QATAR SEES SLOW PROGRESS ON ITS GCC COMMON

S E C R E T DOHA 000729

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PNUC ECON EFIN QA IR
SUBJECT: QATAR SEES SLOW PROGRESS ON ITS GCC COMMON
SECURITY PROPOSALS

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron, for reasons 1.4 (b, d).

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(S) KEY POINTS
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-- Qatar's Prime Minister's May proposal to GCC states
calling for establishing common positions and greater
cooperation (with Iran in mind) continues to undergo review
and study by member states, according to the MFA Director for
GCC Affairs, Yousef Al-Jaber.

-- According to Al-Jaber, the Prime Minister's proposal
contains recommendations for greater information sharing and
the establishment of a GCC central command center, a joint
military working group, and a joint air force squadron.

-- Separately, Qatar's former Ambassador to the United
Kingdom, Sherida Al-Kaabi (who grew up in the same
neighborhood as the Prime Minister),expressed frustration
that Iran, not the West, is driving the agenda of the back
and forth on its nuclear program. He said the Prime Minister
shares his concern that Iran is merely stalling for time.

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(S) COMMENTS
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-- We note that Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani
(HBJ) himself told NEA A/S Feltman earlier this month
(septel) that the West needs to get commitments from Tehran
in writing, and that it is in Iran's interest not to bring
negotiations to an end.

-- While Qatar does not express its concerns publicly,
frustrations such as Al-Kaabi's are increasingly voiced to us
in private as concern here grows about the prospect of a
nuclear-armed Iran.

-- HBJ's proposals to the GCC on common security fulfill a
pledge that he made to Dennis Ross before Ross joined the
NSC.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (S) MFA Director for GCC Affairs Yousef Al-Jaber told P/E
Chief Rice December 20 that Qatar's proposal encouraging GCC
member states to work as a group and establish common
positions on military and security postures and policies is
still under review by GCC members. Qatar's Prime Minister,
HBJ, originally tabled the proposal May 5.


2. (S) According to Al-Jaber, contained in the Qatari
proposal are the establishment of a GCC central command
center, a joint military working group, and a joint air force
squadron. Qatar's proposal, he said, also calls for
increased information sharing so that all GCC members have
the same information on external threats. Even though there
has been no GCC decision on any of these proposals, Al-Jaber
said that the individual governments making up the GCC are
giving Qatar's proposal a serious and thoughtful review.


3. (S) Al-Jaber acknowledged that Qatar's basket of proposals
have Iran in mind as a common GCC threat. While progress is
slow on deciding aspects of Qatar's proposal, the GOQ was
pleased that GCC leaders during the December 14-15 summit
held in Kuwait called on Iran to give the IAEA full access to
its nuclear facilities, while calling for a peaceful
resolution to this problem that respects Iran's right for the
peaceful, civilian use of nuclear energy.


4. (S) Separately, Qatar's former Ambassador to the United
Kingdom during the Thatcher years, Sherida Al-Kaabi, told P/E
Chief in late November that "time is running out" to stop
Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. He said
it is vital that the U.S. focus Iran's leaders on fixing a
deadline for Iran's giving up its program and not continue to
allow Tehran to set the agenda. Al-Kaabi made these comments
days after HBJ, his childhood friend, made a rare appearance
at the former ambassador's majlis. According to Al-Kaabi,
HBJ during his visit expressed concern that Iran, not the
West, is driving the agenda and stalling for time.

LeBaron