Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI2292
2003-05-11 11:41:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
APPROACHING UAEG ON FUNDS FOR ABORTED
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:18:27 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: SECRET SIPDIS TELEGRAM May 11, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2292 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: ECON, EFIN, ETTC, PREL, PGOV Captions: None Subject: APPROACHING UAEG ON FUNDS FOR ABORTED IRAQ ARMS DEAL ON HOLD IN DUBAI Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ S E C R E T ABU DHABI 02292 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M DCM POL AMB Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA:RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ADCM:TEWILLIAMS CLEARED: CDG:RGOLSON, POL:STWILLIAMS VZCZCADI522 OO RUEHC RUEHDE RUEATRS RUEAWJA RHEHNSC DE RUEHAD #2292 1311141 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 111141Z MAY 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9896 INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI IMMEDIATE 3108 RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 002292
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA AND L/LEI - LINDA
JACOBSON
TREASURY FOR OGC/AUFHAUSER, DAS ZARATE
JUSTICE FOR DOJ/CRIM/OIA - MOLLY WARLOW
NSC FOR JOSEPH MYERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/13
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETTC PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: APPROACHING UAEG ON FUNDS FOR ABORTED
IRAQ ARMS DEAL ON HOLD IN DUBAI
REF: STATE 122946
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 002292
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA AND L/LEI - LINDA
JACOBSON
TREASURY FOR OGC/AUFHAUSER, DAS ZARATE
JUSTICE FOR DOJ/CRIM/OIA - MOLLY WARLOW
NSC FOR JOSEPH MYERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/13
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETTC PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: APPROACHING UAEG ON FUNDS FOR ABORTED
IRAQ ARMS DEAL ON HOLD IN DUBAI
REF: STATE 122946
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE RICHARD A. ALBRIGHT
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D).
2. (S) The sensitivity of reftel demarche,
particularly the involvement of the prominent
Lootah family (whether knowingly or otherwise) in
the matter, will require that we engage at the
highest levels of the UAEG. Since this is
primarily a government-to-government issue, we
will seek an appointment with de facto Foreign
Minister Hamdan bin Zayid (our primary federal
contact on policy-level terrorist financing
matters),but can anticipate that he will have
several questions which we would like to be able
to answer. We would note that a direct USG to
Dubai Emirate communication on this matter would
not/not be recommended absent prior notification
to, and approval of, the federal authorities in
Abu Dhabi.
3. (S) First and foremost, what are the
intentions of the USG with regards to the funds?
Will we seek their forfeiture to us and if so,
will we be able to "vest" them to ensure that
these monies are returned to the Iraqi people (as
opposed to the general treasury of the USG)? What
would be the modalities through which we would
take this legal action and communicate it to the
UAEG? Secondly, are we prepared to agree to hold
blameless UAE actors or entities whose involvement
in the matter may be confirmed by the records we
are seeking to have turned over to us by the UAEG?
(Note: This matter has arisen in the past in FBI
investigations and we have been able to provide
assurances to the Central Bank of the UAE that it
was not our intention to pursue UAE financial
institutions; if we found strong evidence of
wrongdoing we would provide that information to
the appropriate UAE authorities for their
consideration. We advise that a similar
undertaking be provided in this matter in order to
facilitate provision of the documents we desire.
End note.)
4. (S) Post would appreciate a quick response to
the above questions so that we may approach MFA
Minstate Hamdan at the earliest opportunity.
5. (U) This message coordinated with Amconsul
Dubai.
Albright
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA AND L/LEI - LINDA
JACOBSON
TREASURY FOR OGC/AUFHAUSER, DAS ZARATE
JUSTICE FOR DOJ/CRIM/OIA - MOLLY WARLOW
NSC FOR JOSEPH MYERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/13
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETTC PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: APPROACHING UAEG ON FUNDS FOR ABORTED
IRAQ ARMS DEAL ON HOLD IN DUBAI
REF: STATE 122946
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE RICHARD A. ALBRIGHT
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D).
2. (S) The sensitivity of reftel demarche,
particularly the involvement of the prominent
Lootah family (whether knowingly or otherwise) in
the matter, will require that we engage at the
highest levels of the UAEG. Since this is
primarily a government-to-government issue, we
will seek an appointment with de facto Foreign
Minister Hamdan bin Zayid (our primary federal
contact on policy-level terrorist financing
matters),but can anticipate that he will have
several questions which we would like to be able
to answer. We would note that a direct USG to
Dubai Emirate communication on this matter would
not/not be recommended absent prior notification
to, and approval of, the federal authorities in
Abu Dhabi.
3. (S) First and foremost, what are the
intentions of the USG with regards to the funds?
Will we seek their forfeiture to us and if so,
will we be able to "vest" them to ensure that
these monies are returned to the Iraqi people (as
opposed to the general treasury of the USG)? What
would be the modalities through which we would
take this legal action and communicate it to the
UAEG? Secondly, are we prepared to agree to hold
blameless UAE actors or entities whose involvement
in the matter may be confirmed by the records we
are seeking to have turned over to us by the UAEG?
(Note: This matter has arisen in the past in FBI
investigations and we have been able to provide
assurances to the Central Bank of the UAE that it
was not our intention to pursue UAE financial
institutions; if we found strong evidence of
wrongdoing we would provide that information to
the appropriate UAE authorities for their
consideration. We advise that a similar
undertaking be provided in this matter in order to
facilitate provision of the documents we desire.
End note.)
4. (S) Post would appreciate a quick response to
the above questions so that we may approach MFA
Minstate Hamdan at the earliest opportunity.
5. (U) This message coordinated with Amconsul
Dubai.
Albright