Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12530 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC ASEC AF AR AM AS AEMR ASEAN AJ AFFAIRS AFIN AMGT AODE APEC AE ABLD ACBAQ APECO AFSI AFSN AY AO AU ABUD ADPM AG ACOA ANET AINF AC APER AMED ATRN ADCO ARF AL ASIG ASCH AID ASUP AADP AMCHAMS AGAO AIT AMBASSADOR AUC AA ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AFU AN ALOW ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ACS APCS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AGR AROC ACABQ AGMT AORL AX AMEX ADM AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN
BR BK BL BA BO BRUSSELS BM BEXP BU BD BG BP BB BF BTIO BBSR BY BH BIDEN BX BE BTIU BT BWC BMGT BC BN BILAT
CA CVIS CO CS CJAN CU CARICOM CI CB CASC CE CH CN CONDOLEEZZA CMGT CW CODEL CWC CT CBW CPAS CFED CG CACS CY CAN CSW CIDA CIC CITT CONS CM CD CLINTON CDG COM CDC CROS CLMT CAPC COPUOS CTR CF CJUS CL CR CARSON CHR CACM CDB COE CV CBC COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CNARC COUNTER CICTE COUNTRY CBSA CEUDA CAC CBE CTM CIS CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE
DR DISENGAGEMENT DE DJ DA DOMESTIC DEA DOD DTRA DOE DS DEFENSE DO DHS DAO DCM DEAX DK DPRK DEPT
ETTC ECON EWWT EC EMIN ETRD EINV EAID EG EFIN EAGR ENRG EIND EPET EUN ECPS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ENGR ECIN ELTN EAIR EI EFIS ECUN EU ELAB EN EFTA ENGY ECONOMICS ET ES ETRDEINVTINTCS EFINECONCS ELECTIONS EIAR EZ EINDETRD EINT EUR EREL EUC ER ESENV ELN ECONEFIN EK EPA EURN EAIG ECONCS EEPET ESA ENNP EDU EUREM ENVR ECA ENVI EXIM ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC ECONOMIC EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA EXTERNAL ERNG ETRC ETRO ETRN EINVEFIN ECINECONCS ERD ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN EXBS
FI FR FTAA FAC FOI FJ FM FREEDOM FMLN FAO FTA FDA FARC FBI FO FISO FOR FOREIGN FAS FINR FINANCE
GG GM GZ GAZA GH GR GOI GANGS GV GCC GY GT GAERC GERARD GA GE GOV GTIP GLOBAL GTMO GL GF
HK HR HA HURI HO HUMAN HU HSTC HILLARY HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON HI
IN IAEA IR IS IT IMF IBRD IZ IC IWC ISRAELI INTERPOL ICAO IO ITRA ILO ISLAMISTS ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI IPR IQ IV IRS IAHRC IACI ID INRB ICTY IL ICRC IMO ICJ ITU ILC IIP IRC IDP IDA IZPREL IRAJ IA ITF IF INMARSAT ISRAEL ICTR IGAD INRA INRO IEFIN INTELSAT INTERNAL INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV IBET INR IEA
JA JP JM JO JAMES JOSEPH JOHN JOHNNIE JUS
KPAO KMDR KISL KNNP KRVC KDEM KCRM KPAL KTIA KV KCOR KJUS KOMC KTFN KWBG KTIP KSCA KMPI KSUM KIRF KIRC KE KZ KIPR KWMN KFRD KSEP KN KAWC KOLY KCFE KPKO KIDE KMRS KFLU KSAF KS KGIC KRAD KU KHLS KCIP KOCI KSTH KG KGHG KUNR KR KVPR KBTR KRIM KREC KTDB KDRG KSPR KICC KAWK KMCA KPLS KCOM KAID KGCC KPRP KSTC KNSD KBIO KGIT KSEO KFLO KPAONZ KFSC KOM KRGY KPOA KACT KHIV KTEX KLIG KBCT KWMM KPAI KICA KNAR KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHDP KHUM KBTS KCRS KHSA KO KVIR KX KVRP KMOC KNUC KSEC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCMR KPWR KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPRV KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KSCI KDDG KIFR KMFO KFIN KNEI KTER KWAC KOMS KCRCM KNUP KMIG KNNPMNUC KNPP KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KID KSAC KJUST KRCM KTBT KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KDEMAF
LY LTTE LE LH LU LO LI LG LA LT LABOR LAB LOG
MARR MOPS MG MASS MW MIL MX MNUC MTCRE MCAP MAS MO MTCR MU MRCRE MY MD MK MP MAPP MR MT MCC MZ MIK MTRE ML MDC MAR MA MQADHAFI MASC MV MAPS MARAD MEETINGS MEDIA MEPP MPOS MILITARY MASSMNUC MEPN MI MC MUCN MERCOSUR MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI
NZ NL NI NU NATO NO NPT NE NRR NA NR NATIONAL NIPP NDP NPA NG NAFTA NT NS NK NGO NP NASA NAR NSF NV NORAD NSSP NH NATOPREL NSG NW NPG NSFO NEW NZUS NSC NC
OTRA OPRC OIIP OAS OPDC OVIP OEXC OPIC OECD OSCE OPCW OREP OFFICIALS ODIP OES OSCI OHUM OMIG OFDP OVP OCII OPAD OIC OIE OCS OBSP OTR OSAC ON OFDA
PHUM PREL PINR PARM PGOV PM PTER PREF PA PHSA PK POL PINS PBTS PL PE PFOR PALESTINIAN PUNE PDOV PGOVLO PAO POLITICS PO PHUMBA PSEPC PAK PTBS PCUL PLN PROP PRL PBIO PGOC PNAT PREO PAHO PINL POGOV PU PF PY POV PNR PGOVE PG PROG PCI PREFA PP PMIL POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PSOE PAS PHUMPREL PMAR PGIV PRAM PHUH PSA PHUMPGOV PEL PSI PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PARMS POLICY PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PINF PNG
QA
RS RU RICE RW RM RCMP RO RIGHTS RUPREL RFE RF ROOD RP REACTION RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RELATIONS RSO REPORT REGION RSP
SCUL SOCI SNAR SENV SY SR SU SO SP SA SZ SF SMIG SPCE SW SIPDIS SYR SHI STEINBERG SN SL SNARIZ SG SNARN SEVN SARS SSA SC SIPRS SYRIA SNARCS SAARC SHUM SK SI SPCVIS SOFA SANC SEN SH SCRS SENVKGHG SWE SAN ST
TPHY TW TU TBIO TRGY TSPA TX TN TSPL TL TV TC TZ TS TF TNGD TI TIP TH TINT TT TFIN TD TP TAGS TK TR TERRORISM THPY TO TRSY TURKEY TBID
UK UP US UNSC UNHCR USEU UNGA UG UNESCO UY UN UNMIK USTR USOAS UNHRC UZ USUN UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNDP UNCHR UNFICYP UNAUS UNO UNPUOS UNC UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNCND UNICEF UNCSD UNDC USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE
VT VM VE VZ VN VTPREL VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WI WMD WHO WTRO WIPO WHA WTO WFP WS WTRQ WWARD WBG WITH WMO WEU WZ WHTI WA WB
XM XR XZ XF XA XB XV XL XG XC XTAG XK XY XH XT XE XU XX XD XW XI XQ XS
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZI ZA ZK ZF ZU ZR ZP ZANU ZO ZOELLICK ZL ZJ ZEALAND ZN

