Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIYADH67
2007-01-14 17:14:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

PLANNED FEBRUARY VISIT OF PUTIN TO THE KINGDOM

Tags:  PREL PGOV SA RS 
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VZCZCXRO7844
PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHRH #0067 0141714
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 141714Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3993
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T RIYADH 000067 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (WALKER, SHUKAN, JACHIM),INL, DRL, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV SA RS
SUBJECT: PLANNED FEBRUARY VISIT OF PUTIN TO THE KINGDOM

REF: 2004 RIYADH 01913

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

------
SUMMARY
-------

S E C R E T RIYADH 000067

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (WALKER, SHUKAN, JACHIM),INL, DRL, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV SA RS
SUBJECT: PLANNED FEBRUARY VISIT OF PUTIN TO THE KINGDOM

REF: 2004 RIYADH 01913

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) The Russian Embassy to the KSA confirmed January 8
media reports that Russian President Putin will visit the KSA
in February, fulfilling a promise made over three years ago.
Putin will be the first Russian President to visit the KSA.
His visit follows up on the September 2003 visit to Russia by
then-Crown Prince (CP) Abdullah and FM Saud Al-Faisal. As in
September 2003, Putin and King Abdullah are expected to
discuss the Middle East peace process, Iraq, terrorism,
alleged Saudi support of Chechen rebels, oil and gas
production, trade, investment, and other bilateral and
international issues according to the Russian Embassy to the
KSA. The two leaders are also expected to discuss Iran and
its nuclear ambitions. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) During his three-day visit to Russia in September
2003, then-CP Abdullah signed a number of agreements and
discussed bilateral and international issues. Abdullah was
the highest level Saudi official to visit Russia since the
then-USSR recognized Saudi Arabia in 1926. (NOTE: The USSR
and Saudi Arabia had no diplomatic relations between 1938 and

1990. END NOTE). The two leaders called for implementation
of international decisions on the Palestinian-Israeli issue
and transformation of the Middle East into a zone free of
weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. They
also signed a five-year oil and gas cooperation agreement
that concerned joint development of gas fields, geological
surveys, use of gas for desalinating sea water, construction
of gas pipelines, gas-powered power stations, and other oil
and chemical facilities.


3. (U) Lukoil won one of the four gas exploration and
production deals in the Kingdom, which was signed in 2004.
It remains the single largest Russian venture in the Kingdom
(reftel). There are rumors that the SAG and the Russian
government have agreed to allow Russians to work in the KSA
as domestic workers.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. (S) The visit of Russian President Putin will build on a
concerted and well-planned diplomatic and economic strategy
devised by Abdullah, begun while he was CP and continued as
King, to reduce the KSA's reliance on the U.S. and broaden
and strengthen Saudi Arabia's international and regional
contacts and influence. The visit will support on-going KSA
efforts to strengthen economic and political ties with major
consumers and producers of oil and gas. The Saudis will
probably prod yet another member of the Quartet to resolve
the Palestinian-Israeli and Lebanese issues, as well as
address developments in Syria. The visit will also support
the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen ties with all five
permanent members of the UN Security Council and almost all
of Iran's neighbors. The timing of this visit is especially
noteworthy given recent developments in Iraq and the
continuing impasse over Iran's nuclear ambitions. END
COMMENT.
OBERWETTER