US embassy cable - 01DOHA1093

S E C R E T DOHA 001093 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/11 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, AF, PA, QA 
SUBJECT: TALIBAN PROPOSAL FOR BIN LADEN ISLAMIC 
TRIBUNAL 
 
REF: A) STATE 61624  B) DOHA 888  C) DOHA 1036 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ELIZABETH MCKUNE FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (S) AMBASSADOR PRESENTED REF A DEMARCHE TO 
FOREIGN MINISTER HAMAD BIN JASIM AL THANI (HBJ) ON 
APRIL 7. SHORTLY AFTER AMBASSADOR BEGAN TALKING 
POINTS, HBJ INTERRUPTED AND SAID "WE DON'T WANT A 
TRIAL HERE OF BIN LADEN.  THERE WILL BE NO TRIAL 
HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE, UNLESS ALL COUNTRIES ARE IN 
AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE U.S."  HE ADDED THAT WERE 
THE TALIBAN TO APPROACH THE GOQ WITH SUCH A 
PROPOSAL, THE GOQ WOULD AGREE TO STUDY IT BUT 
PROMISE NOTHING. 
 
2.  (C) HBJ CONFIRMED THAT A TALIBAN DELEGATION 
WAS ARRIVING IN QATAR TODAY (APRIL 7).  THE 
AMBASSADOR REMINDED HIM THAT THE US IS THE SINGLE 
LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO 
AFGHANISTAN. SHE ASKED WHETHER MINISTER OF STATE 
AL MAHMOUD HAD BRIEFED HIM ON HER PREVIOUS 
DEMARCHES ON THE TALIBAN (REFS B AND D).  HBJ 
RESPONDED, "YES." 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT: HBJ GRANTED THE MEETING WITH THE 
AMBASSADOR WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE REQUEST.  HE WAS 
CLEARLY PLEASED THAT A/S WALKER HAD CALLED.  WE 
WILL GET A READ OUT ON THE TALIBAN'S VISIT WHEN IT 
IS CONCLUDED. 
 
 
MCKUNE