Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI3251
2003-07-14 10:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAEG WANTS ARTICLE 98 DVC ON JULY 16

Tags:  PREL KTIA KICC PGOV PARM TC 
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Diana T Fritz 03/21/2007 12:19:17 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM July 14, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 3251 - UNKNOWN) 

TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PARM, KTIA, KICC 

Captions: None 

Subject: UAEG WANTS ARTICLE 98 DVC ON JULY 16 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03251

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: ECON 
 INFO: AMB POL P/M DCM 
Laser1:
 INFO: FCS 

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MWAHBA
DRAFTED: ECON:OJOHN
CLEARED: A/DCM:KVAN DE VATE, POL:MMENARD

VZCZCADI077
OO RUEHC RUEHDE RUEHZM RUCAACC RHEHNSC RUEKJCS
RHEFDIA RUEAIIA
DE RUEHAD #3251 1951036
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141036Z JUL 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0823
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 3274
RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCAACC/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003251 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, T, AND PM/B
NSC FOR THEROUX
DOD FOR OSD/ISA/NESA

E.O. 12958: DECL 07/12/08
TAGS: PREL KTIA KICC PGOV PARM TC
SUBJECT: UAEG WANTS ARTICLE 98 DVC ON JULY 16

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003251

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, T, AND PM/B
NSC FOR THEROUX
DOD FOR OSD/ISA/NESA

E.O. 12958: DECL 07/12/08
TAGS: PREL KTIA KICC PGOV PARM TC
SUBJECT: UAEG WANTS ARTICLE 98 DVC ON JULY 16


1. (U) Classified by A/DCM Katherine Van De Vate, for
reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).


2. (C) Summary and Action Request: The UAE Ministry of
Justice is eager to hold a digital videoconference on the
U.S.-UAE Article 98 agreement and is proposing July 16 for
the date. The relevant Ministry of Justice personnel will
not be in the country after the end of this week. We
request that Washington participants see if it is possible
to hold a DVC on July 16. Otherwise it is likely that the
discussions will slip until September. Post hopes to have
this signed late September/early October and would,
therefore, appreciate efforts to hold the DVC on the 16th.
End Summary and Action Request.


3. (C) The Ambassador met with UAE Minister of Justice,
Islamic Affairs, and Awqaf Mohamed Nakhera Al-Dhaheri on
July 13. The Minister raised a number of questions that
the UAEG has about the proposed text. The Ambassador
suggested that these would be best raised with the
appropriate USG officials in a digital videoconference.


4. (C) The issues are:
-- The UAEG is concerned about the text that states the USG
and the UAEG have each "expressed their intention to
investigate and to prosecute where appropriate acts within
the jurisdiction" of the ICC. The UAEG is concerned that
the phrase "where appropriate" leaves open the possibility
that allegations would not be investigated. The Ambassador
explained that USG concerns relate specifically to
politically motivated attacks on U.S. personnel.

--The UAEG proposed that the agreement should cover
nationals of each party only. The Ambassador noted that
the U.S. military has a number of non-Amcits serving.

--The Minister also asked for an explanation of the
statement "current and former" military personnel. He
asked whether this meant that former military personnel
traveling to the UAE on private business or tourism would
be protected under the agreement.

--The Minister explained the UAEG rationale for deleting
paragraph 6 of the text that says "This agreement shall
remain in force.." The UAEG position is that this is not
being negotiated as an "agreement," but as an exchange of
diplomatic notes, and therefore, calling it an agreement is
inappropriate. The Ambassador suggested that the UAEG
provide alternate language, and the Minister agreed.

5 (U) Econchief followed up with Abdul Rahim Al-Awadi,
Undersecretary for International Cooperation and Planning
at the Ministry of Justice, to provide him with
Department's suggested dates (July 22-23, 29-30). Al-Awadi
told Econchief that these dates would not be possible for
the UAEG and proposed that the DVC be held on July 16.
Post strongly supports the UAEG suggested date. We hope to
have negotiations concluded quickly in order to have the
signing ceremony by the end of September/early October to
coincide with the annual strategic partnership meeting to
be held in Abu Dhabi at that time.
Wahba