Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI1382
2003-03-23 13:32:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
(S) UAE TO KEEP IRAQI MISSIONS OPEN, BUT
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:47:34 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: SECRET SIPDIS TELEGRAM March 23, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1382 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: PREL, PGOV Captions: None Subject: (S) UAE TO KEEP IRAQI MISSIONS OPEN, BUT FULLY BOXED-IN Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ S E C R E T ABU DHABI 01382 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MMWAHBA DRAFTED: ECON:TEWILLIAMS CLEARED: DCM:RAALBRIGHT, PMIL:MFOWLER VZCZCADI481 OO RUEHC RUCNRAQ DE RUEHAD #1382 0821332 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 231332Z MAR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9001 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 001382
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: (S) UAE TO KEEP IRAQI MISSIONS OPEN, BUT
FULLY BOXED-IN
REF: STATE 75557
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 001382
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: (S) UAE TO KEEP IRAQI MISSIONS OPEN, BUT
FULLY BOXED-IN
REF: STATE 75557
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MARCELLE M. WAHBA
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D).
2. (S) AMBASSADOR DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE ON
THE AFTERNOON OF 3/23 TO MFA MINSTATE SHAYKH
HAMDAN BIN ZAYID (OTHER TOPICS SEPTEL, NOTAL).
SHAYKH HAMDAN REPEATED WHAT HE HAS TOLD US BEFORE
-- NAMELY, THAT THE UAEG IS RELUCTANT TO CLOSE
IRAQ'S DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS HERE BECAUSE OF THE
"GREAT VALUE" BEING DERIVED FROM THE UAE MISSION
IN BAGHDAD. DESIROUS OF AVOIDING A TIT-FOR-TAT
CLOSURE, THE UAEG HAS MADE CLEAR TO THE IRAQI
DIPLOMATS HERE THAT THEY ARE TO BEHAVE THEMSELVES.
THE AMBASSADOR NOTED IN PARTICULAR THE NEED TO
KEEP TABS ON IRAQI INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
OPERATIVES. SHAYKH HAMDAN REASSURED THE
AMBASSADOR THAT SURVEILLANCE OF THE OFFICIAL
IRAQIS IS CONSTANT AND INTRUSIVELY OBVIOUS. HE
BELIEVED THEY HAD GOTTEN THE MESSAGE.
3. (S/NF) SHAYKH HAMDAN NOTED THAT HE GETS CALLS
3-4 TIMES PER DAY FROM THE UAE CHARGE IN BAGHDAD
(USING A THURAYYA SATELLITE TELEPHONE). THE
EMIRATI MISSION IS ABLE TO GLEAN USEFUL
INFORMATION FROM ITS CONTACTS ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS
INSIDE IRAQ (INDEED, DURING THE MEETING THE
EMIRATI CHARGE IN BAGHDAD CALLED SHAYKH HAMDAN TO
REPORT ON 20 EXPLOSIONS IN WESTERN BAGHDAD AROUND
THE TAJI MILITARY COMPLEX AND A NUMBER OF OTHER
SITES). AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INFORMATION THE UAEG
IS ABLE TO OBTAIN, THE MFA MINSTATE CONFIDED THAT
IRAQI SOURCES HAVE TOLD THE EMIRATIS IN BAGHDAD
THAT ALI HASSAN AL-MAJID (AKA "CHEMICAL ALI) IS
DEAD.
4. (S/NF) COMMENT: THE UAE CLEARLY BELIEVES
THAT THE THREAT POSED BY ALLOWING IRAQI MISSIONS
TO REMAIN OPEN HERE HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY MITIGATED
BY AGGRESSIVE SURVEILLANCE, STRICT WARNINGS TO
IRAQI DIPLOMATS, AND THE COOPTION OF KEY PERSONNEL
(MOST NOTABLY THE IRAQI AMBASSADOR). WE WOULD
NOTE THAT ORCA CHIEF HERE IS OF A SIMILAR VIEW.
GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE THE UAEG ATTACHES TO KEEPING
TABS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ, AND THE RELATIVELY
EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF CONTACTS WHICH THE UAEG
ENJOYS IN BAGHDAD AND BEYOND, WE DO NOT BELIEVE
THE UAEG IS LIKELY TO CHANGE ITS VIEW THAT CLOSING
IRAQ'S DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS HERE IS NOT IN THE
INTEREST OF THE EMIRATES.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: (S) UAE TO KEEP IRAQI MISSIONS OPEN, BUT
FULLY BOXED-IN
REF: STATE 75557
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MARCELLE M. WAHBA
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D).
2. (S) AMBASSADOR DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE ON
THE AFTERNOON OF 3/23 TO MFA MINSTATE SHAYKH
HAMDAN BIN ZAYID (OTHER TOPICS SEPTEL, NOTAL).
SHAYKH HAMDAN REPEATED WHAT HE HAS TOLD US BEFORE
-- NAMELY, THAT THE UAEG IS RELUCTANT TO CLOSE
IRAQ'S DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS HERE BECAUSE OF THE
"GREAT VALUE" BEING DERIVED FROM THE UAE MISSION
IN BAGHDAD. DESIROUS OF AVOIDING A TIT-FOR-TAT
CLOSURE, THE UAEG HAS MADE CLEAR TO THE IRAQI
DIPLOMATS HERE THAT THEY ARE TO BEHAVE THEMSELVES.
THE AMBASSADOR NOTED IN PARTICULAR THE NEED TO
KEEP TABS ON IRAQI INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
OPERATIVES. SHAYKH HAMDAN REASSURED THE
AMBASSADOR THAT SURVEILLANCE OF THE OFFICIAL
IRAQIS IS CONSTANT AND INTRUSIVELY OBVIOUS. HE
BELIEVED THEY HAD GOTTEN THE MESSAGE.
3. (S/NF) SHAYKH HAMDAN NOTED THAT HE GETS CALLS
3-4 TIMES PER DAY FROM THE UAE CHARGE IN BAGHDAD
(USING A THURAYYA SATELLITE TELEPHONE). THE
EMIRATI MISSION IS ABLE TO GLEAN USEFUL
INFORMATION FROM ITS CONTACTS ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS
INSIDE IRAQ (INDEED, DURING THE MEETING THE
EMIRATI CHARGE IN BAGHDAD CALLED SHAYKH HAMDAN TO
REPORT ON 20 EXPLOSIONS IN WESTERN BAGHDAD AROUND
THE TAJI MILITARY COMPLEX AND A NUMBER OF OTHER
SITES). AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INFORMATION THE UAEG
IS ABLE TO OBTAIN, THE MFA MINSTATE CONFIDED THAT
IRAQI SOURCES HAVE TOLD THE EMIRATIS IN BAGHDAD
THAT ALI HASSAN AL-MAJID (AKA "CHEMICAL ALI) IS
DEAD.
4. (S/NF) COMMENT: THE UAE CLEARLY BELIEVES
THAT THE THREAT POSED BY ALLOWING IRAQI MISSIONS
TO REMAIN OPEN HERE HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY MITIGATED
BY AGGRESSIVE SURVEILLANCE, STRICT WARNINGS TO
IRAQI DIPLOMATS, AND THE COOPTION OF KEY PERSONNEL
(MOST NOTABLY THE IRAQI AMBASSADOR). WE WOULD
NOTE THAT ORCA CHIEF HERE IS OF A SIMILAR VIEW.
GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE THE UAEG ATTACHES TO KEEPING
TABS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ, AND THE RELATIVELY
EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF CONTACTS WHICH THE UAEG
ENJOYS IN BAGHDAD AND BEYOND, WE DO NOT BELIEVE
THE UAEG IS LIKELY TO CHANGE ITS VIEW THAT CLOSING
IRAQ'S DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS HERE IS NOT IN THE
INTEREST OF THE EMIRATES.
WAHBA