NEXT STEPS ON U.S.-MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 000325

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/RA; NEA/PPD (CBOURGEOIS; JDAVIES); ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID PREL KDEM SCUL KPAO TC
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON U.S.-MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP
INITIATIVE: UAE RESPONSE

REF: STATE 015081


1. SUMMARY: POST WELCOMES THE LIST OF GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED PROGRAMS, DETAILED
IN REFTEL. THEY WILL PROVIDE WELCOME REINFORCEMENT FOR
OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE UAE'S DEVELOPMENT IN
THESE CRITICAL AREAS. IN PARTICULAR, WE SEEK WAYS TO
ACCELERATE THE POSITIVE MOVEMENT ALREADY UNDERWAY HERE,
ESPECIALLY IN EDUCATION AND WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT. SINCE
THE UAE IS A WEALTHY COUNTRY, WE WILL ALSO LOOK FOR
CREATIVE COFINANCING ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE UAEG TO
ENSURE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE IMPACT FOR OUR PROGRAMS.

OUR RESPONSE IS KEYED TO REFTEL, WITH ADDITIONAL
SUGGESTIONS ADDED AS APPROPRIATE. WE HAVE OMITTED THOSE
AREAS WHICH ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THE UAE. END SUMMARY

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GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
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2. EDUCATION REFORM:

E1. ACCESS IS NOT A PROBLEM IN THE UAE. HOWEVER,
QUALITY IS. WHILE THE UAE HAS SCHOOLING FOR ALL
NATIONALS, QUALITY IS UNEVEN AND METHODOLOGY IS OFTEN
OUTDATED. SUPPORTING THE UAE IN ITS DRIVE (ALREADY
UNDERWAY) TO MODERNIZE CURRICULA, EMPHASIZE CRITICAL
THINKING, AND PREPARE FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS AN
IMPORTANT MISSION GOAL AND ONE STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY
UAEG EDUCATORS.

E2. EXCELLENT (BY REGIONAL STANDARDS) HIGHER EDUCATION
IS AVAILABLE TO VIRTUALLY ALL. HOWEVER, THE UAE SEEKS
OUR SUPPORT FOR THEIR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF CURRICULA AND TEACHING. THE IDEA OF LINKAGES
BETWEEN U.S. BUSINESS AND ARAB UNIVERSITIES IS ALSO
PROMISING. SUCH LINKAGES ARE VERY LIMITED HERE AT
PRESENT, IN SPITE OF THE PRESENCE OF MANY U.S.
BUSINESSES.


3. ECONOMIC REFORM:

ER1. ALTHOUGH THE UAE HAS A RELATIVELY OPEN ECONOMY BY REGIONAL
STANDARDS, THERE IS STILL MUCH THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE. IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE WTO, THE UAEG WOULD LIKE TO BE A MORE ACTIVE
PARTICIPANT, BUT LACKS THE HUMAN RESOURCE BASE NECESSARY TO PLAY
AN EFFECTIVE ROLE. WTO SEMINARS/TRAINING PROGRAMS TO INCREASE
UNDERSTANDING OF, AND HOPEFULLY COMPLIANCE WITH, WTO OBLIGATIONS
SHOULD BE A KEY ECONOMIC ASPECT OF MEPI IMPLEMENTATION HERE. THE
BEST WAY TO DELIVER THIS NEEDED TRAINING, IN OUR VIEW, WOULD BE
VIA THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY -- IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE ITC AND PERHAPS OTHER RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL
BODIES (WIPO ON IPR ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE). SUCH A CENTER, BASED
IN THE REGION, COULD BE FUNDED IN PART BY MEPI, BUT WITH THE BULK
OF MONIES COMING FROM GCC WTO MEMBERS THEMSELVES. OUTREACH
PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC (AND PARTICULARLY THE VESTED ECONOMIC
ELITES WHO MAY SEE MORE OPEN TRADE AS A THREAT) TO DEMYSTIFY THE
WTO WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL, BUT SUCH AN INFORMATION CAMPAIGN
SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED SIMPLY TO THE WTO BUT MIGHT ALSO USEFULLY
EXTEND TO THE NEED FOR TRADE LIBERALIZATION MORE GENERALLY,
PERHAPS TO INCLUDE ELIMINATION OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES SUCH
AS RESTRICTIVE AGENCIES, ETC.

