VZCZCXRO9279
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #1020/01 2981442
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251442Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7184
INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0723
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA PRIORITY 2602
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT PRIORITY 2192
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 001020 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
MANAMA FOR DS/MRDCH 
DEPT FOR DS/C/DC AND L/DL SUSAN BENDA; 
CA FOR CA/VO JUNE KUNSMAN AND DONI PHILLIPS; 
CA/OCS KIM RICHTER; AND CA/EX DEAN HAAS AND EMELY SIMONE 
FRANKFURT FOR DS/FRDCD 
CAIRO FOR RIMC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017 
TAGS: ADCO ADPM PREL CVIS ASEC ACOA ATRN KRIM QA
SUBJECT: QATAR GIVES ORAL ASSURANCES THAT DIPLOMATIC POUCH 
DELIVERIES MAY RESUME WITHOUT X-RAYING 
 
REF: DOHA 1009 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael A. Ratney, 
for reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
¶1. (C/NF) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed 
Al-Mahmoud convoked Charge October 25 to discuss delivery of 
U.S. diplomatic pouches (see reftel for background.) 
Al-Mahmoud informed Charge that following the GOQ's review of 
the bilateral discussions on this matter, the GOQ had taken 
the decision to suspend x-raying of all U.S. diplomatic 
pouches "due to the excellent bilateral relations" between 
the two countries.   During the suspension, Qatar would 
review its screening procedures of diplomatic pouches in the 
context of Qatar's interpretation of the Vienna Convention on 
Diplomatic Relations. 
 
¶2. (C/NF) Charge thanked Al-Mahmoud and asked if the MFA 
would be sending a diplomatic note confirming this new 
policy.  Al-Mahmoud said that wouldn't be possible, but the 
U.S. has his word that our pouches will not be x-rayed.  When 
pressed, Al-Mahmoud said the MFA could provide a non-paper 
confirming the new arrangement.  Al-Mahmoud said the MFA 
would work out the modalities, but that essentially the 
Embassy would return to the system employed before the 
Qataris introduced the x-ray requirement in April/May 2007. 
 
¶3. (C/NF) Noting that x-raying of diplomatic pouches 
concerned other countries, especially the United Kingdom and 
France, Charge asked Mahmoud how the Embassy should 
characterize the resolution of the pouch dispute if asked by 
our diplomatic colleagues.  Mahmoud stressed the importance 
of keeping the new understanding on permitting pouch 
deliveries without x-raying inspection "between Qatar and the 
U.S."  He said speaking of it openly would "create problems" 
that should be avoided, and he advised Charge to tell other 
countries that the resolution of the dispute was a matter 
between Qatar and the U.S.  Al-Mahmoud observed that only 
diplomatic pouches from the U.S. would be exempted from the 
x-ray screening.  He explained that x-raying of diplomatic 
pouches began because Qatari authorities had discovered 
abuses of the diplomatic pouch by some countries (other than 
the United States). 
 
¶4. (C/NF) Prior to May 2007, the Embassy routinely gave 
blanket notification of diplomatic pouch shipments to the MFA 
via diplomatic note covering an eight-week period. 
Al-Mahmoud advised Charge to make no mention of inspection 
procedures in the Embassy's diplomatic notes and reiterated 
that MFA would follow up with the directly with Embassy on 
the procedures to be followed. 
 
¶5. (C/NF) Al-Mahmoud asked if the Embassy had yet posted on 
its web site the draft announcement Charge had previously 
provided to MFA. (The announcement would have informed the 
public that the U.S. Embassy in Doha was no longer able to 
issue visas due to a shortage of visa foils resulting from 
Qatar's unwillingness to fulfill its Vienna Convention 
obligations.)  Charge responded that the announcement had not 
yet been posted and told Al-Mahmoud that as a result of the 
GOQ decision to suspend x-raying, the Embassy would not do 
so.  The Embassy would request routine permission for a 
classified diplomatic pouch delivery in the coming days so 
that pouches could be received and visa services need not be 
curtailed.  Charge closed by expressing appreciation again 
for the GOQ's favorable resolution of this issue. 
 
¶6. (C/NF) Comment:  Our impending public announcement of visa 
suspension - explicitly fingering Qatari policy as the reason 
- appears to be what caused the GOQ to back down.  The test 
will be the contents of the promised non-paper and then the 
first actual pouch shipment, which we will work to arrange 
for the week of October 28.  This is nevertheless an 
imperfect solution: the GOQ policy thus far remains 
unwritten, secret, and covers only the U.S. rather than all 
Vienna Convention signatories.  It is preferable, however, to 
the situation that has prevailed for the past six months. 
 
 
 
 
DOHA 00001020  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
RATNEY