Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1344
2008-09-01 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI MFA ON RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRH #1344 2451452 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011452Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9109 INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0700 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0034 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 9727
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001344
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018
TAGS: GG PGOV PREL SA RU
SUBJECT: SAUDI MFA ON RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA
REF: SECSTATE 91894
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001344
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018
TAGS: GG PGOV PREL SA RU
SUBJECT: SAUDI MFA ON RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA
REF: SECSTATE 91894
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On August 31, PolOffs delivered reftel demarche to
Ambassador Talal al-Malki, temporarily covering European
issues in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Malki
shared that he would seek the counsel of Saudi Foreign
Minister Saud al-Faisal before providing a response. He gave
no initial indication of the SAG position regarding Russian
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He noted that the
U.S. wanted recognition of Kosovo, but not Abkhazia or South
Ossetia, and asked why the situations were different.
Poloffs stressed that the historical and political contexts
were distinct, and that Kosovo had achieved significant
international recognition and was ready to function as a
fully sovereign state whereas Russia had failed to find any
support for recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
2. (C) COMMENT: Al-Malki could not provide any insight into
Saudi thinking on Abkhazia/South Ossetia, but the SAG is
likely to remain silent since it would gain no advantage by
taking a public position. Public rejection of Russia,s move
could antagonize Moscow, which the Saudis want to avoid since
they need Russian cooperation in areas of more urgent
national interest, principally in countering Iran's influence
in the region (this, in part, has also kept the SAG from
recognizing Kosovo). On the other hand, public recognition
would be out of character for the Saudis and, as they well
know, would not go down well with us. END COMMENT.
RUNDELL
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018
TAGS: GG PGOV PREL SA RU
SUBJECT: SAUDI MFA ON RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA
REF: SECSTATE 91894
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On August 31, PolOffs delivered reftel demarche to
Ambassador Talal al-Malki, temporarily covering European
issues in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Malki
shared that he would seek the counsel of Saudi Foreign
Minister Saud al-Faisal before providing a response. He gave
no initial indication of the SAG position regarding Russian
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He noted that the
U.S. wanted recognition of Kosovo, but not Abkhazia or South
Ossetia, and asked why the situations were different.
Poloffs stressed that the historical and political contexts
were distinct, and that Kosovo had achieved significant
international recognition and was ready to function as a
fully sovereign state whereas Russia had failed to find any
support for recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
2. (C) COMMENT: Al-Malki could not provide any insight into
Saudi thinking on Abkhazia/South Ossetia, but the SAG is
likely to remain silent since it would gain no advantage by
taking a public position. Public rejection of Russia,s move
could antagonize Moscow, which the Saudis want to avoid since
they need Russian cooperation in areas of more urgent
national interest, principally in countering Iran's influence
in the region (this, in part, has also kept the SAG from
recognizing Kosovo). On the other hand, public recognition
would be out of character for the Saudis and, as they well
know, would not go down well with us. END COMMENT.
RUNDELL