Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI2303
2003-05-12 06:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS UAE

Tags:  EAID PREL PGOV PHUM IZ TC 
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Cable 
Text: 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM May 12, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2303 - UNKNOWN) 

TAGS: EAID, PREL, PGOV, PHUM 

Captions: None 

Subject: UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS UAE HOSPITAL IN 
 BAGHDAD 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 02303

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: POL 
 INFO: RSO AMB DCM P/M ECON 

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA:RAALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: ECON:CCRUMPLER
CLEARED: ADCM:TWILLIAMS; USLO:CDAVIS; POL:SWILLIAMS

VZCZCADI549
OO RUEHC RUCNRAQ RUEKJCS RUCJACC RUEKJCS RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #2303 1320610
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 120610Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9906
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ5/CCJ3// PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 3112
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002303 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IRAQ TASK FORCE, ALSO NEA/ARP, NEA/RA,
PRM/ANE, AND IO/UNP
KUWAIT FOR HOC, ORHA
CENTCOM FOR CCJ5, CCJ3 AND POLAD AMBASSADOR LITT

E.O. 12958: DECL 05/12/08
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM IZ TC
SUBJECT: UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS UAE
HOSPITAL IN BAGHDAD

REFS: ABU DHABI 1938 AND PREVIOUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002303

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IRAQ TASK FORCE, ALSO NEA/ARP, NEA/RA,
PRM/ANE, AND IO/UNP
KUWAIT FOR HOC, ORHA
CENTCOM FOR CCJ5, CCJ3 AND POLAD AMBASSADOR LITT

E.O. 12958: DECL 05/12/08
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM IZ TC
SUBJECT: UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS UAE
HOSPITAL IN BAGHDAD

REFS: ABU DHABI 1938 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires Richard A.
Albright, for reasons 1.5 (b)(c)(d).


2. (C) Summary: UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff
Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid Al-Nahyan (MbZ) visited May
10 the newly refurbished Shaykh Zayid Hospital in
Baghdad (formerly the Olympic Hospital) which opened
its doors to the public last week. The hospital was
established on the orders of UAE President Shaykh
Zayid bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, and an advance team of UAE
military personnel (accompanied by a USLO
representative) traveled to Baghdad last month to
conduct a site assessment survey for the hospital
(reftel). During his visit, MbZ reportedly toured the
facility, and spoke with a number of staff and
patients. The hospital has two pharmacies, an
outpatient clinic, several operating rooms, and an
initial stock of supplies to last at least 60 days.
MbZ's visit was the first such visit by a senior
Emirati to liberated Iraq and was made possible by the
superb coordination and support provided by CENTCOM.
A closely held secret in the planning stages, the
visit was highlighted in all of the local papers
today. The Emiratis have gone to great lengths to
publicize the generous humanitarian assistance
provided to the Iraqi people by the UAEG via the UAE
Red Crescent Authority, the Muhammad bin Rashid
Charitable Foundation and last, but not least, the UAE
Armed Forces. End summary.


3. (C) In a May 6 meeting with the Ambassador, MbZ
solicited her assistance in facilitating a short-fuse
visit to the recently established Shaykh Zayid
Hospital in Baghdad (formerly known as the Olympic
Hospital). MbZ wanted to visit his troops and see
first-hand the situation on the ground. He admitted
he had been itching to get into Iraq since the
dramatic fall of Baghdad on April 9. The UAE Armed
Forces were one of the first Arab/GCC military outfits
to enter Iraq, when GHQ officers accompanied a UAE Red
Crescent Authority vessel to Umm Qasr. The Ambassador
directed the Embassy's USLO office to coordinate MbZ's
visit with CENTCOM. CENTCOM did a spectacular job
facilitating the visit and provided security for MbZ
and his entourage during their two-and-a-half hours on
the ground in Baghdad. The Embassy's Acting USLO
Chief accompanied the Emirati delegation.


4. (C) During his tour of the hospital, MbZ was
briefed that the hospital receives approximately 1,000
new patients every day. Recent press reports indicate
that Iraqis from areas outside of Baghdad are
traveling to the hospital for medical treatment.
Acting USLO Chief personally witnessed a queue of
Iraqis seeking medical treatment leading outside of
the hospital and down the street; it is clear that the
hospital's staff is overwhelmed, but coping.
Following his visit to the hospital, MbZ dropped by
the Rashid Hotel where the UAE hospital staff are
billeted, and the UAE Embassy in Baghdad to meet with
the staff.



5. (C) Comment: The short visit to Baghdad was a win-
win for everyone involved -- the UAE leadership saw
firsthand the hospital's operations and facilities,
and recognized the essential roles played by both
CENTCOM and the Embassy in facilitating the delivery
and set-up of this hospital. On the return trip,
MbZ's staff requested USG assistance in evacuating
wounded Iraqis who require specialized medical care
not available in Iraq. We currently are coordinating
with the UAE Red Crescent to evacuate 37 injured
Iraqis (mostly children) to the UAE. End comment.

Albright