US embassy cable - 05DOHA953

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 DOHA 000953 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMBASSADOR UNTERMEYER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND; 
NEA/ARPI FOR SHAWN THORNE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, MARR, QA 
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR NSC FRANCES TOWNSEND'S JUNE 2, 
2005 VISIT TO QATAR 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Chase Untermeyer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Let me extend a warm welcome to you from me and the 
team at Embassy Doha. Your visit fulfills a pledge President 
Bush made to the Emir last April for you to visit Qatar to 
explore enhanced counterterrorism cooperation. To that end, 
we have requested meetings with the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin 
Khalifa Al Thani (addressed as "Your Highness"); the Heir 
Apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (also 
addressed as "Your Highness"); the Minister of State for 
Interior, Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani 
(addressed as "Your Excellency" or "Sheikh Abdulla"); and the 
head of Qatari Security Services, Nassir Al-Ali ("Your 
Excellency"). 
 
2. (S) The Heir Apparent, Sheikh Tamim, has been increasingly 
invested with oversight and authority in the area of internal 
security. You will find him to be open and forthright in 
discussing Qatari shortcomings and needs in the security 
area. He may also express his disappointment that the U.S. 
did not immediately issue a public condemnation the March 19 
terrorist bombing in Doha. (FBI Director Mueller called 
Sheikh Tamim on March 25 to offer condolences and 
assistance.) He will likely describe the intensive security 
preparations underway for the 
G-77 summit that will take place two weeks after your visit. 
You will also find Sheikh Tamim and the ministers openly 
looking to the U.S. for training and advice as Qatar seeks to 
improve its own internal security operations. 
 
3. (S) During your meetings, you should express appreciation 
for the support Qatar extends to the U.S., in particular by 
hosting CENTCOM's forward headquarters and allowing use of 
bases in Qatar to conduct military operations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. Specific issues to raise in talking point format: 
 
-- The U.S. stands ready to assist Qatar to develop its 
counterterrorism capabilities. I welcome your ideas on how we 
can be best be of assistance to you in this regard. 
 
-- Particularly interested in hearing about your security 
plans for securing Qatar's oil and gas facilities, and about 
your preparations for the Asian games. 
 
-- In general, we believe our cooperation is excellent, but 
there is more we can do. On several occasions in recent 
months we have passed to your security services information 
about individuals with links to terrorism who are in Qatar or 
are traveling through Qatar. In some cases we have asked you 
to take these individuals into custody, but you did not do 
so. We can do better in this regard. 
 
-- One important request I have to make is for your 
cooperation to remove certain American citizens residing in 
Qatar who we want to bring to the U.S. to face criminal 
charges. You do not want these people in your country, and 
neither do we. 
 
-- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established a 
Legal Attache office at the Embassy in Doha, as His Highness 
the Emir requested. This is a sign of our desire to work more 
closely with Qatar on law enforcement matters. A good next 
step would be for the U.S. and Qatar to sign a Mutual Legal 
Assistance Treaty. 
 
4. (U) What follows is an overview of key current issues in 
Qatar. 
 
5. (S) The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, 
is working to cement a broad strategic partnership with the 
U.S. Al-Jazeera's inflammatory broadcasting, however, 
continues to cast a dark shadow over otherwise robust 
military, economic and diplomatic cooperation. Security 
issues have become increasingly important to Qatari 
leadership in the wake of March 19 terrorist bombing in Doha 
and as Qatar prepares for next month's G-77 Summit and the 
Asian Games in December, 2006. Qatar actively seeks U.S. 
advice and assistance to augment its anti-terrorism 
capabilities. 
 
