TIMING AND LOCATION - NEXT GCC MINISTERIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001128 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA DWELCH, NEA/ARP ASTEINFELD AND BMCGRATH E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2013 TAGS: PGOV PREL SA SUBJECT: TIMING AND LOCATION - NEXT GCC MINISTERIAL Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a meeting with Pol Counselor, Saudi MFA Deputy Director for Western Affairs Department Mojahid Ali Alwahbi confirmed that the next Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial will be held on September 7, but the location is still undecided. ¶2. (C) Traditionally the GCC Ministerial is held in the GCC headquarters in Riyadh. However, as Oman will assume the GCC Presidency November and the GCC Summit is scheduled for December in Muscat, the GCC Ministerial may be held in Muscat instead of Riyadh in order to facilitate the Omanis' planning and ability to effectively execute its GCC Presidency responsibilities. Alwahbi opined the GCC Ministerial location should be decided by mid-August. So, while the September 7 date is firm, the location remains fluid - Riyadh or Muscat. GFOELLER