Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RIYADH108
2010-01-25 16:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
DEMARCHE RESPONSE: OUTREACH ON AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO7254 OO RUEHDH DE RUEHRH #0108 0251600 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 251600Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2375 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0319 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2956 RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN PRIORITY 0455 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0565
S E C R E T RIYADH 000108
NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR JARRETT BLANC -- S/SRAP, TOM GRAMAGLIA AND CAROLYN
COBERLY -- SCA/A, LONDON FOR GREG BERRY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN AF SA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: OUTREACH ON AFGHANISTAN
CONFERENCE
REF: SECSTATE 06355
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
SUMMARY
-------
S E C R E T RIYADH 000108
NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR JARRETT BLANC -- S/SRAP, TOM GRAMAGLIA AND CAROLYN
COBERLY -- SCA/A, LONDON FOR GREG BERRY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN AF SA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: OUTREACH ON AFGHANISTAN
CONFERENCE
REF: SECSTATE 06355
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) DCM met with Dr. Raed Krimly, MFA Director of Western
Affairs, on January 25 to discuss U.S. priorities for the
January 28 London Conference on Afghanistan and solicit Saudi
support for these goals per reftel. Econ Counselor also met
separately with Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Affairs
Sulaiman Al-Turki to discuss this issue on the same day.
Both expressed broad support for U.S. goals and priorities,
but Krimly suggested it may be "too early" to expect the
Saudis to make a public commitment to the Peace and
Reintegration Trust Fund. END SUMMARY.
MFA: BROAD SUPPORT FOR U.S. OBJECTIVES,
BUT SOME THINGS ARE COMING "TOO SOON"
--------------
2. (C) Krimly said he would travel with FM Prince Saud
Al-Faisal to attend the meeting on Afghanistan in London on
the 28th. They would leave for Paris on the evening of the
25th, and continue on to London on the morning of the 27th.
They were slated to attend the Yemen ministerial earlier in
the day, and the Afghanistan conference dinner event that
evening.
3. (C) FM Prince Saud Al-Faisal could be expected to lay out
the SAG's position on Afghanistan "briefly and concisely"
during his speech at the conference, Krimly said. This would
include voicing support for Afghan reconciliation, including
Afghan-led reintegration efforts aimed at former low- and
mid- level members of the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
However, he doubted that FM Saud would directly address the
financial aspects of the reintegration efforts, such as the
establishment of an international trust fund. It was "too
soon," Krimly explained, and they "needed more time...a
decision such as this would have to be made by the King."
4. (S/NF) Krimly then cautioned against forgetting
Afghanistan's history of decentralized government as we
discussed the transition of security-related
responsibilities, and suggested there may be opportunities to
deepen U.S.-Saudi cooperation aimed at the political
reintegration of the Pashtun community.
DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER: SAG COMMITTED, BUT CONCERNED
-------------- --------------
5. (SBU) In a separate meeting, Deputy Finance Minister for
Economic Affairs Sulaiman Al-Turki told Econ Counselor that
the SAG remains committed to stabilizing Afghanistan and the
region, but is deeply concerned about several domestic
issues, including corruption and narcotics trafficking. He
had no further substantive comment in response to reftel
points.
AMBASSADOR'S COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) My assessment is that the Saudis will fully support
the President's strategy on Afghanistan. It shows a cultural
awareness about a problem where the Saudis have some
experience. In my view, it is entirely consistent with both
King Abdulaziz's strategy for unifying the warring tribes in
Saudi Arabia, as well as the MOI's counterterrorism strategy
after the bombings in 2003. We should address with FM Prince
Saud the possibility of an ongoing dialogue with the Saudis
about how best to execute our Af/Pak strategy, and focus
first on establishing a "brain trust" fund, i.e., a way to
learn from the Saudis' experience with these issues. A
monetary trust fund would follow logically, with them as a
partner. END AMBASSADOR'S COMMENT.
SMITH
NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR JARRETT BLANC -- S/SRAP, TOM GRAMAGLIA AND CAROLYN
COBERLY -- SCA/A, LONDON FOR GREG BERRY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN AF SA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: OUTREACH ON AFGHANISTAN
CONFERENCE
REF: SECSTATE 06355
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) DCM met with Dr. Raed Krimly, MFA Director of Western
Affairs, on January 25 to discuss U.S. priorities for the
January 28 London Conference on Afghanistan and solicit Saudi
support for these goals per reftel. Econ Counselor also met
separately with Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Affairs
Sulaiman Al-Turki to discuss this issue on the same day.
Both expressed broad support for U.S. goals and priorities,
but Krimly suggested it may be "too early" to expect the
Saudis to make a public commitment to the Peace and
Reintegration Trust Fund. END SUMMARY.
MFA: BROAD SUPPORT FOR U.S. OBJECTIVES,
BUT SOME THINGS ARE COMING "TOO SOON"
--------------
2. (C) Krimly said he would travel with FM Prince Saud
Al-Faisal to attend the meeting on Afghanistan in London on
the 28th. They would leave for Paris on the evening of the
25th, and continue on to London on the morning of the 27th.
They were slated to attend the Yemen ministerial earlier in
the day, and the Afghanistan conference dinner event that
evening.
3. (C) FM Prince Saud Al-Faisal could be expected to lay out
the SAG's position on Afghanistan "briefly and concisely"
during his speech at the conference, Krimly said. This would
include voicing support for Afghan reconciliation, including
Afghan-led reintegration efforts aimed at former low- and
mid- level members of the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
However, he doubted that FM Saud would directly address the
financial aspects of the reintegration efforts, such as the
establishment of an international trust fund. It was "too
soon," Krimly explained, and they "needed more time...a
decision such as this would have to be made by the King."
4. (S/NF) Krimly then cautioned against forgetting
Afghanistan's history of decentralized government as we
discussed the transition of security-related
responsibilities, and suggested there may be opportunities to
deepen U.S.-Saudi cooperation aimed at the political
reintegration of the Pashtun community.
DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER: SAG COMMITTED, BUT CONCERNED
-------------- --------------
5. (SBU) In a separate meeting, Deputy Finance Minister for
Economic Affairs Sulaiman Al-Turki told Econ Counselor that
the SAG remains committed to stabilizing Afghanistan and the
region, but is deeply concerned about several domestic
issues, including corruption and narcotics trafficking. He
had no further substantive comment in response to reftel
points.
AMBASSADOR'S COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) My assessment is that the Saudis will fully support
the President's strategy on Afghanistan. It shows a cultural
awareness about a problem where the Saudis have some
experience. In my view, it is entirely consistent with both
King Abdulaziz's strategy for unifying the warring tribes in
Saudi Arabia, as well as the MOI's counterterrorism strategy
after the bombings in 2003. We should address with FM Prince
Saud the possibility of an ongoing dialogue with the Saudis
about how best to execute our Af/Pak strategy, and focus
first on establishing a "brain trust" fund, i.e., a way to
learn from the Saudis' experience with these issues. A
monetary trust fund would follow logically, with them as a
partner. END AMBASSADOR'S COMMENT.
SMITH