QATAR PRIVATELY CRITICAL OF RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000602

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR RS GG QA
SUBJECT: QATAR PRIVATELY CRITICAL OF RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN
GEORGIA

REF: A. SECSTATE 89769

B. SECSTATE 90978

C. SECSTATE 90980

Classified By: Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) MFA Director of American and European Affairs
Ambassador Adel Al-Khal told DCM August 24 that Qatar had not
taken an official position on the Russia-Georgia conflict but
found Russia's military offensive troublesome. Al-Khal noted
the Russian Ambassador had recently called on him "to explain
Russia's position" though not/not to ask for support.
Al-Khal reported that he told the Russian Ambassador that
Qatar is against military solutions to conflicts, believing
it should only be used as a last resort, and supports a
political process to resolve outstanding issues between
Russia and Georgia.


2. (C) Al-Khal noted that some are comparing the situation to
Kosovo, to which DCM responded (using Ref B points) that the
process leading to Kosovo's independence was measured and
carried out through UN/international auspices. Al-Khal
concurred that the two situations are different and said "no
one" in the Arab world is supporting Russia, with perhaps the
exception of Syria.

LeBaron