Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI3828
2003-08-20 11:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/21/2007 11:31:25 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM August 20, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 3828 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: PREL, PGOV Captions: None Subject: ZAYED CENTER WEB SITE CLOSED Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03828 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: AMB DCM P/M ECON RSO DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA:RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: POL:JFMAYBURY CLEARED: PA: TPONCE VZCZCADI574 OO RUEHC RUEHEE DE RUEHAD #3828 2321128 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201128Z AUG 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1361 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003828
SIPDIS
NSC FOR AMB ELIOT ABRAMS
NEA/FO AND NEA/ARP, CAIRO FOR HEGADORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV TC
SUBJECT: ZAYED CENTER WEB SITE CLOSED
Refs: A) Abu Dhabi 3817, B) Malenas-Albright 8/20/03 e-mail
C) Abu Dhabi 3801
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003828
SIPDIS
NSC FOR AMB ELIOT ABRAMS
NEA/FO AND NEA/ARP, CAIRO FOR HEGADORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV TC
SUBJECT: ZAYED CENTER WEB SITE CLOSED
Refs: A) Abu Dhabi 3817, B) Malenas-Albright 8/20/03 e-mail
C) Abu Dhabi 3801
1. (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires, a.i.,
Richard Albright, for Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) The Zayed Center for Coordination and Follow-up
(ZCCF) Web site has been closed, the first tangible, public
action by the UAEG against the Center. "This Site has been
Stopped," reads the message at www.zccf.org.ae, the
Center's Web address. However, Center employees say the
Center remains open and is receiving letters from Arab
journalists and intellectuals expressing support and
solidarity against what they perceive to be an "Zionist
campaign" against Abu Dhabi-based and funded think tank,
affiliated with the Arab League.
3. (C) Earlier this week, Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Information
Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan had reacted
with surprise when they learned from Charge that the Web
site was still open (see refs A, C). They said they would
look into the matter. Apparently, the order to shut down
the Web site was carried out some time Tuesday night or
Wednesday morning.
4. (U) At the ZCCF, meanwhile, a defiant unnamed ZCCF
official told the local English language daily "Gulf News"
that the Center is "being subjected to an unjustified smear
campaign." The local press also has published statements
by GCC and Arab League spokesmen supporting the Center's
activities. Today's Arabic language "Al Khaleej" described
efforts to shut down the Center as a "Zionist campaign." It
referred to a letter from Syrian Information Minister Adnan
Omran in which he sees the "disinformation campaign" by
"Western Zionist elements" as a kind of badge of honor for
the Center. The same article cited a letter from Yemeni
Foreign Minister Dr. Abubakr Al-Qurbi's condemning the
"Zionist attack" against the ZCCF.
5. (C) Concerning the two UAEG emissaries who were supposed
to go to the U.S. this week to meet with Harvard officials,
hoping to persuade the university not to return Sheikh
Zayed's endowment (see ref C),the Department has learned
from UAE Ambassador Al-Asri that they are meeting
university representatives in London on August 21 (see ref
B). It is unclear if they will go to the U.S. after this.
A Harvard participant in those meetings who called for
information on the UAE participants, informed us that
Harvard plans to take a public position by the time the
semester starts in early September. One option involves a
statement that it is continuing to study the matter.
6. (C) COMMENT: There seems to be little doubt about who
pulled the plug on the Web site. Sheikh Zayed had ordered
the Center closed. The Beni Fatima are following through
with their father's wishes. Now that the Web site has been
disabled, we expect the UAEG to focus on how and when to
close the Center altogether. Closing the Web site removes
the controversial content at the heart of this conflict,
but the decision provides ammunition for the Center's Arab
nationalist supporters who are shouting conspiracy. The
Emiratis appear determined to pursue their interests in
avoiding a public slap from Harvard and seem prepared to
take the flak from the Arab world. Because of Arab League
involvement, we expect there could be some action at that
level.
ALBRIGHT
SIPDIS
NSC FOR AMB ELIOT ABRAMS
NEA/FO AND NEA/ARP, CAIRO FOR HEGADORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV TC
SUBJECT: ZAYED CENTER WEB SITE CLOSED
Refs: A) Abu Dhabi 3817, B) Malenas-Albright 8/20/03 e-mail
C) Abu Dhabi 3801
1. (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires, a.i.,
Richard Albright, for Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) The Zayed Center for Coordination and Follow-up
(ZCCF) Web site has been closed, the first tangible, public
action by the UAEG against the Center. "This Site has been
Stopped," reads the message at www.zccf.org.ae, the
Center's Web address. However, Center employees say the
Center remains open and is receiving letters from Arab
journalists and intellectuals expressing support and
solidarity against what they perceive to be an "Zionist
campaign" against Abu Dhabi-based and funded think tank,
affiliated with the Arab League.
3. (C) Earlier this week, Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Information
Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan had reacted
with surprise when they learned from Charge that the Web
site was still open (see refs A, C). They said they would
look into the matter. Apparently, the order to shut down
the Web site was carried out some time Tuesday night or
Wednesday morning.
4. (U) At the ZCCF, meanwhile, a defiant unnamed ZCCF
official told the local English language daily "Gulf News"
that the Center is "being subjected to an unjustified smear
campaign." The local press also has published statements
by GCC and Arab League spokesmen supporting the Center's
activities. Today's Arabic language "Al Khaleej" described
efforts to shut down the Center as a "Zionist campaign." It
referred to a letter from Syrian Information Minister Adnan
Omran in which he sees the "disinformation campaign" by
"Western Zionist elements" as a kind of badge of honor for
the Center. The same article cited a letter from Yemeni
Foreign Minister Dr. Abubakr Al-Qurbi's condemning the
"Zionist attack" against the ZCCF.
5. (C) Concerning the two UAEG emissaries who were supposed
to go to the U.S. this week to meet with Harvard officials,
hoping to persuade the university not to return Sheikh
Zayed's endowment (see ref C),the Department has learned
from UAE Ambassador Al-Asri that they are meeting
university representatives in London on August 21 (see ref
B). It is unclear if they will go to the U.S. after this.
A Harvard participant in those meetings who called for
information on the UAE participants, informed us that
Harvard plans to take a public position by the time the
semester starts in early September. One option involves a
statement that it is continuing to study the matter.
6. (C) COMMENT: There seems to be little doubt about who
pulled the plug on the Web site. Sheikh Zayed had ordered
the Center closed. The Beni Fatima are following through
with their father's wishes. Now that the Web site has been
disabled, we expect the UAEG to focus on how and when to
close the Center altogether. Closing the Web site removes
the controversial content at the heart of this conflict,
but the decision provides ammunition for the Center's Arab
nationalist supporters who are shouting conspiracy. The
Emiratis appear determined to pursue their interests in
avoiding a public slap from Harvard and seem prepared to
take the flak from the Arab world. Because of Arab League
involvement, we expect there could be some action at that
level.
ALBRIGHT