VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDO #0224/01 0590418
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280418Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6281

UNCLAS DOHA 000224 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR M, CA/OCS, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL CASC QA
SUBJECT: U/S HENRIETTA HOLSMAN FORE'S FEBRUARY 15 MEETING AT QATARI 
MFA 
 
¶1. (SBU) Under Secretary of State for Management Henrietta Holsman 
Fore met February 15 with Qatari Minister of State for Foreign 
Affairs (Qatar's second-ranking MFA official) Ahmed al-Mahmoud to 
discuss consular notification of arrested Americans, Iran, Iraq, and 
other regional issues.  Al-Mahmoud was joined by Amb. Ali Fahad 
Al-Hajiri, MFA Director of European and American Affairs, Amb. Adel 
Al-Khal, MFA Director of International Organizations, Amb. Abdulaziz 
Al-Subae, MFA Director of Management & Finance Department, and 
Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, from the MFA European & American Affairs 
Department.  U/S Fore was joined by Ambassador, NEA/EX Director 
Alford, M Special Assistant Offut, and Management Officer (note 
taker). 
 
--------------------- 
CONSULAR NOTIFICATION 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) U/S Fore requested MFA assistance to ensure that the U.S. 
Embassy receives prompt notification when American citizens are 
arrested in Qatar.  U/S Fore said our objective is same-day 
notification and visitation be given to the Mission.  Al-Mahmoud 
stated that, to his knowledge, notification is provided within 24 to 
48 hours, but offered to look into the request.  The Ambassador 
commented that the norm for notification was three to four days and 
in most cases the Embassy becomes aware of an arrest case from a 
family member in the U.S. who has contacted the Mission for 
information regarding their jailed family member. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud responded that in the U.S., the notification 
time frame for Qatari nationals arrested is one to two weeks and 
claimed he could provide examples to this fact.  Al-Mahmoud stated 
that Qatari citizens have been stopped at U.S. airports and jailed 
without notification to their embassy.  He cited the al-Marri case, 
a Qatari who he said has been imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay for one 
year.  U/S Fore strongly reinforced the importance of prompt 
notification by both parties. 
 
-------------------------- 
SUPPORT ON REGIONAL ISSUES 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) U/S Fore praised Qatar for its work with the U.S. and 
allies. Al-Mahmoud remarked that while we may disagree on the 
method, we agree on the need to work together for a solution.  U/S 
Fore thanked the Al-Mahmoud for the support Qatar has provided for 
use of military facilities in Qatar and to the U.S. Embassy. 
Al-Mahmoud welcomed these comments, stating that Qatar is a friend 
and ally and offered continued support. 
 
---- 
IRAN 
---- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Ambassador commented on the Iran nuclear program and 
expected initiatives in the UN Security Council to tighten 
sanctions.  He requested the support of Qatar on the next 
resolution.  Al-Mahmoud responded that Qatar took the position it 
did on UNSCR 1696 on July 31 because of the lack of USG coordination 
with the GOQ.  As friends and allies, he said, the U.S. must 
coordinate.  Al-Mahmoud stated the security of Qatar is linked to 
the security of the region and U.S. success in Iraq. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud said Qatari officials spoke with and strongly 
urged Iran to stop uranium enrichment and told them that stability 
and peace in the region was paramount.  He said Iran is under the 
impression there is only a 10% chance that the U.S. will attack its 
land.  Qatar officials told Iran that there is actually a 50% chance 
of a U.S. attack if they continue their current position and that 
Secretary Rice has stated that there are only two options, peaceful 
 
SIPDIS 
and military, and the region has had enough wars.  Al-Mahmoud said 
Iran responded by asking why try to stop us and not Israel. 
Al-Mahmoud said Qatari replied that that if Iran is allowed to have 
nuclear weapons, other countries in the region will want to acquire 
them too. 
 
------------------------- 
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE 
------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud urged U/S Fore to communicate the need for the 
U.S to work harder for Israeli-Palestinian peace.  The U.S. has the 
power, he said, and should not alienate the Palestinian people and 
allow them to be used as pawns.  The "embargo" is wrong and only 
increases the suffering of the Palestinian people; if this 
continues, it will only strengthen the hatred of the Palestinian 
people against the U.S. and create extremism among the people. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud said Qatar supported the Palestinian people with 
a $50 million dollar aid package channeled through PA President 
Mahmoud Abbas.  If there is no assistance for the Palestinian 
 
people, countries like Iran will move in with support and create 
another Hezbollah.  Al-Mahmoud said Qatar supports the Mecca 
agreement. 
 
---- 
IRAQ 
---- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud stated that the future of Iraq lies in a unified 
Iraq.  He said the U.S. gave Iraq to Iran on a golden platter but 
withdrawal from Iraq now would be a disaster.  The Maliki government 
must rule for all people and not become a sectarian government.  No 
government in the region, he claimed, has faith in Maliki. 
 
----------------------- 
LONG TERM EMBASSY PLANS 
----------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) U/S Fore broached the need for a new embassy site for a 
Chief of Mission residence and chancery in the Losail area. 
Al-Mahmoud stated that Qatar provided land in 1999 to the U.S. 
government for this purpose. In December 2000, however, the land was 
returned.  Al-Mahmoud said he would look into how land could 
possibly to given within the existing laws. 
UNTERMEYER