MFA OFFICIAL SAYS QATAR WILL IMPLEMENT UNSCR 1803

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000254 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, ISN, T E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018 TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD EINV PREL PGOV PARM KNNP MNUC UNSC, IR, QA SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL SAYS QATAR WILL IMPLEMENT UNSCR 1803 REF: A. SECSTATE 29096 ¶B. SECSTATE 33674 Classified By: CDA Michael A. Ratney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol-Econ Chief and Econoff delivered Ref A and Ref B demarches April 2 to Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sowaidi, Acting Director of the MFA's International Organizations Department. Noting that the international community recognizes the risks of doing business with Iran, Econoff emphasized that Iran engages in deceptive practices to finance its proliferation activities and may look to expand its financial presence in Qatar as a way to avoid sanctions, particularly as Tehran's banking relationships in Bahrain and the UAE come under greater scrutiny. Econoff also noted that the new UNSCR calls for increased vigilance over Iranian financial entities, particularly Bank Saderat (which has a branch in Qatar),and encouraged the GOQ to issue an advisory to financial institutions on the risks of doing business with Iran. ¶2. (C) Turning to the new UNSCR's travel restrictions, Pol-Econ Chief stressed that Qatar's growing aviation sector and current air links to Iran make it a likely transit point for Iranians of proliferation concern covered by the new UNSCR. Al-Sowaidi advised that the MFA had already sent the text of UNSCR 1803 to relevant agencies throughout the GOQ, but undertook to circulate the U.S. views and background papers on both issues to relevant GOQ agencies. He also expressed Qatar's intent to fully comply with the new resolution, though he was unable to speak to whether the GOQ would issue a financial advisory on Iran. Post is seeking a separate meeting with the Central Bank to discuss implementation of UNSCR 1803 and will report any substantive information septel. RATNEY