CANADIAN FM IN SAUDI ARABIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000107

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2018
TAGS: AF CA FATAH IR IS MOPS PGOV PINR PREL SA
UNGA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN FM IN SAUDI ARABIA


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Canadian FM Bernier visited Saudi Arabia
on January 9-11. Bernier met with various SAG officials,
including Saudi King Abdullah. Topics included aid to the
Palestinians, Syria/Lebanon, Iran's nuclear ambitions,
operations in Afghanistan, UN make-up and commercial
interests. This was the first significant bilateral visit
between Canada and Saudi Arabia since 2000. The visit was
viewed as a success for Canadian-Saudi bilateral relations
due to the previously long lull between these two nations.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Canadian FM Maxine Bernier traveled to Riyadh on
January 9 for a one working-day visit. His trip included
stops in India and Israel. After the visit, Canadian DCM
Yves Duval provided a group readout to 18 different
representatives of the diplomatic community in Riyadh.


3. (C) Bernier's trip was the first high-level Canadian visit
to the kingdom since PM Jean Chretien came in 2000.
Canadian-Saudi relations have been cool since 2001 due to a
sensitive consular issue. Bernier's visit was an effort to
rebuild the bilateral relationship, which appears to have
succeeded. The full one-day agenda included meetings with
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Foreign Minister
Saud al Faisal, Minister of Petroleum Ali Ibrahimi al Naimi,
Minister of Commerce and Industry Hashim bin Abdallah bin
Hashim Yamani, and Canadian business representatives. Topics
included aid to Palestinian territories, Syrian activity in
Lebanon, Iran's nuclear ambitions, operations in Afghanistan,
comments on the United Nations and expanded bilateral
commercial interest.

WARMING RELATIONS
--------------


4. (C) Bernier's meeting King Abdullah was described by the
Canadian DCM as "warm and positive." The King began by
expressing regret for having to cancel his June 2001 visit to
Canada, which began the Canadian-Saudi bilateral freeze, due
to "unpleasant events." This was in reference to a sensitive
consular issue dating back to February 2001. In this issue,
a Canadian citizen was implicated in the murder of another
ex-pat in Saudi Arabia, which allegedly involved the Saudis
torturing this Canadian in order to gain his confession. The
issue led to a high volume of negative press in Canada
against Saudi Arabia, which resulted in the decline in their
bilateral relationship. However, according to the Canadian
DCM, the relationship has now improved with the Canadian
expectation of King Abdullah visiting Canada in the next 12
months.

PALESTINE/SYRIA/LEBANON
--------------


5. (C) In discussions with FM Saud, Bernier confirmed a
Canadian contribution of USD 300M to the Paris Conference for
Palestinian aid, describing this contribution would help move
the peace process forward. Turning toward the Levant, Saud
expressed displeasure with Syria's continued meddling in
Lebanon. He stated that Syria is a member of the Arab
League, and must therefore chose Arab solidarity in regards
to Lebanon or to risk isolation.

IRAN
--------------


6. (C) Regarding Iran, both FMs concurred Iran needed to
abide by the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its obligations to
the International Atomic Energy Agency. Saud state Saudi
concern over Iran's continued nuclear ambitions and
intentions. However, he stressed that dialogue and
cooperation were the only way to deal with Iran.


AFGHANISTAN
--------------


7. (C) Bernier commented on Canada's participation in
Afghanistan. He described Canada's high-tempo military

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activities in problematic Kandahar province, adding that
Canadian casualties were proportionately high given the size
of their contingent. Saud stated he had little faith in
purely military operations. He offered that the best course
of action in Afghanistan is to first stabilize the local
Afghan tribes one by one through reconstruction projects
(water, education, infrastructure),then build broad national
institutions.

UN
--


8. (C) Saud added a critical commentary of the United
Nations. He opined that the UNSC veto was necessary to
maintain "Council discipline," but was misused in practice.
Why are, he asked rhetorically, resolutions that are
discussed and adopted, then vetoed when voted on to be
implemented? Saud also added that the Security Council
needed to be more representative of the entire General
Assembly. Without further elaboration, he quipped that no
single nation can truly represent a single bloc of nations.

COMMERCIAL ISSUES
--------------


9. (C) In his meeting, with the Minister of Oil, Bernier
highlighted that both Canada and Saudi Arabia are energy
producers and thus had much in common. It was decided that
Cal'E6GQJnSo participate in the International
Energy Forum, next scheduled to meet in April 2008. With the
Minister of Commerce discussions centered on a possible Free
Trade Agreement between Canada and the GCC states. Also,
Bernier proposed establishing a Canadian-Saudi Forum focused
on business, cultural and political engagement.
FRAKER