QATAR CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK ON SAUDI PRINCE;

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000539

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER QA SA
SUBJECT: QATAR CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK ON SAUDI PRINCE;
CONGRATULATES SAUDI ROYAL FAMILY ON HIS SURVIVAL

Classified By: CDA Mirembe L. Nantongo for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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(U) KEY POINTS
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-- The Government of Qatar strongly condemned the August 27
attempted assassination of Saudi Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef
Al-Saud, Deputy Minister of the Interior, and reiterated its
rejection of all forms of terrorism.

-- Amir Shaykh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Heir Apparent
Shaykh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Shaykh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani
all sent messages of support to the senior-most figures in
the Saudi government.

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(C) COMMENTS
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-- (C) Qatar's immediate and decisive condemnation of the
attempt on the Prince's life is evidence of the continuing
rapprochement between the Gulf Emirate and Saudi Arabia,
beginning with King Abdullah's attendance at the December
2007 GCC Summit in Doha. That Qatar's three most important
political figures each sent a personal message is not
surprising since Prince Mohammad's father is third in line to
the Saudi throne.

-- (C) The messages also serve as a strong public statement
of Qatar's opposition to terrorism.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (U) Qatar strongly condemned the August 27 suicide attack
on Saudi Arabia's Deputy Interior Minister, Prince Mohammad
Bin Nayef Al-Saud, according to multiple local press sources.
An official at Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
reiterated his country's "firm rejection, condemnation and
denunciation of terrorism regardless of its form or source."
This official also stressed Qatar's support for Saudi Arabia,
"expressing best wishes of stability and safety for the
brotherly kingdom."


2. (U) Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Hamad Bin
Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani sent cables of support August 27 to
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown
Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Minister of the
Interior (and father of the intended victim) Nayef Bin
Abdulaziz Al-Saud.


3. (U) Qatar's Amir Shaykh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and his
son and Heir Apparent, Shaykh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, sent
their own separate messages August 28 to the same individuals
as the Prime Minister did the previous day, expressing
Qatar's "full solidarity with the Saudi leadership in its
efforts for countering terrorism."
Nantongo