FM SAUD AL-FAISAL: RELATIONS WITH JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 003041


E.O.12356: DECL: 7/5/05
TAGS: PREL SA JO
SUBJECT: FM SAUD AL-FAISAL: RELATIONS WITH JORDAN
"MOVING ALONG"


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. IN JULY 4 MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR, FOREIGN MINISTER
SAUD AL-FAISAL CHARACTERIZED SAUDI-JORDANIAN RELATIONS
AS HAVING IMPROVED SOMEWHAT, "THEY ARE MOVING ALONG,"
AND "I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE." HE CONFIRMED THAT THE
SAUDIS INTEND TO SEND AN AMBASSADOR TO AMMAN, "PERHAPS
NEXT MONTH," AND "IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL HAVE A
VISITOR FROM JORDAN, PERHAPS THE FOREIGN MINISTER."


3. IN THE SAME BREATH, SAUD CAUTIONED THAT THE TWO
SIDES NEED TO "REVIEW WHAT HAPPENED, AND EXAMINE THE
DAMAGE TO RELATIONS, SO AS TO AVOID A REPETITION IN THE
FUTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST." SAUD EXPRESSED
HOPE THAT SUCH A REVIEW WOULD PRODUCE A POSITIVE
ASSESSMENT, AND HE ADDED, "WE HOPE JORDAN WILL CHANGE
ITS POLICY IN THE REGION." THERE IS NO PROBLEM BETWEEN
SAUDI ARABIA AND JORDAN ON THE PEACE PROCESS, WHICH BOTH
SUPPORT, BUT "THE ONE PROBLEM" IS HOW THE JORDANIANS ARE
PURSUING THE ISSUE OF IRAQ.


4. SAUD PROFESSED NOT TO UNDERSTAND WHY KING HUSSEIN
HAS TO TAKE POSITIONS SUPPORTIVE OF IRAQ IN HIS FIRST
MEETINGS IN FRANCE. WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAILS OF WHAT
KING HUSSEIN TOLD THE FRENCH, HE SAID THAT THERE ARE
WAYS AND WAYS TO DEAL WITH ISSUES. SAUD ASKED
RHETORICALLY WHETHER THE INTERESTS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE
COULD BE SECURED BY GIVING SUPPORT TO THE IRAQI REGIME.
CONCLUDING, HE STATED THAT IT WOULD BE JUSTIFIABLE IF
JORDAN WANTED TO ACCUSE THE IRAQI REGIME AND THEN TRY TO
HELP THE IRAQI PEOPLE THROUGH HUMANITARIAN CHANNELS
ALLOWED BY THE SANCTIONS REGIME.


5. COMMENT: IT APPEARS THAT SAUDI RELATIONS WITH
JORDAN AT LAST ARE BEGINNING TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. SAUD'S BLUNT CONCERNS ABOUT PERCEIVED
JORDANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT INDICATE,
HOWEVER, THAT A GOOD DEAL OF WORK REMAINS BEFORE A NEW
CHAPTER CAN BE WRITTEN.


KATTOUF