INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO NAJAF TERRORIST ATTACK -

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003976 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2008 TAGS: PREL PTER KPAO IZ TC SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO NAJAF TERRORIST ATTACK - STATEMENT FROM THE UAEG Ref: A) State 250578, B) Abu Dhabi 3827, C) Abu Dhabi 3816 ¶1. (U) Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge d'Affaires, a.i., reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶2. (C) On August 31, Charge delivered ref A points to MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Political Affairs Abdullah Rashid al-Noaimi urging a strong statement of condemnation for the terrorist attack in Najaf two days earlier, and an expression of support for the Iraqi Governing Council (GC). PA followed up with Emirates News Agency Director Ibrahim al-Abed and Polchief with the Minister of Information's office director, Salem al-Amari. The following day, the UAEG's public condemnation was front page news in the major Arabic and English language dailies. The MFA statement said, "This criminal attack which occurred in one of the most sacred places of Islam and on the imam of the Mosque of Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib, is an attack on all Muslims and a desecration of the holy shrine and the values of Muslims. It is also a futile attempt to sow the seed of discord and conflict among the Iraqi people." ¶3. (U) The MFA statement added that the attack did not only target Ayatollah Baqir al-Hakim but also "aimed at killing the aspirations of the Iraqi people for a better future by destroying the sincere efforts towards national unity in Iraq and the efforts of the country's sincere sons and daughters to restore security and stability throughout Iraq." The UAEG statement expressed confidence in the ability of the Iraqi people, under the leadership of the Iraqi Governing Council, to overcome this ordeal by safeguarding the national unity of Iraq so as to deny the irresponsible criminals, who are trying to wreck Iraq's security and stability, the opportunity to achieve their nefarious objective." ¶4. (C) Abdullah Rashid told Charge and Polchief that the UAE unambiguously condemns such terrorist attacks as a crime against the Iraqi people. He commented that the perpetrators do not want Iraq to make a comeback as a strong country. ¶5. (U) The UAEG has consistently condemned terrorist attacks in Iraq (ref B) and supported the Governing Council (refs B and C). ALBRIGHT