ER3. DESPITE ITS WEALTH, THE UAE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE
MAY BEGIN TO FACE AN UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM AMONG NATIONALS. HIGH
BIRTH RATES, THE RELATIVE YOUTH OF THE POPULATION (ENSURING
THOUSANDS MORE JOB-SEEKERS ENTER THE MARKET EACH YEAR),AND THE
LIMITED CAPACITY TO CREATE NEW JOBS OF AN ECONOMY STILL DOMINATED
BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR, ALL CONTRIBUTE TO A POTENTIAL LOOMING
CRISIS, PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN. EMIRATI WOMEN LARGELY FILL
SECRETARIAL OR CLERICAL JOBS, BUT ARE OVERQUALIFIED FOR SUCH

SIPDIS
POSITIONS. MEPI FUNDS COULD BE USED TO SUPPORT EXISTING PROGRAMS
IN THE UAE THAT PROVIDE SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING TO NATIONALS AND
SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG WOMEN (ER3 AND WE1). TANMIA --
THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AGENCY IN THE UAE -- AND THE VARIOUS
NATIONAL BUSINESSWOMEN'S COMMITTEES IN THE INDIVIDUAL EMIRATES
(WHICH OPERATE UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)
CONDUCT ONGOING VISITOR EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND WORK WITH PRIVATE
SECTOR FIRMS IN THE UAE AND ABROAD TO PLACE NATIONALS IN
INTERNSHIP POSITIONS. POST BELIEVES THAT SUCH PROGRAMS WOULD BE
MOST SUCCESSFUL IN DUBAI AND THE LESS AFFLUENT NORTHERN EMIRATES,
WHERE ACCESS TO START-UP CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN ARE ESPECIALLY SCARCE.

4. POLITICAL REFORM:

P1. THE UAE HAS NO ELECTED NATIONAL OR REGIONAL BODIES,
AND THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTIONS WILL NEED A DECISION
FROM THE LEADERSHIP. WE WOULD LIKE TO USE MEPI FUNDS
HERE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING CIVIL
SOCIETY AND INSTITUTIONS, AND IN PARTICULAR TO
SUPPORT/DEVELOP ADVOCACY GROUPS AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES.
IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS IN EXISTING
NGOS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE IN APPOINTED BODIES
SUCH AS THE SHARJAH CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL (WHICH HAS FIVE
WOMEN MEMBERS),COULD ALSO BE ELEMENTS OF SUCH AN
EFFORT.

P2. WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT THE REFORM OF JUDICIAL SYSTEMS
AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THROUGH CITIZENS'
EXCHANGES AND INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAMS, BUT OTHER
PROGRAMS WOULD BE WELCOME. THE RECENT LAUNCHING OF
BILATERAL US-UAE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN COMBATING MONEY-
LAUNDERING, UNDERWAY IN BOTH ABU DHABI AND DUBAI,
PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL, INDIRECT OPPORTUNITY FOR
PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW.

P.3. WE WELCOME AS MANY PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES AS
POSSIBLE TO STRENGTHEN PROFESSIONALISM IN THE MEDIA AND
SUPPORT ADHERENCE TO JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS. THERE IS
CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR THIS HERE: THE UAE HAS A LARGE
AND DYNAMIC MEDIA SECTOR; DUBAI HAS BECOME A REGIONAL
MEDIA HUB; RADIO SAWA IS LOCATED HERE; AND WE HAVE A
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL MEDIA OUTLETS. ANY TRAINING
PROGRAMS MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT MANY
JOURNALISTS ARE EXPATRIATES. TRAINING SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE TO NON-NATIONALS, WHOSE INFLUENCE IS
CONSIDERABLE. OTHER AIMS SHOULD BE PURSUED WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP.


5. DIGITAL READINESS CROSS-CUT:

DR1-2. THE UAE, PARTICULARLY DUBAI, IS ALREADY ADVANCED
IN THIS AREA. THEY USE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND ARE
PIONEERS IN E-GOVERNMENT AND E-COMMERCE. WE SUGGEST
DRAWING ON THE UAE'S EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA FOR USE
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION; THEY MAY BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE ARABIC-LANGUAGE MATERIALS, FACILITIES FOR
REGIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR OUR PROGRAMS
IN THIS AREA.

