SAUDI MFA OFFICIAL ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000551

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM IZ SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI MFA OFFICIAL ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, IRAQ
NEIGHBORS' CONFERENCE, AND IRAN

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission David Rundell for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) MFA Deputy Director for Arab Affairs Talal Al Maliki
told PolOff on March 13 that he is not convinced that the
recent public statements of the Israelis that they are ready
to "treat seriously" the 2002 Saudi proposed Arab Peace
Initiative carry any weight. He claimed that the Israelis
typically make such statements of support, but never take
concrete steps to back them up. Al Maliki added that the
ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict is the fundamental
reason behind tensions in the region. He suggested that most
regional conflicts would "fall into place" once this issue
has been resolved. Al Maliki decried the Israelis' "poor
treatment" of the Palestinians, stating bluntly that Israel's
relationship with Palestine is the primary concern of its
Arab neighbors.


2. (C) Al Maliki continued that he expects the Arab-Israeli
conflict to take center stage during the March 28-29 Arab
League Summit in Riyadh, but does not think there will be any
major developments as a result of the discussions. Al Maliki
said that other key agenda items are likely to include the
Iraq crisis, Somalia, and Sudan. While he does not
anticipate any significant statements or actions resulting
from these discussions either, he did intimate that observers
should expect as a result of Summit discussions some
substantive movement and solidarity regarding Lebanon --
although he did not specify what that would entail.


3. (C) Al Maliki further speculated that the Summit would
expand on earlier efforts to address organizational issues
and the Arab League's ability to effectively carry out its
mandate. He brushed off criticisms that the Arab League is
not an effective forum, noting changes such as the
elimination of the consensus requirement for decision, saying
reforms such as this have helped to keep the forum relevant
and current. He agreed, however, that it is critical for the
Arab League to continue adjusting to global changes in order
to effectively address regional issues. He added that Saudi
Arabia and Egypt are the "big players" in the Arab League,
but acknowledged that Egypt's influence has waned in recent
years.


4. (C) Al Maliki briefly discussed the March 10 Iraq Expanded
Neighbors' Conference, stating that what little information
he had was based on rumor or press reports. (NOTE: At one
point, Al Maliki asked PolOff if it was true that the Syrian
delegation walked out of the Conference prior to its
conclusion. END NOTE.) Al Maliki was not optimistic that
the Conference would do anything to ameliorate the violence
in Iraq, pointing out that the killing had only increased
following President Bush's announcement of his new strategy.
However, he lauded the Conference as a positive step,
emphasizing that the U.S. must engage with Iran and Syria for
there to be any solution to the conflict. He further stated
that the Iranians would never "do something for nothing,"
advising that the USG must offer Iran concessions in some
form if it hopes to convince Iran to refrain from interfering
in Iraq's internal affairs.


5. (C) Although Al Maliki agreed that Saudis are concerned
about Iranian influence in the region -- especially regarding
its nuclear aspirations -- he was somewhat dismissive about
the extent to which the Iranians are actually a threat to the
region. He pointed out that any country's possession of
nuclear weapons capability should be condemned -- including
Israel's.


6. (C) COMMENT: Al Maliki was extremely measured in his
response to PolOff's questions and said little that was
surprising. However, his take on the Iranian threat was
interesting in that it very much echoed what we often hear
from both the general public and many of our mid-level
contacts. These interlocutors tend to point to the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict as the "crux of the problems" in
the Middle East, while expressing surprisingly little concern
about Iranian efforts to obtain nuclear weapons capability or
Iranian interference in the region. Given his position as
the second highest ranking official in the MFA's Arab Affairs

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Department, one would expect Al Maliki's analysis of the
Iranian threat -- as well as his take on Israel's recent
public comments on the Arab Peace Initiative -- to be much
more closely aligned with that of the SAG's senior
leadership. While this certainly supports the view that the
SAG is much more progressive than the population as a whole,
it also highlights how greatly centralized authority and
decision-making in the Kingdom remains. END COMMENT.
OBERWETTER