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06RIYADH6103, RIYADH RECORD: JULY 21-29 2006

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06RIYADH6103.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06RIYADH6103 | 2006-08-01 15:34 | 2011-03-15 18:00 | SECRET | Embassy Riyadh
Appears in these articles: not yet set

`

    VZCZCXYZ0023
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRH #6103/01 2131534
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 011534Z AUG 06
    FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0186
    INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 7530

` `

    S E C R E T RIYADH 006103

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2016
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SA
    SUBJECT: RIYADH RECORD: JULY 21-29 2006

    REF: A. A) RIYADH 5876

    ¶B. B) RIYADH 6038
    ¶C. C) RIYADH 5952
    ¶D. D) RIYADH 5907.

    Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
    (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Saudi mood, as reflected in critical
    statements issued by clerics and appearing on internet chat
    sites, is becoming increasingly anti-U.S. Debate abounds
    among religious scholars who continue to raise the issue of
    Shi'a versus Sunni and the question of whether Saudis should
    support Hizballah. King Abdullah met with President Abbas
    and President Mubarak and telephoned a Lebanese
    Parliamentarian and French President Chirac on the crisis in
    Palestine and Lebanon. The Foreign Minister engaged in
    shuttle diplomacy, traveling to Washington, London and Moscow
    to push for a cease fire in Lebanon. The Majlis al-Shoura
    issued a statement denouncing Israeli actions in the region;
    in media interviews, members of the council spoke about the
    role of women consultants in the council. Crown Prince
    Sultan signed two military cooperation agreements in France,
    but no new deals were finalized. END SUMMARY.

    --------------
    LEBANON CRISIS
    --------------

    ¶2. (S) The Saudi public mood is increasingly negative
    towards the United States because of the crisis in Lebanon.
    There are daily op-ed pieces condemning U.S. support for
    Israel and "unwillingness" to call for an immediate
    cease-fire. Many Saudi clerics, academics, and intellectuals
    have issued statements to this effect on both conservative
    and moderate websites. There was a massive outpouring of
    public statements of anger and sadness regarding the
    situation in Lebanon (Ref A and septel).

    ¶3. (C) Recently, three revered Wahhabi sheikhs issued
    advisory opinions on their own authority on the question of
    support for Hizballah. On July 17, prominent Wahhabi Sheikh
    Abdullah bin Jabreen issued an advisory opinion, reported as
    a fatwa declaring it impermissible for Muslims to support
    Hizballah in any manner, including through prayers. In
    contrast, another prominent conservative religious scholar,
    Salman al-Oudah, issued an advisory opinion July 22, also
    reported as a fatwa, that emphasized the need for Shi'a and
    Sunnis to unite against Israeli aggression. This sentiment
    was echoed on July 25 by Sheikh Nasir al-Omar, a conservative
    cleric known for his stance against Hizballah, who issued a
    long commentary on a conservative website discussing the need
    to unite against Zionist aggression. He also criticized the
    role of the U.S. government in Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq
    (Ref B).

