Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH1156
2009-09-05 09:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI MINISTER OF STATE MADANI ON UAE, YEMEN,
how-toVZCZCXRO9474 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #1156 2480901 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 050901Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1517 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 2531 RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN PRIORITY 0002
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001156
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA SA AM AE YM
SUBJECT: SAUDI MINISTER OF STATE MADANI ON UAE, YEMEN,
SAUDI-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
REF: ABU DHABI 849
Classified By: CDA Ambassador Richard Erdman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001156
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA SA AM AE YM
SUBJECT: SAUDI MINISTER OF STATE MADANI ON UAE, YEMEN,
SAUDI-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
REF: ABU DHABI 849
Classified By: CDA Ambassador Richard Erdman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D
)
1. (C) During a September 2 meeting on other topics reported
septel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Madani
also informed Charge of Foreign Minister Prince Saud
Al-Faisal's current travel plans; downplayed the significance
of recent Saudi-UAE disagreements; said the GCC was
discussing appropriate steps to take in Yemen; and suggested
the Saudis would reevaluate their position vis-a-vis Armenia
in light of the recent Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.
Highlights follow.
2. (C) SAUD AND UNGA: Regarding FM Saud's UNGA plans,
Madani indicated it was not yet 100% confirmed that Saud
would head their delegation but that they would know next
week. Saud, he said, might need to come back the Kingdom to
participate in the KAUST inauguration activities on September
23. In that case, Madani would lead the delegation in Saud's
absence. With respect to the G-20, Madani did not respond to
Charge's question about who they were thinking of to lead
their delegation.
3. (C) SAUDI-UAE RELATIONS: Madani matter-of-factly
downplayed recent Saudi-UAE tensions (reftel). He
acknowledged that there were problems; said they were in
discussion with the Emiratis; and assured that things would
be "fixed in the near future." Charge said we hoped both
parties would work things out amicably, as friends and
neighbors, so there would be maximum unity to address the
more serious problems in the region.
4. (C) TROUBLE IN YEMEN: The problems in Yemen had been
discussed at the GCC Ministerial the previous evening.
Yemeni FM Qirbi had sent the group a message conveying the
Yemeni leadership's concerns about the situation and Iranian
meddling and asking for GCC support. Madani said the
situation was indeed dire, the GCC meeting the evening before
had expressed a willingness to provide financial and
political support to Yemen, and GCC SYG Abdul Rathman
al-Attiyah had been dispatched to Yemen to meet with
President Saleh and others to discuss in greater detail how
GCC could best be of help. Asked if there was hard evidence
of Iranian involvement, Madani deflected the question,
saying, "that,s what the Yemenis are saying. Everyone is
convinced Iran is supplying arms to the Houthis, but of
course arms are fungible."
5. (C) SAUDI-ARMENIAN RELATIONS: Charge asked about a 2008
letter from the Armenians to FM Prince Saud indicating their
interest in establishing diplomatic relations with the
Kingdom. Madani answered that the Saudis have, up to this
point, approached the issue from the within the OIC
framework, i.e., to support Azerbaijan. Asked if the
historic agreement between Turkey and Armenia would have any
impact on Saudi thinking, Madani thought the Saudis would
take another look at their position in light of this positive
development.
ERDMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA SA AM AE YM
SUBJECT: SAUDI MINISTER OF STATE MADANI ON UAE, YEMEN,
SAUDI-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
REF: ABU DHABI 849
Classified By: CDA Ambassador Richard Erdman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D
)
1. (C) During a September 2 meeting on other topics reported
septel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Madani
also informed Charge of Foreign Minister Prince Saud
Al-Faisal's current travel plans; downplayed the significance
of recent Saudi-UAE disagreements; said the GCC was
discussing appropriate steps to take in Yemen; and suggested
the Saudis would reevaluate their position vis-a-vis Armenia
in light of the recent Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.
Highlights follow.
2. (C) SAUD AND UNGA: Regarding FM Saud's UNGA plans,
Madani indicated it was not yet 100% confirmed that Saud
would head their delegation but that they would know next
week. Saud, he said, might need to come back the Kingdom to
participate in the KAUST inauguration activities on September
23. In that case, Madani would lead the delegation in Saud's
absence. With respect to the G-20, Madani did not respond to
Charge's question about who they were thinking of to lead
their delegation.
3. (C) SAUDI-UAE RELATIONS: Madani matter-of-factly
downplayed recent Saudi-UAE tensions (reftel). He
acknowledged that there were problems; said they were in
discussion with the Emiratis; and assured that things would
be "fixed in the near future." Charge said we hoped both
parties would work things out amicably, as friends and
neighbors, so there would be maximum unity to address the
more serious problems in the region.
4. (C) TROUBLE IN YEMEN: The problems in Yemen had been
discussed at the GCC Ministerial the previous evening.
Yemeni FM Qirbi had sent the group a message conveying the
Yemeni leadership's concerns about the situation and Iranian
meddling and asking for GCC support. Madani said the
situation was indeed dire, the GCC meeting the evening before
had expressed a willingness to provide financial and
political support to Yemen, and GCC SYG Abdul Rathman
al-Attiyah had been dispatched to Yemen to meet with
President Saleh and others to discuss in greater detail how
GCC could best be of help. Asked if there was hard evidence
of Iranian involvement, Madani deflected the question,
saying, "that,s what the Yemenis are saying. Everyone is
convinced Iran is supplying arms to the Houthis, but of
course arms are fungible."
5. (C) SAUDI-ARMENIAN RELATIONS: Charge asked about a 2008
letter from the Armenians to FM Prince Saud indicating their
interest in establishing diplomatic relations with the
Kingdom. Madani answered that the Saudis have, up to this
point, approached the issue from the within the OIC
framework, i.e., to support Azerbaijan. Asked if the
historic agreement between Turkey and Armenia would have any
impact on Saudi thinking, Madani thought the Saudis would
take another look at their position in light of this positive
development.
ERDMAN