Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1883
2008-12-30 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI-QATARI COORDINATION MEETING SEALS
how-toVZCZCXRO7114 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #1883 3651448 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301448Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9718 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001883
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREL QA SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI-QATARI COORDINATION MEETING SEALS
RECONCILIATION (AT LEAST FOR NOW)
REF: DOHA 877
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR LISA M. CARLE,
REASONS 1.4 B, D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001883
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREL QA SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI-QATARI COORDINATION MEETING SEALS
RECONCILIATION (AT LEAST FOR NOW)
REF: DOHA 877
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR LISA M. CARLE,
REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (C) RECONCILIATION OFFICIAL: As noted in reftel, Qatari
Crown Prince Tamim led a large delegation to Riyadh December
15-17 for the first meeting of the Qatar-Saudi Joint Council
on Coordination. Interior Minister Nayif stood in for Crown
Prince Sultan to lead the Saudi side. (Note: Sultan is
undergoing treatment for cancer in New York. End note.)
Saudi press accounts reported that the discussions covered a
wide range of political, military, economic bilateral issues.
Of particular significance was the signing of a land and sea
border protocol, completing the process of demarcating the
Saudi-Qatar border that had begun earlier in the year. The
draft agreement had been agreed in July when Shaikh Hamed bin
Jassem al-Thani visited Jeddah. Five other agreements were
also signed.
2. (C) GOOD WILL ABOUNDS: The visit the second major public
event in the recent Saudi-Qatari fence mending, the first
being the return of a Saudi Ambassador to Qatar in March of
this year after a hiatus of six years. Shaikh Tamim held
talks with Prince Nayif, a meeting described as the inaugural
of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. Sheikh Tamim was
subsequently hosted by King Abdullah at the King,s farm
outside Riyadh, with much media present. The Saudi evening
news gave Sheikh Tamim,s visit prominence, including footage
of the King and Sheikh Tamim lawn bowling at the farm and
embracing one another upon Tamim,s departure later on the
14th.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Saudi message appears to be that
Qatar-Saudi relations are repaired, friendly and important.
The reconciliation has been made possible, from the Saudi
perspective, by the recent softening of criticism of the
Saudi leadership on Al-Jazeera. It was outrage over
Al-Jazeera,s coverage of Saudi Arabia that prompted the
recall of the Saudi ambassador in 2002.
RUNDELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREL QA SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI-QATARI COORDINATION MEETING SEALS
RECONCILIATION (AT LEAST FOR NOW)
REF: DOHA 877
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR LISA M. CARLE,
REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (C) RECONCILIATION OFFICIAL: As noted in reftel, Qatari
Crown Prince Tamim led a large delegation to Riyadh December
15-17 for the first meeting of the Qatar-Saudi Joint Council
on Coordination. Interior Minister Nayif stood in for Crown
Prince Sultan to lead the Saudi side. (Note: Sultan is
undergoing treatment for cancer in New York. End note.)
Saudi press accounts reported that the discussions covered a
wide range of political, military, economic bilateral issues.
Of particular significance was the signing of a land and sea
border protocol, completing the process of demarcating the
Saudi-Qatar border that had begun earlier in the year. The
draft agreement had been agreed in July when Shaikh Hamed bin
Jassem al-Thani visited Jeddah. Five other agreements were
also signed.
2. (C) GOOD WILL ABOUNDS: The visit the second major public
event in the recent Saudi-Qatari fence mending, the first
being the return of a Saudi Ambassador to Qatar in March of
this year after a hiatus of six years. Shaikh Tamim held
talks with Prince Nayif, a meeting described as the inaugural
of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. Sheikh Tamim was
subsequently hosted by King Abdullah at the King,s farm
outside Riyadh, with much media present. The Saudi evening
news gave Sheikh Tamim,s visit prominence, including footage
of the King and Sheikh Tamim lawn bowling at the farm and
embracing one another upon Tamim,s departure later on the
14th.
3. (C) COMMENT: The Saudi message appears to be that
Qatar-Saudi relations are repaired, friendly and important.
The reconciliation has been made possible, from the Saudi
perspective, by the recent softening of criticism of the
Saudi leadership on Al-Jazeera. It was outrage over
Al-Jazeera,s coverage of Saudi Arabia that prompted the
recall of the Saudi ambassador in 2002.
RUNDELL