----------------------- 
Doha's Terrorist Attack 
----------------------- 
 
6. (S) Foreign and Qatari residents alike were shocked by the 
March 19 bombing of a British-run amateur theater. Had the 
terrorist bomber struck five minutes earlier, there is a 
strong likelihood that 40 to 60 people would have been 
killed; it was a powerful explosion. Qatari officials, 
prominent business leaders, and religious figures all 
condemned the attack. The only public demonstration in Qatar 
in the last 12 months occurred March 21 when several thousand 
Qataris gathered to condemned the attack and expressed 
support for the expatriate community. The investigation 
continues, and the government's public line is that the 
bomber Omar Ali, a long-time Egyptian resident of Qatar, 
acted alone. Business activity has not been hindered; the GOQ 
signed several large investment deals in April and May and 
business leaders remain focused on the country's enormous 
potential. Reports of non-renewal of Egyptian, Jordanian, and 
other third-country work permits may be tied to security 
measures taken following the attack. Under-cover security 
forces are present around town, perhaps in preparation for 
the June 12-16 G77 Summit here. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
 
7. (S) Qatar has been a pillar of support for our efforts in 
Iraq. We continue, for instance, to fly unimpeded combat 
missions out of Al-Udeid Air Base. The Emir shares our view 
that restoration of order and a successful democratic 
transition are of paramount importance not only to Iraq but 
to the region. However, there is some feeling that Qatar's 
efforts over the past two years are not fully appreciated in 
Washington. The GOQ is holding back on forgiving Iraqi debt 
because of Washington's pressure to soften Al Jazeera 
programming. While the Foreign Minister has expressed 
concerns of civil war in Iraq, he has stated publicly that 
the coalition needs to stay in the country to establish wider 
security. The GOQ also points to the importance of 
establishing a power structure in Baghdad that is fully 
inclusive of the Sunni bloc. 
 
----------------------------- 
Terrorism/Terrorist Financing 
----------------------------- 
 
8. (S) Qatar has been a full and responsive partner in our 
campaigns against terrorism and terrorist financing. Qatar 
actively seeks U.S. advice and assistance to augment its 
anti-terrorism capabilities, strengthen relevant laws, and 
enhance intelligence exchange. In particular, the GOQ is 
interested in joint exercises, counterterrorism training, 
information sharing, combating organized crime and money 
laundering, and setting up a regional police training center. 
The FBI is scheduled to do a one-week Terrorist Financing and 
Money Laundering course in June; one was also completed in 
October 2004. However, an FBI training assessment concluded 
that Qatar would best benefit from an integrated training 
program rather than multiple courses; the MOI has responded 
favorably. FBI intends to offer a two- to three-year year 
program to raise the skill level of officers in a number of 
disciplines and provide exposure to new critical areas such 
as cyber crimes, securities fraud, and internet crimes. 
DS/ATA has an active and robust training program in Qatar. 
The focus of most of the courses for the past two years have 
been in counter-terrorism and preparing Qatar for the 2006 
Asian Games. 
 
------------------------------ 
Political and Education Reform 
------------------------------ 
 
9. (S) Qatar's own program of reform, launched by the Emir 
after he assumed power in 1995, took a significant step 
forward in June when a constitution was officially 
promulgated. The constitution calls for elections of a 
national advisory council consisting of 45 elected and 15 
appointed members. The election is expected to take place by 
mid 2006; the current appointed advisory council will 
dissolve at the end of June 2005 as stipulated by 
constitution. Qatari women will have the right to vote and 
will be encouraged by the government to run for office. In 
municipal elections in 1999 and 2003, women here were the 
first in the Gulf region to cast votes. 
 
10. (S) Education reform, headed by the Emir's wife, Sheikha 
Mozza, is a becoming a showcase. This reform includes a 
sweeping revamp of Qatar's pre-university and higher 
education system based on Rand Corporation recommendations. 
As part of this effort, Qatar has brought to Qatar's 
"Education City" branch campuses of Texas A&M University, 
Virginia Commonwealth University, Carnegie-Mellon, and the 
Weill-Cornell Medical College. Georgetown University signed 
an agreement to open a branch campus in September 2005. These 
have been ground-breaking efforts that have been hailed by 
many as models for other states in the region. 
--------------- 
Economic Issues 
--------------- 
 
