U/S BOLTON ENCOURAGES EARLY SIGNING OF AN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002962 SIPDIS STATE FOR T, PM/B AND NEA/ARP NSC FOR THEROUX DOD FOR OSD/ISA/NESA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/13 TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM TC SUBJECT: U/S BOLTON ENCOURAGES EARLY SIGNING OF AN ICC ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT ¶1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶2. (C) In the course of a June 18 meeting in Abu Dhabi with MFA Minister of State Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayid Al-Nahyan, Under Secretary for Under Secretary for Arms Control and International SIPDIS Security Assistance John R. Bolton urged the UAE to conclude a bilateral ICC Article 98 agreement (see septel for other topics). U/S Bolton provided an overview of USG progress made towards signing ICC Article 98 agreements, 45 of which have been concluded. U/S Bolton had signed the most recent one that morning with Kuwait. He laid out the President's desire to see more agreements concluded, including one with the UAE, particularly in light of the potential for the unfair targeting of Americans and the fact that the ICC has recently begun operations. Bolton noted the ridiculous cases brought in Belgium against former President Bush, Secretary Powell and General Franks. ¶3. (C) Shaykh Hamdan affirmed the UAE's desire for an agreement and pledged his personal involvement in signing one as soon as possible. Hamdan said the U.S. had done the world a huge favor in removing Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and was pursuing a similarly just policy in North Korea and Iran. In Hamdan's view, the U.S. "deserves our support" and the least the UAE could do was to swiftly conclude an Article 98 agreement. ¶4. (C) Post will follow up with the MFA to ensure prompt implementation of Hamdan's promise. Wahba