C-NE7-01842: SAUDI-QATAR RELATIONS WARMING; WILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000291

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR QA SA
SUBJECT: C-NE7-01842: SAUDI-QATAR RELATIONS WARMING; WILL
IT LAST?

REF: SECSTATE 162695

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Saudi-Qatar relations appear to be warming,
however, there is little evidence of long-term improvements.
The Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs at the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) told PolOff during a February
13 meeting that Saudi-Qatar tensions are not played out in
the GCC forum, and that although they may be present, the GCC
does not deal with conflict. The Head of the GCC Department
at the MFA similarly told PolOff during a February 18 meeting
that Saudi-Qatar relations are cordial, but not warm.
However, the GCC is not involved with these tensions, only
the SAG directly. The SAG is aiming to send their ambassador
to Doha within one month and does not feel that the recent
opposition by Qatar to new regulations on satellite
television will cause problems for the bilateral relations.
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Qatar Embassy in Riyadh
also echoed this sentiment, but added that the Qatari
embassy's presence in Riyadh is to appease the "big kid on
the block" and does not deal with the SAG on an official
basis. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) During a February 13 meeting with PolOff, Assistant
Secretary General for Political Affairs at the GCC

SIPDIS
Headquarters Dr. Abdulkarim al-Hamady told PolOff that the
GCC is unaffected by any "real or perceived" tensions between
Saudi Arabia and Qatar. However, alluding to these tensions,
al-Hamady emphasized that the GCC does not handle bilateral
disputes. He acknowledged a GCC body that "technically
exists" to handle issues with GCC member states, but he
stated that this body is only on paper, as its "judges" are
the GCC heads of state. Al-Hamady added that the GCC as a
matter of policy avoids conflict and adopts "general-enough
policies on major issues" so as not to cause any problems.


3. (C) The GCC position was largely echoed by Head of the
GCC Department at the Saudi MFA Abdullah al-Shamarani during
his February 18 meeting with PolOff. Al-Shamarani stated
that Saudi-Qatar relations are good and are slowly improving
through "proper channels." He said that a new ambassador has
been appointed and will be posted to Doha most likely within
one month. (Note: Media outlets reported an announcement of
an ambassadorial appointment in early December 2007, but the
SAG had not indicated when the posting would begin. There
has not been a Saudi ambassador in Doha for more than five
years. End Note.) According to al-Shamarani, the timing of
the ambassador's Doha arrival signals "good will" from Saudi
Arabia to improve relations, particularly in light of the
upcoming 106th meeting of the GCC foreign ministers in Riyadh
on March 1-2. Although he spoke very diplomatically about
the SAG, al-Shamarani indicated that the bilateral
relationship is "cordial, not warm."


4. (C) Commenting on Qatar's opposition to new regulations
on satellite television stations adopted by Arab ministers in
Cairo on February 12, al-Shamarani said that the Qatari
information minister was not even present at the meeting.
(Note: This statement conflicts with media reports.
According to Al-Hayat (02/13),the Qatari Information
Minister was present, and stated he could not sign the
regulations until higher Qatari officials reviewed it. End
Note). Further, he said that it "did not matter" whether
Qatar opposed these regulations because they are based upon
basic principles in the GCC charter agreed by all GCC member
states, including Qatar. He dismissed the notion that
Qatar's decision would have any impact on current Saudi-Qatar
relations. However, the British Broadcasting Cooperation
(BBC) and several local news agencies noted that Qatar-based
Al-Jazeera television appeared to be the key target of these
regulations. They also quoted an unnamed Qatari diplomat as
saying, "Qatar's reservations on the document stemmed from
that the document served primarily the interests of Saudi
Arabia, which was behind the initiative to draft and
implement it."


5. (SBU) Although Al-Jazeera -- a thorn in Saudi-Qatar
relations -- recently made headway with Saudi Arabia,
seemingly softening its position on the SAG and increasing
its coverage of the Kingdom. Recent media reports noted
Al-Jazeera has permission and plans to create a Riyadh bureau
in the coming months. Despite these steps, the relationship
seems to be backsliding.


