Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1345
2008-09-02 04:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDIS CONSIDER KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA
how-toVZCZCXRO2794 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #1345 2460435 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 020435Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9110 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0002 RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0015 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 9728
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001345
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018
TAGS: PREL SA UNGA KV RU
SUBJECT: SAUDIS CONSIDER KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA
REF: SECSTATE 91908
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 001345
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018
TAGS: PREL SA UNGA KV RU
SUBJECT: SAUDIS CONSIDER KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA
REF: SECSTATE 91908
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche (Reftel A) to
Ambassador Talal al-Malki, temporarily covering European
issues in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Malki
responded that he would refer the matter of the proposed
Kosovo ICJ resolution to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud
al-Faisal. He told Embassy Poloffs to expect a response in
the coming days.
2. (C) COMMENT. As reported in Reftel B, the Saudis were
moving closer to recognition of Kosovo prior to the recent
Russo-Georgian war. The SAG recognizes how sensitive Kosovo
recognition is to Russia. We expect the Saudis will probably
seek to avoid antagonizing Moscow to the detriment of their
own bilateral relationship with them. Saudi Arabia has a
large weapons purchase pending with Russia. The Saudis
likely view this arms deal as a way to wean Moscow away from
Tehran and to maintain a certain amount of influence with a
P5 member. Iran remains a much greater Saudi foreign policy
priority than Kosovo, which the SAG views solely as a
European concern. END COMMENT.
RUNDELL
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR BMASILKO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018
TAGS: PREL SA UNGA KV RU
SUBJECT: SAUDIS CONSIDER KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA
REF: SECSTATE 91908
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche (Reftel A) to
Ambassador Talal al-Malki, temporarily covering European
issues in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Malki
responded that he would refer the matter of the proposed
Kosovo ICJ resolution to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud
al-Faisal. He told Embassy Poloffs to expect a response in
the coming days.
2. (C) COMMENT. As reported in Reftel B, the Saudis were
moving closer to recognition of Kosovo prior to the recent
Russo-Georgian war. The SAG recognizes how sensitive Kosovo
recognition is to Russia. We expect the Saudis will probably
seek to avoid antagonizing Moscow to the detriment of their
own bilateral relationship with them. Saudi Arabia has a
large weapons purchase pending with Russia. The Saudis
likely view this arms deal as a way to wean Moscow away from
Tehran and to maintain a certain amount of influence with a
P5 member. Iran remains a much greater Saudi foreign policy
priority than Kosovo, which the SAG views solely as a
European concern. END COMMENT.
RUNDELL