-Ageel has indicated high priority directorates for
cooperation early in the program are likely to be Public
Security, the Border Guard, Civil Defense, FSF, and the
Mujahaddin. Dr. Al-Semari and Dr. Al-Ageel also highlighted
the role of the MOI's High Commission on Industrial Security
(HCIS),the regulator for safety and security standards for
all of the KSA's major industrial sites, including critical
sites such as water, power, and energy facilities. The HCIS
had a role in reaction to, mitigation of, and recovery after
industrial accidents, natural disasters, or terrorist
attacks. (Note: The HCIS reports directly to the Assistant
Minister of Interior, and is not in a directorate. End
note.)


C. Program Orientation

Foreign Military Sales:

--What specific MOI units would seek to purchase defense
equipment and services? Can you please describe the mission
of these units? Have you identified notional equipment and
training requirements? If so, can you describe these
requirements?


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Answer: The MOI is likely to seek an FMS capability. The
MOI will work on providing additional details on MOI units'
capabilities and weapon systems the MOI may seek to purchase.

Maritime Issues:

--Will the existing Coast Guard handle the maritime aspects
of protecting critical infrastructure, or do you plan to
develop a maritime capability within the Facility Security
Force?

Answer: The FSF will share responsibility for maritime
facilities with the Coast Guard. The FSF is taking over
gradual control for maritime control of critical facilities
as it grows its capabilities.

--Do you plan to develop a capability for maritime
interdiction through helicopters?

Answer: Yes.

Command and Control:

--We understand the MOI may have developed an integrated
"command and control" center ("fusion center") where all of
its various units are represented. Is it possible to see
this center? Are the MODA and SANG represented in this
center also? Are key basic services, such as SWC or SEC
(water, power, etc.),or strategic state industries, such as
Saudi Aramco or SABIC, represented at this command center?

Answer: Yes, there is an integrated command and control
center within the MOI. MODA and SANG are represented.
Industry does not appear to be represented in it at this
time.

CyberSecurity:

--Would you envision this program eventually encompassing a
cybersecurity component? Which elements of the MOI or other
agencies would have the lead on this component? Has any work
or legal infrastructure been established in this area yet for
critical infrastructure protection?

Answer: There is a general law regarding cybersecurity in
place in the KSA. It includes some measures relevant to
industrial facilities. The law is still new, and is in the
process of being implemented. The MOI plans for the FSF to
eventually have some cybercrime responsibilities relevant to
critical infrastructure, but for now, the focus remains on
securing physical installations.

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Wrapping Up and Moving Forward
--------------


9. (S) As the conversation concluded, Dr. Al-Jabri noted,
"The King is happy with the approach being discussed, he
himself is behind the FSF. The Ministry of Finance is also
happy with the approach." Dr. Al-Semari quipped, "When it
comes to energy protection, everyone is supportive." In
laying out the path forward, Dr. Al-Jabri explained, "It is
important to know how our bureaucracy works, the MOF and MOI
should write together to the Royal Court (to propose the
inter-agency cooperation). We're trying to deal with this in
an efficient way, with a bottom up approach." Dr. Al-Jabri
then clarified that he was in favor of a separate but
parallel agreement to the December 2006 MOU which established
the Joint Working Group. PolCounselor Rundell wrapped up by

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stating that we should view the impending POTUS visit as an
"engine to drive forward issues," noting we may be able to
get things done before February which will normally be
impossible.

FRAKER