QATAR CABINET SHUFFLE ANNOUNCED

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000475

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON QA
SUBJECT: QATAR CABINET SHUFFLE ANNOUNCED

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


1. (U) Characterized by local press reports as the "broadest
and most sweeping" cabinet shuffle since the Qatari
Government came into existence, Amir Hamad bin Khalifah Al
Thani, accompanied by Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Hamad
bin Jassim Al Thani (HBJ),appointed and swore in several new
ministers July 1. The most prominent new appointments
include Sheikh Fahd bin Jassim Al Thani (Chief Operating
Office at the telephone monopoly, Q-Tel) as Minister of
Business and Commerce, Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari
(former Ambassador to the U.S. and UN) as Minister of Culture
and Heritage, and Khalid bin Mohamad Al-Attiyah (Chairman of
the National Human Rights Committee) as Minister of
International Cooperation. In some cases, notably
environmental affairs, culture and health, independent
agencies are being elevated to ministries. International
Cooperation, however, is an entirely new entity with
responsibilities that are not yet clear.


2. (U) On the same day, the Amir issued a decree extending
the term of the (appointed) Advisory Council (Majlis
al-Shura) for two more years. This suggests that
long-discussed elections for the body could be delayed for at
least that long.


3. (U) Notable new ministers and their portfolios include:

Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs:
Ahmad Ghurab Al-Marri, replacing Faisal bin Abdullah
Al-Mahmoud

Minister of Public Health:
Dr. Sheikha Ghaliyah bint Mohamad Al Thani, currently head of
the National Health Authority

Minister of Cabinet Affairs:
Nasir bin Mohamad Al Thani

Minister of Social Affairs (formally part of the Ministry of
Labor):
Nasir Al-Humaidi

Minister of Environment:
Abdullah bin Barak Al-Meadadi


4. (U) The major cabinet luminaries, such as HBJ and Minister
of Energy and Industry (and Deputy Prime Minister) Hamad bin
Abdullah Al-Attiyah did not change. The Minister of Finance,
Youssef Hussein Kamal, also remained in place. He will now
be Minister of Finance and Economy. In the case of the
health portfolio, the newly appointed minister -- Sheikha
Ghaliyah Al Thani -- has been the de facto focal point for
health issues for many months. The July 1 announcement
merely elevates her to ministerial status.


5. (C) Comment: Newly named Minister for Culture and
Heritage Hamad Al-Kuwari predicted to Charge in late June
that a veritable "tsunami" would hit the cabinet in early
July. While we do not dispute that these are significant
changes to the cabinet, our definition of a "tsunami" would
have to include changes to the Foreign Affairs, Finance, and
Energy portfolios -- changes that did not take place. No
appointment suggests any change in the orientation of Qatar's
foreign or domestic policies. The Amir remains Chairman and
CEO of a family operation in which the major divisions are
run by his wife (education and social development),son
(security and military),long-time personal friend (energy),
and family fixture (foreign affairs and investment).
RATNEY