Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIYADH36
2007-01-09 13:55:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
how-toVZCZCXRO3048 OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #0036 0091355 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 091355Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3952 INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 8153 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T RIYADH 000036
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (WALKER, SHUKAN,JACHIM),INL, DRL
(HANFORD, BARKS-RUGGLES, OZKAN, LURIE),PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SA
SUBJECT: RUMORED SAG CABINET CHANGES
REF: 2006 RIYADH 07150
Classified By: Ambassador James C. Oberwetter
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T RIYADH 000036
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (WALKER, SHUKAN,JACHIM),INL, DRL
(HANFORD, BARKS-RUGGLES, OZKAN, LURIE),PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SA
SUBJECT: RUMORED SAG CABINET CHANGES
REF: 2006 RIYADH 07150
Classified By: Ambassador James C. Oberwetter
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Abdul Wahab Al-Faiz, Editor-in-Chief of several
Saudi newspapers and magazines, told PolOff on January 6 that
within the next month or two (approximately before the end of
March),the King will announce major changes in the SAG
Cabinet. He said these changes will be in accordance with
the expiration of the four-year terms of Cabinet ministers,
which will occur some time after January 20 (reftel).
Al-Faiz gave two examples, saying that it is very likely that
Prince Saud Al-Faisal will no longer be Foreign Minister and
Ghazi Al-Gossaibi will no longer be Labor Minister. He
implied that there could be other changes as well. He did
not state who will be named as replacements, though he
suggested that Prince Bandar might be named Foreign Minister.
2. (S) Al-Faiz said that Al-Gossaibi never had the
background or experience to be Labor Minister and has found
the job very frustrating. Al-Faiz said that Al-Gossaibi has
faced much criticism for the pace of changes regarding labor
policy as well as much resistance from religious and business
leaders for announced reforms.
3. (S) Al-Faiz said that reports that Turki Al-Faisal and
Prince Bandar are in conflict are untrue. Al-Faiz pointed
out that the two have worked together well for many years,
especially when Turki Al-Faisal was the head of the General
Intelligence Presidency (GIP).
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (S) Since this would be the first such Cabinet change
under King Abdallah, local observers, such as Al-Faiz and
Al-Tuweijri (reftel),expect important high-level personnel
changes that will strengthen the SAG's ability to enact
reforms. (NOTE: Abdel Rahman Al-Tuweijri is the Secretary
General of the Supreme Economic Council, head of the Capital
Markets Board, and a member of the Royal Protocol. His
father, Abdul Mohsen, is the closest non-royal advisor to the
King and former head of the National Guard. His brother,
Khaled, is the new Secretary General of the Succession
Committee. The Al-Tuweijri extended family is a large,
prominent, and powerful bloc in the KSA. END NOTE). In
addition to Al-Gossaibi and Prince Saud Al-Faisal, there are
rumors that the Petroleum, Higher Education, and Culture and
Information ministers may be replaced. The loss of
Al-Gossaibi could be a setback for labor reforms, though his
substantial skills could be better used elsewhere. There
have been rumors for at least the last two years that FM Saud
Al-Faisal will retire due to health reasons. Recently, other
sources name Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who is currently in
Riyadh, as the potential replacement for Saud instead of
Prince Bandar. END COMMENT.
OBERWETTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (WALKER, SHUKAN,JACHIM),INL, DRL
(HANFORD, BARKS-RUGGLES, OZKAN, LURIE),PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SA
SUBJECT: RUMORED SAG CABINET CHANGES
REF: 2006 RIYADH 07150
Classified By: Ambassador James C. Oberwetter
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Abdul Wahab Al-Faiz, Editor-in-Chief of several
Saudi newspapers and magazines, told PolOff on January 6 that
within the next month or two (approximately before the end of
March),the King will announce major changes in the SAG
Cabinet. He said these changes will be in accordance with
the expiration of the four-year terms of Cabinet ministers,
which will occur some time after January 20 (reftel).
Al-Faiz gave two examples, saying that it is very likely that
Prince Saud Al-Faisal will no longer be Foreign Minister and
Ghazi Al-Gossaibi will no longer be Labor Minister. He
implied that there could be other changes as well. He did
not state who will be named as replacements, though he
suggested that Prince Bandar might be named Foreign Minister.
2. (S) Al-Faiz said that Al-Gossaibi never had the
background or experience to be Labor Minister and has found
the job very frustrating. Al-Faiz said that Al-Gossaibi has
faced much criticism for the pace of changes regarding labor
policy as well as much resistance from religious and business
leaders for announced reforms.
3. (S) Al-Faiz said that reports that Turki Al-Faisal and
Prince Bandar are in conflict are untrue. Al-Faiz pointed
out that the two have worked together well for many years,
especially when Turki Al-Faisal was the head of the General
Intelligence Presidency (GIP).
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (S) Since this would be the first such Cabinet change
under King Abdallah, local observers, such as Al-Faiz and
Al-Tuweijri (reftel),expect important high-level personnel
changes that will strengthen the SAG's ability to enact
reforms. (NOTE: Abdel Rahman Al-Tuweijri is the Secretary
General of the Supreme Economic Council, head of the Capital
Markets Board, and a member of the Royal Protocol. His
father, Abdul Mohsen, is the closest non-royal advisor to the
King and former head of the National Guard. His brother,
Khaled, is the new Secretary General of the Succession
Committee. The Al-Tuweijri extended family is a large,
prominent, and powerful bloc in the KSA. END NOTE). In
addition to Al-Gossaibi and Prince Saud Al-Faisal, there are
rumors that the Petroleum, Higher Education, and Culture and
Information ministers may be replaced. The loss of
Al-Gossaibi could be a setback for labor reforms, though his
substantial skills could be better used elsewhere. There
have been rumors for at least the last two years that FM Saud
Al-Faisal will retire due to health reasons. Recently, other
sources name Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who is currently in
Riyadh, as the potential replacement for Saud instead of
Prince Bandar. END COMMENT.
OBERWETTER