SCENESETTER FOR VICE ADMIRAL KEATING'S VISIT TO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004135 SIPDIS NAVCENT FOR VADM KEATING FROM AMBASSADOR WAHBA STATE FOR NEA/ARP CENTCOM FOR POLAD AMBASSADOR LITT E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/13 TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM MOPS TC SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR VICE ADMIRAL KEATING'S VISIT TO THE UAE ¶1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, Reasons 1.5(b) and (d). ¶2. (S) Vice Admiral Keating: I look forward to welcoming you back to the UAE in a few days. The staff at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate General in Dubai are making all the arrangements to ensure your visit to the UAE is a rewarding one. UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MbZ),Commander of UAE Naval Forces Major General Suhail Al-Marar, and Dubai Crown Prince Gen. Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR) all welcome this opportunity to meet with you and exchange ideas on this, your farewell tour to the UAE. ¶3. (S) Your visit to the Emirates comes on the heels of visits by General Abizaid (September 8) and General Buchanan (September 7 and 8). Their discussions were fruitful, covering a range of bilateral military themes, and some of the broader themes of regional interest, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. You can anticipate similar discussions during your visit. -------------- SUGGESTED THEMES -------------- ¶4. (S) We know you are engaged on the numerous bilateral issues listed below, but we wanted to ensure all topics are addressed. Additional general themes are described in para four. -- The Emiratis will want to engage you on the issue of carrier berthing arrangements at Jebel Ali. As you know, the current carrier berth is a container terminal. The Dubai Port Authority wants to reclaim it for berthing of container traffic only, and has proposed that a different part of Jebel Ali be used for the Navy's operations. The Dubai Port Authority has indicated that it wants the move to occur soon. NAVCENT and the Dubai Port Authority need to discuss dredging and berthing development costs. It should be noted that the move would also affect USO facilities; (MbR, Suhail) -- Let Gen. Suhail know that you look forward to his attendance and participation at the International Sea Power Symposium at the Naval War College, Oct. 26-29. The symposium brings together all the chiefs of naval operations and their counterparts; (Suhail) -- Express thanks for the UAE's cooperation and excellent coordination between the Dubai Port Authority, the Fujairah Port Authority, and the US Navy in the run-up and throughout OIF; (MbZ, MbR, Suhail) -- Acknowledge the role of the UAE Navy frigate -- The Emirates as the flagship for the naval component of Peninsula Shield forces during OIF; (MbZ, Suhail) -- The Dubai Air Show takes place December 7-11. The UAE Government regards this as a major event and expects strong US support and presence. You can anticipate a request to provide aircraft static display and possibly an aircraft carrier visit for the Air Show; (MbZ, MbR, Suhail) -- Urge resumption of long-postponed talks between NAVCENT and UAE navy staff. These meetings, which are part of a wider engagement plan with the UAE, should be held annually; (MbZ, Suhail) -- State that you are looking forward to commencing operations in late 2004 at the Air Logistics facility at Minhad; (MbZ, Suhail) -- The Emiratis have proposed a visit to the US Navy Chief of Operations in March 2004. We are currently working with Major General Suhail's staff to develop a plan for the visit. (Suhail) -- Acknowledge that Jebel Ali is the primary port of call for liberty in the Gulf and express thanks to Dubai for playing host to our sailors; (MbR) -- Discuss the legal status of US Navy sailors picked up during liberty in Dubai. This ties into the DCA legal jurisdiction issue which is the article the UAE does not consider "in effect." We appreciate MbR's assistance in returning those sailors who are detained; (MbR) -- Appreciate allowing US Navy Force Protection units to operate in Jebel Ali and Fujairah, especially the use of Fujairah Naval Base to store equipment and boats while not in use; (MbZ, MbR, Suhail) -- Express appreciation for Dubai's patience with the issue of Chinese-manufactured patrol boats and storage at Jebel Ali. We anticipate transfer to the new Iraqi navy in the near future. (MbR) ¶5. (S) More broadly, you may also wish to: -- Express thanks for the UAE's exemplary support for U.S. and coalition efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, namely access to bases and logistical support, including air and sealift of Bulgarian troops to Iraq, the UAE SOC deployment at Bagram, as well as extensive intelligence coordination; (MbZ, MbR, Suhail) -- Pass on our gratitude for the UAE's generous humanitarian assistance, especially the UAE Armed Force's establishment of the very successful Sheikh Zayed hospital in Baghdad and the UAE's efforts to re-supply with equipment and medicine other Iraqi hospitals and the provision of basic foodstuffs to the Iraqi people; (MbZ) -- (If raised) Iraq oil smuggling: Per our exchange earlier this week on this subject, the Iraqis need to act against the smugglers by seizing vessels and prosecuting crews. That should be an effective deterrent. That said, your visit is an excellent opportunity to raise the subject during your meetings. ¶6. (U) Regards from Abu Dhabi, Marcelle. WAHBA