6. (SBU) During recent live coverage of the rival faction
gatherings in Lebanon on February 14, PolOff watched as
Al-Jazeera television stated that the political crisis in
Lebanon is really "a result of the standoff between the U.S.

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and Saudi Arabia on one side, and Syria and Iran on the
other." The broadcasters repeated this sentiment, commenting
negatively on the role of Saudi Arabia in Lebanese politics.
Additionally, while showing the anti-Syrian majority March 14
leaders' speeches in memory of former Lebanese Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri, the live broadcast switched between a single
screen with the speaker to a tri-partite screen showing the
speaker, his crowd, and the crowd forming in south Beirut.
(Note: The funeral of assassinated Hizbollah figure Imad
Mughniyeh was held on the same day in the largely Shia
section of south Beirut. End Note.) While showing the crowd
at Hariri's commemoration, Al-Jazeera only showed its edges,
with only a handful of people. (Note: The other major
international news networks showed the masses, estimated at
over one million people, cheering and waving Lebanese flags.
End Note.) While Saad Hariri, son of the former PM, spoke,
Al-Jazeera showed a split screen with Hariri on the right and
a photo of Mughniyeh on the left. This reporting of a
regional crisis that the SAG is working very closely to
resolve does not reflect that of an Al-Jazeera with good will
towards Saudi Arabia.


7. (C) The Deputy Chief of Mission Abdullah al-Mansouri at
the Qatar Embassy in Riyadh told PolOff on January 28 that
Saudi-Qatar relations are somewhat "warming," but there has
been "no actual change" in policy or action on the part of
the SAG. He said that both governments will continue to
"warm" relations because there are too many other important
issues in the region and the GCC needs to be as strong and
united as possible. He added, "in ten years' time, when the
other regional conflicts are settled, we (the GOQ and SAG)
can pick up this disagreement again."


8. (C) Al-Mansouri said that the Government of Qatar (GOQ)
learned of the December 2007 announcement of a Saudi
ambassadorial appointment to Doha through the media; to date,
the SAG has not officially informed the GOQ of its
intentions. However, the GOQ wants a Saudi ambassador in
Doha as soon as possible. According to al-Mansouri, the
Qatari ambassador has been in Riyadh for twelve years, and
will remain until a Saudi ambassador arrives in Doha.
Al-Mansouri said that he has heard unofficially from the SAG
that the ambassador will be the current Consul General in
Dubai.


9. (C) When asked why the GOQ maintains an embassy in
Riyadh, al-Mansouri replied that Saudi Arabia, and King
Abdullah in particular, is the "big kid on the block." Qatar
cannot afford to isolate itself from the SAG, and it does not
want to aggravate the already-tense situation. He remarked
that the GOQ keeps a small embassy in Riyadh, has "cordial--
if very tense and unofficial" relations, and avoids all
serious areas of discussion-- leaving those topics for the
GCC forum. According to al-Mansouri, Iran is Qatar's biggest
regional issue of concern, but the GOQ will only discuss it
with the SAG in the context of the GCC. Al-Mansouri said
that within the GCC, the GOQ feels secure enough to raise
serious issues and even challenge the SAG when it disagrees
with Saudi policy.


10. (C) COMMENT: While most signs point to a thawing of
relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, it seems as though
it is partially superficial and may not last. If the Saudi
Ambassador does arrive in Doha prior to the March GCC
meeting, or even the Arab League Summit, it would demonstrate
good will on the part of the SAG and could go far in
improving relations. That being said, however, Al-Jazeera's
continued "biased" reporting on the Kingdom, especially in
light of the recent adoption of Arab League regulations on
satellite television channels and Qatar's rejection of these
regulations, could tarnish the positive movement in bilateral
relations. END COMMENT.
FRAKER