KING ABDULLAH SPEAKS WITH KARZAI

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001414 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019 TAGS: SA AF PREL PGOV SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH SPEAKS WITH KARZAI Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) On October 21 the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced that King Abdullah spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the telephone. According to the SPA, the King assured Karzai of the SAG's long-standing commitment to Afghanistan while Karzai thanked King Abdullah for his good will towards Afghanistan. Karzai was said to add that the people of Afghanistan respected the King as a distinguished figure in the Muslim world. ¶2. (U) Ahmad Ali Babak, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Riyadh, confirmed that Karzai and Adbullah speak directly via telephone on occasion. He characterized these phone calls as, "unofficial talks between two leaders," and was unable to offer any further comment. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: While we don't have specifics about the conversation, the SAG clearly wants the contacts known, perhaps to publicly advertise Saudi support for Karzai and his government in the face of post-election turmoil. End comment. SMITH