D3. THE UAE IS ALREADY VERY ACTIVE IN THIS AREA, BUT THE
FINANCES OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (A FEDERAL
MINISTRY) ARE LIMITED, SO NOT ALL SCHOOLS HAVE THESE
FACILITIES YET. TRAINING FOR UAE EDUCATION OFFICIALS IN
REGIONAL PROGRAMS ON THIS WOULD SUPPORT THE MOMENTUM.


6. WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CROSS-CUT (SEE ALSO ER3:

WE1: IMPORTANT. PROGRESS UNDERWAY HERE, WITH FORMATION
OF WOMEN'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS AND UAEG PROGRAMS TO
SUPPORT WOMEN'S ENTRY INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING IN SETTING UP AND RUNNING A
BUSINESS IS NEEDED. BRINGING MORE WOMEN SPEAKERS TO THE
REGION TO ADDRESS RELEVANT ISSUES COULD HELP WITH OUR
OUTREACH EFFORTS.

WE4: WOMEN'S NGOS ARE ACTIVE HERE BUT NEED MORE
INTERACTION WITH COUNTERPARTS ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION
AND ABROAD.

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7. PROPOSED MEPI PROGRAM PLAN (COMMENTS LIMITED TO
THOSE RELEVANT TO THE UAE):
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--WORLD BANK CIVIL SOCIETY PROJECTS: EXCELLENT
SUGGESTIONS, USEFUL AND RELEVANT HERE.

--CIVITAS REGIONAL CIVIC ED PROGRAM: EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. THE UAE IS KEEN TO INCORPORATE CIVIC
EDUCATION INTO ITS CURRICULA. REGIONAL WORKSHOPS WOULD
ALLOW FOR GCC-WIDE DISCUSSION/DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BUT
MIGHT ALSO RESTRICT PROGRESS. THIS WAS A LEADING REQUEST
OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THE DAS CHENEY-LED MEPI
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM.
--MEET US: EXCELLENT IDEA. SHOULD BE COMPLEMENTED BY
REGIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS.

--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT ETC.:
INVOLVE THE UAE BUT ASK THEM ALSO TO SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCE (ESPECIALLY DUBAI'S) IN THIS AREA AS A MODEL.

--GULF TRADE/WTP SEMINARS: SEE (ER1) ABOVE. GOOD IDEA.

--ARAB BUSINESS WOMEN NETWORK: GOOD IDEA.
--E-LEARNING: PROMOTING ACTIVE LEARNING VERY IMPORTANT.

--TEACHER TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: VITAL,
BUT VITAL ALSO TO INCLUDE A PARENTAL COMPONENT, OFTEN
LACKING IN THIS WEALTHY SOCIETY WHERE THERE ARE LARGE
FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS.

--ARAB TEACHERS CIVIC EDUCATION: EXCELLENT IDEA.

--SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT LEADERS;
EXCELLENT IDEA.

--REVITALIZE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING NETWORKS. ALL
THESE IDEAS ARE IMPORTANT AND APPLICABLE HERE.

--LITERACY PROGRAMMING: THE UAE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST
LITERACY RATES IN THE ARAB WORLD. HOWEVER, THEY NEED
SUPPORT IN PROGRAMS FOR READING FOR YOUNG LEARNERS,
ADULT LITERACY, AND SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING.


8. COMMENT:


A. REGIONAL PROGRAMS (BOTH FOR AND IN THE REGION) ARE
ESSENTIAL. SMALL GULF POSTS DO NOT HAVE THE MANPOWER TO
UNDERTAKE MORE PROGRAMMING THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE.
FURTHERMORE, REGIONAL PROGRAMS WILL OFFER PARTICIPANTS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT AMONGST THEMSELVES THE SORT
OF DEBATE ABOUT REFORM WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE.
PROGRAMS BASED IN THE REGION WILL ALLOW MORE
CONSERVATIVE GROUPS (SUCH AS WOMEN) TO PARTICIPATE.


B. POLITICAL COVER IS IMPORTANT, GIVEN THE POLITICAL
CLIMATE AT PRESENT. PROGRAMS BUILT ON SHARED INTERESTS
WILL BE ACCEPTED MORE READILY AND HAVE MORE RESONANCE IN
THE REGION THAN THOSE PERCEIVED TO BE IMPOSED BY THE US.
THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS - MINISTRIES OF
EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL ALSO HELP OVERCOME THE
OPPOSITION OF CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS OF GULF SOCIETY
RELIGIOUS AND TRIBAL LEADERS. END COMMENT

WAHBA