Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DOHA117
2009-02-11 13:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR: QATAR WILL "POSTPONE" GAZA
how-toVZCZCXRO8517 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDO #0117 0421344 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111344Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8742 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS DOHA 000117
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL WEBZ QA IS
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR: QATAR WILL "POSTPONE" GAZA
WAR CRIMES CONFERENCE
REF: A. DOHA 089
B. DOHA 42
----------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
----------------
-- In a February 10 conversation with Poloff Caudill,
National Human Rights Committee Chirman Dr. Ali Said Al-Marri
stated that Qatar had decided to postpone the Gaza war crimes
conference. The conference had been scheduled to take place
February 22-24 in Doha (see ref A).
-- In his conversation with Poloff Caudill, Al-Marri said
that the conference would be postponed because some of the
Palestinian invitees were unable to attend.
--------------
(SBU) COMMENTS
--------------
-- The postponement of this conference, which was certain
to turn generate widespread publicity in the Arab world, is a
significant step back from the radical camp toward which
Qatar has moved in recent weeks (see ref B).
-- Embassy recommends that we reciprocate this gesture with a
call from Special Envoy Mitchell to Prime Minister Hamad bin
Jassim to update him on Senator Mitchell's activities in the
region and to solicit Qatari views on the Palestinian-Israeli
issue.
End Key Points and Comments.
UNCLAS DOHA 000117
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL WEBZ QA IS
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR: QATAR WILL "POSTPONE" GAZA
WAR CRIMES CONFERENCE
REF: A. DOHA 089
B. DOHA 42
--------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- In a February 10 conversation with Poloff Caudill,
National Human Rights Committee Chirman Dr. Ali Said Al-Marri
stated that Qatar had decided to postpone the Gaza war crimes
conference. The conference had been scheduled to take place
February 22-24 in Doha (see ref A).
-- In his conversation with Poloff Caudill, Al-Marri said
that the conference would be postponed because some of the
Palestinian invitees were unable to attend.
--------------
(SBU) COMMENTS
--------------
-- The postponement of this conference, which was certain
to turn generate widespread publicity in the Arab world, is a
significant step back from the radical camp toward which
Qatar has moved in recent weeks (see ref B).
-- Embassy recommends that we reciprocate this gesture with a
call from Special Envoy Mitchell to Prime Minister Hamad bin
Jassim to update him on Senator Mitchell's activities in the
region and to solicit Qatari views on the Palestinian-Israeli
issue.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (SBU) In a February 10 conversation with Poloff Caudill,
National Human Rights Committee Chairman Dr. Ali Said
Al-Marri stated that Qatar would "postpone" the Gaza war
crimes conference scheduled to take place February 22-24 in
Doha.
2. (SBU) The postponement came after a February 4
conversation between Ambassador and Al-Marri in which
Ambassador urged him to postpone the Conference, given that
the U.S.-Islamic World Forum was scheduled for the week
preceding it. Ambassador cautioned that it might be difficult
for the U.S. to participate in the Forum if Qatar went ahead
with the "war crimes' conference as planned. Dr. Al-Marri
agreed to consult with his counterparts in the human rights
community and report back to Ambassador.
3. (SBU Al-Marri said that the conference would be
"postponed" because some of the Palestinian activists who had
been invited to the Conference were unable to attend.
LeBaron
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL WEBZ QA IS
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR: QATAR WILL "POSTPONE" GAZA
WAR CRIMES CONFERENCE
REF: A. DOHA 089
B. DOHA 42
--------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- In a February 10 conversation with Poloff Caudill,
National Human Rights Committee Chirman Dr. Ali Said Al-Marri
stated that Qatar had decided to postpone the Gaza war crimes
conference. The conference had been scheduled to take place
February 22-24 in Doha (see ref A).
-- In his conversation with Poloff Caudill, Al-Marri said
that the conference would be postponed because some of the
Palestinian invitees were unable to attend.
--------------
(SBU) COMMENTS
--------------
-- The postponement of this conference, which was certain
to turn generate widespread publicity in the Arab world, is a
significant step back from the radical camp toward which
Qatar has moved in recent weeks (see ref B).
-- Embassy recommends that we reciprocate this gesture with a
call from Special Envoy Mitchell to Prime Minister Hamad bin
Jassim to update him on Senator Mitchell's activities in the
region and to solicit Qatari views on the Palestinian-Israeli
issue.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (SBU) In a February 10 conversation with Poloff Caudill,
National Human Rights Committee Chairman Dr. Ali Said
Al-Marri stated that Qatar would "postpone" the Gaza war
crimes conference scheduled to take place February 22-24 in
Doha.
2. (SBU) The postponement came after a February 4
conversation between Ambassador and Al-Marri in which
Ambassador urged him to postpone the Conference, given that
the U.S.-Islamic World Forum was scheduled for the week
preceding it. Ambassador cautioned that it might be difficult
for the U.S. to participate in the Forum if Qatar went ahead
with the "war crimes' conference as planned. Dr. Al-Marri
agreed to consult with his counterparts in the human rights
community and report back to Ambassador.
3. (SBU Al-Marri said that the conference would be
"postponed" because some of the Palestinian activists who had
been invited to the Conference were unable to attend.
LeBaron