QATAR BEGS TO DIFFER WITH OUR ASSESSMENT OF ITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000115

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EFIN EINV KDEM LE SY QA
SUBJECT: QATAR BEGS TO DIFFER WITH OUR ASSESSMENT OF ITS
POLICIES IN LEBANON

REF: A. STATE 10786


B. STATE 12556

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael A. Ratney,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
UNIFIL TROOP WITHDRAWAL
--------------


1. (C) Charge, accompanied by P/E Chief, delivered Ref A and
B demarches February 7 to Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud (number two at the
Qatari MFA),stressing our expectation of Qatar's full
cooperation in support of the Arab League's goal of bringing
about unconditional presidential elections in Lebanon and the
importance of Qatar's maintaining its troop contribution to
UNIFIL. Charge began by thanking Qatar for its UNIFIL
contribution, noting that this Arab component of over 200
troops was greatly appreciated in Washington. He asked
Al-Mahmoud to consider extending its participation until
August.


2. (C) Al-Mahmoud responded that he believed the final
decision on withdrawing the troops had already been taken.
He noted that Qatar had extended its participation in UNIFIL
several times. If the decision was final, Charge urged the
GOQ to approach other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states
on finding another Arab country to take up Qatar's
contribution. Al-Mahmoud said he would pass the message to
GOQ officials overseeing Qatar's participation in UNIFIL to
see if Qatar's participation could be extended until August.
If not, he said the GOQ would help find another Arab partner.
Al-Mahmoud asked Charge if the U.S. had approached any other
countries in the region on this issue. Charge could not say
for certain, but told Al-Mahmoud we would endeavor to find
the answer and get back to him.


3. (C) In a separate meeting, also February 7, Qatari Armed
Forces Chief of Staff MG Hamad Al-Attiyah told visiting
ARCENT Commander LTG James Lovelace that he had just returned
from visiting Qatari troops deployed in Lebanon and described
his country's mission there as complete. Qatar's troops, he
said, were returning home that day. Al-Attiyah explained
that Qatar was bringing home its troops because their its
military was unable to meet the troop-strength demands of the
UNIFIL deployment for such a sustained period of time.
(Al-Attiyah added his personal view that Michel Sleiman was
the best choice as president of Lebanon. It was in no one's
interest to delay elections, he said, adding that Syria and
Saudi Arabia were "meddling" in Lebanon.)

--------------
VIEWS ON LEBANON'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
--------------


4. (C) Turning to Syria, Charge asked Al-Mahmoud for Qatar's
support publicly and privately to bring about presidential
elections in Lebanon as soon as possible. He noted that
Qatar's encouragement of Iran and Syria to play a positive
role in scheduling the elections would be welcome.
Al-Mahmoud told Charge that Qatar supports the Arab League
initiative and is working to promote stability in Lebanon.
Noting that Qataris have property and business interests in
Lebanon, he said Lebanon's stability is important to Qatar.
Ultimately, said Al-Mahmoud, Lebanon's problems must be
resolved by the Lebanese themselves. At any rate, the GOQ
maintained regular contact with Lebanese PM Siniora.


5. (C) Charge emphasized the U.S. view that Syria's actions
were delaying Lebanese elections and creating a dangerous
period of uncertainty and instability that allowed arms
smuggling to Hizballah to continue. Acknowledging that Qatar
maintains strong relations with Syria, Charge urged the GOQ
to intercede with the SARG to allow Lebanese presidential
elections to take place expeditiously. Charge also stressed
the perception that Qatar was in the Syrian camp during the
last Arab League meeting. Understanding the importance the
Amir places on the bilateral relationship with the U.S.,
Charge told Al-Mahmoud that Qatari policy on Lebanon is one
of the reasons the political relationship between Washington
and Doha had been strained.

--------------
GOQ ON BOARD WITH HOLDING ELECTIONS
--------------


6. (C) Somewhat agitated, Al-Mahmoud said allegations that
Qatar was not working to support the Arab League position on
Lebanese presidential elections were not true. He expressed
Qatar's frustration that "some countries" appear intent on

DOHA 00000115 002 OF 002


stirring up trouble between Qatar and the U.S. Charge
suggested that Qatar could change perceptions in part by
supporting and helping to fund the special tribunal for
Lebanon. Charge reiterated the impression in Washington that
Qatar was on the wrong side of Lebanon-related policies. He
urged again that Qatar take immediate steps to set the record
straight.


7. (C) Al-Mahmoud made clear that the GOQ is working in favor
of the Arab League initiative on Lebanon and that Qatar
firmly supports this measure. He told Charge he would get
back to him on support for a Lebanese tribunal, noting that
Qatar was very supportive of Lebanon and had funded
infrastructure projects and places of worship there. He
reiterated that statements by others are designed to damage
the U.S.-Qatari relationship. Al-Mahmoud emphasized that the
stability of Lebanon and Syria is very important to Qatar.
The GOQ continues to believe that Syria must be brought into
the Arab camp, especially given concerns over Iranian
activities in the region. Isolating Syria, the GOQ believed,
was the wrong approach. Al-Mahmoud assured Charge that the
Amir is frank with all parties, including the Syrians, on
Lebanon and other topics. He lamented that Qatar did not
receive credit for pushing Syria to attend the Annapolis
Conference or to negotiate with Israel.


8. (C) Charge responded that we do appreciate it when Qatar
makes helpful efforts to advance peace in the region. He
pointed out that Syria's condoning of violence in Lebanon
makes it difficult for the U.S. work in partnership with
Syria. The best thing Syria could do was allow the elections
in Lebanon to take place. Al-Mahmoud said Syria needs
assurances that changing its behavior will result in
relationships that would replace the one they have with the
Iranians. In the end, Al-Mahmoud declared, the GOQ does not
defend Syria's actions but also does not believe isolating
Syria is a solution.
RATNEY