DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RIYADH DECLARATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001197 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PM/PPA FOR DONNA HOPKINS AND DAVID FORAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2019 TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL SA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RIYADH DECLARATION COUNTER-PIRACY PATROL REF: A. SECSTATE 83529 ¶B. RIYADH 996 Classified By: CDA AMBASSADOR RICHARD ERDMAN FOR REASONS 1.4(b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Post delivered ref A demarche points to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 17. United Nations Director General Ambassador Adnan Baghdadi. Citing the June 29 Riyadh Declaration, Baghdadi emphasized respect for Somalia's territorial interests and noted the Kingdom's role as a liaison for anti-piracy efforts. Asked about the participation of the U.S. and the specifics of the Saudi military contributions, however, Baghdadi demurred. END SUMMARY. DEMARCHE DELIVERED, SAUDI REACTION AS EXPECTED -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) Per instructions in ref A, PolMiloff delivered the demarche points to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) interim point of contact for piracy issues, Ambassador Adnan Baghdadi, Director General of the United Nations Department. The main MFA point of contact on piracy issues was abroad and unable to receive the demarche. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Baghdadi did not provide a copy of the Riyadh Declaration which was issued following the June 29 meeting in Riyadh of representatives from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan, and Djibouti, although he did highlight the most salient points. He also mentioned that he would ask a colleague to supply Post with the Arabic version of the Declaration upon his return to the country. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON RIYADH DECLARATION -------------- ¶4. (U) The Riyadh Declaration emphasized respect for the sovereignty and territorial unity of Somalia and stated that piracy was a result of internal Somali instability. The Declaration called for greater coordination of anti-piracy efforts among the 11 invited states with the goal of forming a military force with participation from all 11 states. The exact nature of each state's contribution was to be discussed at a second follow-up meeting to be held in Riyadh at the end of August. According to Ambassador Baghdadi, the second meeting may be delayed due to the start of Ramadan on or about August 22. ¶5. (U) Ambassador Baghdadi noted that during the June 29 meeting, Saudi Arabia was chosen as the main point of contact to liaise with international organizations, namely the UN and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). He stated that a copy of the Riyadh Declaration would be shared with the UN either during or after the second meeting of the 11 original participants. ¶6. (U) PolMiloff inquired whether other states, namely the U.S., would be invited to participate as observers at the second meeting. Ambassador Baghdadi suggested that any such request should be made directly to the Minister of Foreign Affairs with an accompanying explanation as to the need for observation. PolMiloff also asked what Riyadh's specific contribution to the proposed military force would be; however, Ambassador Baghdadi declined to answer saying instead that those types of details would be worked out at the August meeting. He did, however, say that he thought Saudi Arabia and Egypt would be two of the biggest contributors to the force, due to the size of their navies. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) The Defense Attache Office (DAO) believes the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) do not have the capacity at this time to conduct extended maritime patrol operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, or Indian Ocean operating areas. In the past, RSNF has sortied one frigate to assist with CTF 151 (Anti-piracy Combined Task Force run by NAVCENT) operations in limited counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. Ambassador Baghdadi's reticence was probably due to the fact that he is not the subject matter expert and not aware of all the details of Saudi participation, if in RIYADH 00001197 002 OF 002 fact such details have been decided. We suspect any actual operational cooperation of regional navies to be long in the making. Post will continue to monitor the situation for any developments. MUENCH