Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH446
2008-03-15 14:41:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
UPDATE ON CRITICAL ENERGY COOPERATION WITH SAUDI
how-toVZCZCXRO5980 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #0446 0751441 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 151441Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8005 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0198 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHRMAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T RIYADH 000446
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR DAS GGRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY PASS TO A/S KKOLEVAR, A/S KHARBERT, AND
MWILLIAMSON
S/CT FOR GFEIERSTEIN AND BAVERILL
DS/ATA FOR KMALOY
TREASURY PASS TO A/S CLOWERY
DHS PASS TO TWARRICK AND DGRANT
CIA PASS TO TCOYNE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2018
TAGS: KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SAO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CRITICAL ENERGY COOPERATION WITH SAUDI
ARABIA
REF: 3/10/2008 E-MAIL SROSS-JFEIERSTEIN KKOLEVAR...
"MOI DRAFT AGREEMENT"
Classified By: Ambassador Ford Fraker for reasons
1.4 (b) (c) and (d).
S E C R E T RIYADH 000446
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR DAS GGRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY PASS TO A/S KKOLEVAR, A/S KHARBERT, AND
MWILLIAMSON
S/CT FOR GFEIERSTEIN AND BAVERILL
DS/ATA FOR KMALOY
TREASURY PASS TO A/S CLOWERY
DHS PASS TO TWARRICK AND DGRANT
CIA PASS TO TCOYNE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2018
TAGS: KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SAO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CRITICAL ENERGY COOPERATION WITH SAUDI
ARABIA
REF: 3/10/2008 E-MAIL SROSS-JFEIERSTEIN KKOLEVAR...
"MOI DRAFT AGREEMENT"
Classified By: Ambassador Ford Fraker for reasons
1.4 (b) (c) and (d).
1. (S) Ambassador Fraker and ADCM Rundell met with HRH
Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Prince
Mohammed bin Nayif on 11 March to discuss funding Critical
Infrastructure Protection (CIP) activities of the Joint
Working Group (JWG),in light of the Vice President's
upcoming visit to Riyadh, and pending plans for CIP projects.
Prince Mohammed spoke of his keen desire to move forward
with Saudi-US cooperation in this area, and stated he "did
not want bureaucracy to stand in the way" of this important
project.
2. (S) Nonetheless, the unexpected 10 March Saudi proposal
to utilize a contracting mechanism (Ref A) to carry out
JWG-CIP financial transfers in lieu of the previously
circulated financial memorandum has temporarily complicated
our path forward. Ambassador Fraker indicated to Prince
Mohammed that we understood that the MOI did not want to
delay implementation of a financial cooperation mechanism to
clear it through multiple Saudi ministries. (Note: The MOI
has indicated the Ministry of Finance and other ministries
would have to approve any "memorandum" - which constitutes an
international agreement - substantially slowing its signature
and implementation. End note.) Ambassador Fraker told
Prince Mohammed we could consider signing a short-term
contractual mechanism now, but as a way-station towards
signing an international agreement which lays out the
long-term financial and administrative architecture for the
JWG-CIP program. He cautioned that a contract, particularly
one renewed on a yearly basis, could easily fall through the
cracks or be substantially delayed during a change in U.S.
administration.
3. (S) Ambassador Fraker emphasized our responsibility to
secure the long-term future of the CIP program. He
encouraged Prince Mohammed to consider that by signing a
memorandum - an international agreement to finance the JWG -
we will put institutionalize the JWG financial and
administrative mechanism in an international agreement. He
expressed his hopes that this issue could be further
discussed during Vice President Cheney's March 21-22 visit to
Riyadh.
FRAKER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR DAS GGRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY PASS TO A/S KKOLEVAR, A/S KHARBERT, AND
MWILLIAMSON
S/CT FOR GFEIERSTEIN AND BAVERILL
DS/ATA FOR KMALOY
TREASURY PASS TO A/S CLOWERY
DHS PASS TO TWARRICK AND DGRANT
CIA PASS TO TCOYNE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2018
TAGS: KCIP EPET ENERG PTER ASEC SAO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CRITICAL ENERGY COOPERATION WITH SAUDI
ARABIA
REF: 3/10/2008 E-MAIL SROSS-JFEIERSTEIN KKOLEVAR...
"MOI DRAFT AGREEMENT"
Classified By: Ambassador Ford Fraker for reasons
1.4 (b) (c) and (d).
1. (S) Ambassador Fraker and ADCM Rundell met with HRH
Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Prince
Mohammed bin Nayif on 11 March to discuss funding Critical
Infrastructure Protection (CIP) activities of the Joint
Working Group (JWG),in light of the Vice President's
upcoming visit to Riyadh, and pending plans for CIP projects.
Prince Mohammed spoke of his keen desire to move forward
with Saudi-US cooperation in this area, and stated he "did
not want bureaucracy to stand in the way" of this important
project.
2. (S) Nonetheless, the unexpected 10 March Saudi proposal
to utilize a contracting mechanism (Ref A) to carry out
JWG-CIP financial transfers in lieu of the previously
circulated financial memorandum has temporarily complicated
our path forward. Ambassador Fraker indicated to Prince
Mohammed that we understood that the MOI did not want to
delay implementation of a financial cooperation mechanism to
clear it through multiple Saudi ministries. (Note: The MOI
has indicated the Ministry of Finance and other ministries
would have to approve any "memorandum" - which constitutes an
international agreement - substantially slowing its signature
and implementation. End note.) Ambassador Fraker told
Prince Mohammed we could consider signing a short-term
contractual mechanism now, but as a way-station towards
signing an international agreement which lays out the
long-term financial and administrative architecture for the
JWG-CIP program. He cautioned that a contract, particularly
one renewed on a yearly basis, could easily fall through the
cracks or be substantially delayed during a change in U.S.
administration.
3. (S) Ambassador Fraker emphasized our responsibility to
secure the long-term future of the CIP program. He
encouraged Prince Mohammed to consider that by signing a
memorandum - an international agreement to finance the JWG -
we will put institutionalize the JWG financial and
administrative mechanism in an international agreement. He
expressed his hopes that this issue could be further
discussed during Vice President Cheney's March 21-22 visit to
Riyadh.
FRAKER