11. (U) Qatar's economy is the fastest growing in the world, 
at 20.5% for 2004. Per capita income is nearing $40,000, 
putting it on par with the U.S. and within the top five 
richest by that measure. Qatar's primary accomplishment in 
the past 10 years has been becoming a leading supplier of 
liquefied natural gas. Under the leadership of Minister of 
Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Qatar 
Petroleum is moving on all fronts to maximize utilization of 
Qatar's natural resources to diversify the economy and 
provide business and employment opportunities to Qataris. 
Since 1999, there has been $60 billion in foreign investment 
in Qatar's energy sector, about $40 billion of it coming from 
U.S. companies. Qatar plans to invest $70 billion in the 
natural gas sector over the next seven years. 
 
12. (U) The GOQ estimates Qatar's oil reserves are at 14.6 
billion barrels. Qatar's daily average production is 
currently estimated to be 850,000 barrels per day; at current 
production rates, oil reserves are expected to last about 60 
years. Qatar's goal is to increase overall production 
capacity to over 1 million bpd by 2006. Occidental and 
Anadarko are the two U.S. companies operating in this sector. 
 
13. (U) The majority of Qatar's current development in the 
energy sector is focused on its natural gas reserves. Qatar's 
North Field contains 14.7% of world natural gas reserves, 
estimated at 900 trillion cubic feet. The industrial 
development of the energy sector has created a boom 
atmosphere, with firms already here increasing staffing, and 
new firms energetically seeking to participate. 
 
14. (U) Qatar signed a Trade and Investment Framework 
agreement with the U.S. in March 2004, but has watched 
neighbors Bahrain, Oman, and UAE move faster toward achieving 
Free Trade Agreements. Qatar's obstacles are trade 
restrictions that favor Qatari-owned businesses, labor 
standards that do not conform to international standards, 
sectors such as telecom and financial services which are 
closed to foreign investment. 
 
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Al-Jazeera 
---------- 
 
15. (S) Al-Jazeera remains a blight on our robust cooperation 
that is impacting an increasing number of areas. In response 
to our repeated protests and appeals, Al-Jazeera's management 
claims to reduced the air time given to Al-Qaeda and 
kidnappers' videos, and have made efforts to address the 
inflammatory nature of its reporting from Iraq. A new board 
of directors was appointed last year, and a number of 
personnel changes have been made. Al-Jazeera points to its 
recently introduced code of ethics, a new quality control 
committee, and 3-person editorial board as part of an effort 
toward greater journalistic professionalism. The channel has 
highlighted to us its coverage of pro-democracy movements in 
Lebanon and Egypt as well as broader coverage of Middle 
Eastern politics. Al Jazeera Managing Director told the 
Ambassador, "If the Americans want to find a proper partner 
in its effort to get democracy and reform, they won't find a 
better one than Al Jazeera." Ambassador has worked with 
Foreign Minister and Al Jazeera senior management to 
implement a 4-page list of improvements in the channel's 
broadcasts. 
 
16. (S) FBIS monitoring indicated a period of fairly balanced 
coverage earlier this year, with the most recent report 
showing a regression from this positive trend. Most recently, 
a CENTCOM report suggested that Al Jazeera had prior 
knowledge of a border control post in Afghanistan. When 
questioned about the report, the channel's Managing Director 
told the Ambassador that the incident had been investigated 
and that there had been no breach of journalistic ethics; the 
stringer had responded quickly to the attack because he had 
been based only 60 kilometers from it. Nevertheless, the 
Managing Director promised, "If there are any problems, I 
will correct them." 
 
17. (S) During the Ambassador's May 2005 visit to Washington, 
the consensus of opinion among USG agencies monitoring 
Al-Jazeera is that the station has shown some signs of 
improved broadcasting but still remains unacceptably sloppy 
in its journalist practices and in its anti-American 
editorial bent. 
UNTERMEYER