Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI4021
2003-09-03 10:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
FALCON SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UAEG
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 05:32:05 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM September 03, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 4021 - ROUTINE) TAGS: SENV, ECON Captions: None Subject: FALCON SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UAEG OFFICIALS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04021 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA: RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA CLEARED: ECON: OBJOHN VZCZCADI096 RR RUEHC DE RUEHAD #4021 2461044 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 031044Z SEP 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1531
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004021
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES
FOR DINT/USGS/RGARMON
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON TC
SUBJECT: FALCON SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UAEG
OFFICIALS
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004021
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES
FOR DINT/USGS/RGARMON
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON TC
SUBJECT: FALCON SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UAEG
OFFICIALS
¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph
¶4.
¶2. (SBU) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist Dr.
David Ellis made explicit allegations against Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince Shaykh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaykh Hamdan
bin Zayed Al Nahyan for involvement in falcon smuggling
in a paper he presented at the World Working Group of
Birds of Prey Conference in Hungary in May 2003.
Secretary General of the Environmental Research and
SIPDIS
Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) Mejad Al Mansouri
has inquired repeatedly of the Embassy if Dr. Ellis was
presenting his own views at the Conference or speaking
on behalf of the USG when he presented his paper.
¶3. (SBU) We are unable to determine from available
information whether his paper represented his personal
opinion or USG views. In a conversation with the
Charge, Mansouri alleged that the paper Dr. Ellis
presented at the Conference had a Department of
Interior logo. However, on Dr. Ellis' website, the
paper he delivered at the Conference appears to
indicate that he is representing an Institute for
Raptor Studies based in Oracle, Arizona. We have been
unable to obtain any information about this Institute.
On the website devoted to the Conference, the abstract
of Dr. Ellis' oral presentation cites his name and the
USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, but then
lists the address of the Institute and a personal email
address. Post has not/ not contacted Dr. Ellis
directly.
¶4. (SBU) Action request: Embassy Abu Dhabi would like
to respond to the UAEG's inquiries and find out if Dr.
Ellis was presenting his own opinions or speaking on
behalf of the USG at the World Working Group of Birds
of Prey Conference. End Action request.
Albright