Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1155
2008-07-28 07:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDIS WILL ENGAGE EUROPE OVER SYRIA
how-toVZCZCXRO7405 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #1155 2100759 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 280759Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8861 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9646 RUEHRH/CHUSMTM RIYADH SA IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/COMUSCENTAF SHAW AFB SC IMMEDIATE RHRMAKS/COMUSNAVCENT IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0087
S E C R E T RIYADH 001155
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ELA EMILLER AND SNEWHOUSE,
AND NEA/ARP WROEBUCK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL SA SY
SUBJECT: SAUDIS WILL ENGAGE EUROPE OVER SYRIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 78880
B. RIYADH 1034
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T RIYADH 001155
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ELA EMILLER AND SNEWHOUSE,
AND NEA/ARP WROEBUCK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL SA SY
SUBJECT: SAUDIS WILL ENGAGE EUROPE OVER SYRIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 78880
B. RIYADH 1034
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Pol Counselor delivered Reftel A demarche to Saudi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations
Director Ambassador Saleh Al-Kuhaimi on July 27. Al-Kuhaimi
stated the SAG is engaged with the EU and all major European
governments. He fully agreed that Syria has long been a
source of regional instability, citing its undermining of the
Lebanese government, support for Hezbollah, allowing foreign
fighters to enter Iraq to participate in the insurgency, and
its alliance with Iran.
2. (S) Al-Kuhaimi concurred that any government dealing with
the SARG must be extremely wary. He characterized Syria as
being duplicitous - a position echoed to us from Saudi King
Abdullah on down (Reftel B). Al-Kuhaimi observed that "Arab
problems must be worked out by Arabs," mentioning that the
SAG had long engaged the SARG in the Arab League. He then
lamented Syria's close working relationship with Iran, and
how the SARG has facilitated Iranian activity in Lebanon.
3. (S) While emphasizing the SAG would continue its ongoing
engagement with Europe, Al-Kuhaimi assured he would pass to
his superiors the caveat to these governments to take a
realistic approach in its engagement with the SARG and to
measure it by its deeds not words. While he was not
authorized to commit to a decision, Al-Kuhaimi assured he
would immediately pass the USG position to his superiors,
including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal (who
is traveling in France and Morocco until mid-August).
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ELA EMILLER AND SNEWHOUSE,
AND NEA/ARP WROEBUCK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2018
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL SA SY
SUBJECT: SAUDIS WILL ENGAGE EUROPE OVER SYRIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 78880
B. RIYADH 1034
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Pol Counselor delivered Reftel A demarche to Saudi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations
Director Ambassador Saleh Al-Kuhaimi on July 27. Al-Kuhaimi
stated the SAG is engaged with the EU and all major European
governments. He fully agreed that Syria has long been a
source of regional instability, citing its undermining of the
Lebanese government, support for Hezbollah, allowing foreign
fighters to enter Iraq to participate in the insurgency, and
its alliance with Iran.
2. (S) Al-Kuhaimi concurred that any government dealing with
the SARG must be extremely wary. He characterized Syria as
being duplicitous - a position echoed to us from Saudi King
Abdullah on down (Reftel B). Al-Kuhaimi observed that "Arab
problems must be worked out by Arabs," mentioning that the
SAG had long engaged the SARG in the Arab League. He then
lamented Syria's close working relationship with Iran, and
how the SARG has facilitated Iranian activity in Lebanon.
3. (S) While emphasizing the SAG would continue its ongoing
engagement with Europe, Al-Kuhaimi assured he would pass to
his superiors the caveat to these governments to take a
realistic approach in its engagement with the SARG and to
measure it by its deeds not words. While he was not
authorized to commit to a decision, Al-Kuhaimi assured he
would immediately pass the USG position to his superiors,
including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal (who
is traveling in France and Morocco until mid-August).
GFOELLER