C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003618

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA AND INR/NESA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/03/13
TAGS: PREL KPAL IZ AL TC
SUBJECT: ORAL MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO
ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS

REF: State 224109


1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba,
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).


2. (C) The Ambassador used the opportunity of an August 4
telcon with de facto Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamdan Bin
Zayid Al-Nahyan, who is out of the country, to deliver a
brief summary of the Secretary's oral message related to
Iraq and the Roadmap to Arab League Foreign Ministers (see
reftel).


3. (C) Sh. Hamdan said the UAEG is doing everything
possible to support the situation in Iraq, as well as to
support the Iraqi Governing Council (GC) and the Coalition.
He told the Ambassador that the international community
should realize that there is no alternative to the current
process in Iraq, but that there is a real need to work
together to ensure a successful transition of power in
Iraq. The Ambassador urged the UAEG to back the current
process, saying it would be helpful for public opinion if
there were a public expression of UAEG support for the GC.
Sh. Hamdan concurred, but added that such a public
statement from the UAEG in support of the process would
also convey the importance of moving as rapidly as possible
to form a permanent form of government. He asked the
Ambassador if the US would have any problem with that
approach. The Ambassador told Sh. Hamdan that reference to
a careful transition to a permanent government in Iraq,
coupled with a public recognition of the GC's interim role,
would be a balanced statement. Sh. Hamdan requested that
the Embassy send the Secretary's talking points to the MFA
to allow his government to consult about issuing a public
statement. The points were delivered before COB Monday.

WAHBA