Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

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

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

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 10RIYADH29, ASSISTANT SAUDI OIL MINISTER REQUESTS U.S. VIEWS

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. #10RIYADH29.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
10RIYADH29 2010-01-05 12:56 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Riyadh
VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #0029 0051256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051256Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2235
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0820
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS RIYADH 000029 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, S/CIEA GOLDWYN, EEB/ESC/IEC DAS HENGEL, NEA/ARP 
DOE FOR PDAS JONATHAN ELKIND, DAS AL HEGBURG, AND GEORGE 
PERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EPET ENRG PREL ECON FR IEF SA
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SAUDI OIL MINISTER REQUESTS U.S. VIEWS 
ON ENERGY FORUM EXPERT GROUP PRIOR TO JANUARY 10 MEETING IN 
PARIS 
 
REF: A. HART-BAGWELL JANUARY 4 EMAILS/TELCON 
     B. 09 RIYADH 1642 
     C. 09 RIYADH 1557 
     D. 09 RIYADH 1450 
     E. 09 RIYADH 1407 
     F. 09 RIYADH 1397 
     G. 09 STATE 103636 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph five. 
 
2. (SBU) Ambassador met Assistant Minister for Petroleum 
Affairs Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman January 4 at the Prince's 
request.  Prince Abdulaziz gave Ambassador a copy of the 
report of the International Energy Forum (IEF) Expert Group 
(ref A), the work of which was noted in the Leaders Statement 
of the G-20 Pittsburgh summit.  The Prince said he was 
focused on the upcoming January 10 IEF High Level Steering 
Group (HLSG) meeting in Paris that we understand USG reps 
also plan to attend.  Prince Abdulaziz said he hoped for a 
successful meeting there, and he requested Embassy assistance 
to work with EEB and DOE to ensure he would not be 
"blindsided" by U.S. or other views put forward at the HLSG 
meeting. 
 
3. (SBU) Additionally, Prince Abdulaziz requested U.S. 
support for IEF reform which in his view boils down to 
regularizing funding mechanisms and establishing clearer 
membership guidelines.  The Prince said he concurs with the 
Expert Group recommendation to establish a new minimum legal 
framework for the IEF, but he signaled repeatedly to the 
Ambassador that he looks forward to working with the USG to 
find a solution acceptable to the United States and Saudi 
Arabia to preserve the informal nature of IEF deliberations. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment:  As of DOE DepSec Poneman's December 6-8 
visit to Saudi Arabia, and from what we have heard of 
subsequent discussions in Washington on this issue, we 
understand the USG position remains not to support the Expert 
Group recommendation to establish a minimum legal framework 
for the IEF but that we could accept reforms that result in 
regularizing funding streams and establishing clearer 
membership guidelines for the IEF.  Both of these steps would 
increase the organization's effectiveness.  We have heard 
Washington officials say they also conceivably could support 
the U.S. taking a more active role in the IEF, perhaps 
joining the organization's executive board.  As we have 
reported previously, with the IEF secretariat headquarters 
located in Riyadh, U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia is aware of some 
of the organization's historical weaknesses, but we also see 
opportunities to help reshape the IEF into an organization 
that much more strongly supports U.S. energy policy goals and 
promotes President Obama's outreach efforts to the Muslim 
World.  The result would be an organization that is much more 
valuable to the United States than it has been in previous 
years. 
 
5. (SBU) Action request:  Embassy requests Department 
guidance as soon as possible about the U.S. position on the 
expert group report and that we can share with Prince 
Abdulaziz and ideally the IEF Secretary General prior to the 
January 10 HLSG meeting. 
SMITH