    ¶4. (C) On July 26, state-owned Saudi television channel 1
    aired a telethon to raise cash to support the Lebanese
    people. The campaign was successful, with approximately $29
    million raised. Additionally, the SAG pledged $1.5 billion
    to support Lebanon's reconstruction efforts and stabilize its
    economy. Several extremist websites, along with some
    mainstream media, criticized the government's humanitarian
    assistance, arguing that the SAG did not have public consent
    to donate these funds, and that there was no public
    accountability. One posting on the al-Sahat website posed
    the following questions: "Imagine that such decisions cannot
    be passed before being approved by a free and elected Shoura
    Council. Could such decision be passed? Is it reasonable
    that the public funds are the private property of the King
    who can spend it as he likes?"

    ------------------
    PALESTINIAN CRISIS
    ------------------

    ¶5. (U) King Abdullah met with President Abbas in Jeddah on
    July 29 to discuss the Palestinian situation, in a bid to
    increase support as well as distinguish the Palestinian
    crisis from the Lebanese crisis. President Abbas thanked
    King Abdullah for his financial assistance to the Palestinian
    people and praised the Saudi position regarding the
    Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state
    with Jerusalem as its capital. President Abbas and King
    Abdullah also dealt with current events in the Palestinian
    territories and blamed the "Israeli war machine" for the
    humanitarian crisis, increased bloodshed, and the continuing
    destruction of Palestinian infrastructure.

    -----------------
    DEMOCRATIC REFORM
    -----------------
    ¶6. (C) The Majlis al-Shoura (Council) continued issuing
    advisory opinions, including a statement condemning Israel's
    acts against the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples. In a July
    23 statement, the Council denounced the targeting of
    civilians and infrastructure in Lebanon as a "flagrant
    violation" of international treaties and laws, and called on
    the world community to condemn Israeli aggression, in
    addition to urging accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative
    approved during the 14th Arab summit in Beirut in 2002. This
    statement illustrates the Shoura Council's increasing
    presence in the political forum, albeit by taking a popular
    stance that neither condemns nor praises Hizballah and is in
    line with the SAG's pronouncements.

    ¶7. (U) The Vice President of the Council, along with one of
    the recently-appointed women consultants, Dr. Bahija Ezze,
    appeared in the media commending the new role of women in the
    quasi-legislature. Dr. Ezze explained the role of women
    consultants as providing opinions on issues pertaining to
    women through the Social and Family Affairs Committee.
    Although critics condemned the limitations placed on the
    women consultants, Dr. Ezze is confident that this gradual
    approach towards increasing women's rights is the right one.
    She stated that, "The final goal is processing and
    preparation for the positive participation of women. I
    expect that there would be permanent participation of women
    in the council soon. We trust in the vision and caution of
    our wise government that puts women in the right place at the
    right time."

    ----------
    VIP VISITS
    ----------

    ¶8. (C) King Abdullah and Egyptian President Mubarak met
    July 25 to consult on the Lebanon crisis. Stating that Saudi
    Arabia and Egypt hold identical views on the situation, both
    leaders called for an immediate cease-fire, warning that
    continued Israeli aggression could engulf the entire region
    in war. Additionally, King Abdullah issued a royal statement
    warning that continued Israeli aggression could produce
    "dangerous results," and cautioned that "patience cannot go
    on forever and if the Israeli military savagery continues to
    kill and destroy, no one can predict what would happen, and
    if the forbidden takes place, regret would be useless." (Ref
    C).

    ¶9. (C) Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal traveled to
    Washington, London, and Moscow to meet with leaders to lobby
    for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. Following his
    July 23 trip to Washington, the Foreign Minister met with
    Iraqi Premier al-Maleki in London on July 25 to discuss the
    situations in both Iraq and Lebanon. Also on July 25, the
    Foreign Minister met with Russian President Putin in Moscow.
    Additionally, King Abdullah had telephone conversations with
    Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry and French President
    Chirac to discuss the situation in Lebanon. This level of
    diplomatic activity is unusual for the SAG and demonstrates
    their commitment to this issue.

    --------------------
    US DEFENSE CONTRACTS
    --------------------

    ¶10. (S) Crown Prince Sultan, who is also the Saudi Minister
    of Defense and Aviation, signed two defense
    cooperation agreements with France during his July 20 visit
    to Paris. Media reports have suggested that these agreements
    could lead to Saudi contracts for the purchase of French
    tanker aircraft, helicopters, and other equipment. However,
    Embassy contacts report that, while there may well be some
    eventual purchases of French technology, no new deals were
    finalized during the Crown Prince's visit, and Saudi purchase
    of French military hardware remains uncertain. A July 24
    article in Paris La Tribune notes "the disappointment felt by
    certain industrialists who were expecting a great deal more
    from the visit." One of the agreements signed was reportedly
    a technical addendum to a 1982 KSA-France defense cooperation
    agreement (Ref D).
    OBERWETTER

`