A/S BURNS AND MFA MINSTATE HAMDAN BIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000415 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP, NEA/RA AND PM/B - AMB LINO TUNIS FOR FSI (MAYBURY AND JOHN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/26/2007 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PARM TC SUBJECT: A/S BURNS AND MFA MINSTATE HAMDAN BIN ZAYID REVIEW BILATERAL DIALOGUE NEXT STEPS ¶1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Visiting NEA A/S Burns and MFA Minstate Hamdan Bin Zayid Al-Nahyan discussed next steps in the U.S.-UAE Bilateral Dialogue during a 1/22 meeting. Burns praised Hamdan's handling of the UAEG delegation during the Dialogue's November launch. Hamdan sought A/S Burns' support in moving the UAE from Tier III to Tier II in the 2003 TIP report. Noting that he had come under significant pressure as a result of his efforts to curtail the underage camel jockey trade, Hamdan stated that the UAEG remains committed to upholding international law and enforcing the new regulations stipulating age and weight requirements. The UAEG, he briefed, is actively considering ratifying two key international protocols connected to the trafficking issue. Burns thanked Hamdan for his personal efforts and encouraged movement on the export controls road-map as well as towards the signing of an ICC Article 98 agreement. Hamdan and A/S Burns agreed that the MEPI is a promising area for bilateral engagement. Hamdan expressed concern about the difficulties encountered by UAE students in the U.S. as a result of enhanced security measures. Burns hoped that the next academic year would see more UAE students returning to the U.S. and noted efforts underway to help prepare foreign students for the new requirements. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) NEA A/S Burns met with UAE de facto Foreign Minister Hamdan Bin Zayid Al-Nahyan 1/22 (other topics reported septel). Burns was joined by the Ambassador, JCS Captain Dom and Polchief (notetaker). Hamdan was attended by MFA Assistant Undersecretary for Political Affairs Abdullah Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Office Director Sultan Al-Romaithi and Yousef Al-Otaiba, the assistant to Armed Forces Chief of Staff Muhammad Bin Zayid Al-Nahyan. -------------- -- HELP SOUGHT FOR MOVING UAE FROM TIER III TO II IN 2003 TIP REPORT -------------- -- ¶4. (C) Hamdan sought Burns' support in moving the UAE from Tier III to Tier II in this year's trafficking in persons report. Despite the fact that he had encountered significant resistance and criticism -- primarily from the tribal old guard -- Hamdan noted that he remains committed to putting an end to the trafficking in young boys to the UAE for use as camel jockeys. The UAEG, he explained, is enforcing the new regulations stipulating age and weight requirements, though these measures have been more successful in some emirates (i.e. Abu Dhabi) than others (i.e. Dubai and the northern emirates). However, Hamdan continued, we are committed to working within international law. USG recognition, i.e. via a move from Tier III to Tier II, of the serious steps taken to end this trade in the UAE would be a great motivating factor for future enforcement efforts. Burns expressed appreciation for Hamdan's personal efforts, noting that we fully understand the internal pressures he is up against. ¶5. (C) The MFA and the Ministry of the Interior, Hamdan briefed, are discussing the possibility of the UAE ratifying the Sale of Children Protocol (Supplementing the Rights of the Child Convention, to which the UAE acceded in 1997). At the same time, the MFA is consulting with the Ministry of Justice on whether the UAE should sign and ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, to which the UAE acceded in December, 2002). Burns welcomed these moves. -------------- -------------- PROGRESS URGED ON EXBS AND ICC ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) With regard to implementation of the agreed export controls/border security (EXBS) roadmap, Hamdan briefed that he had sent a letter to the Cabinet the previous day recommending the establishment of a Cabinet-level committee to oversee implementation of this ambitious slate of training courses. Burns thanked Hamdan for his engagement and noted that we look forward to progress on this issue. Turning to the ICC Article 98 agreement, Burns hoped that we could move towards negotiations, noting that it continues by be a key issue for the President and Secretary Powell. Abdullah Rashid piped in that the UAEG is actively studying the draft agreement, but needs to resolve possible conflicts with the UAE's constitution and the UAE's obligations to other countries before responding to us with specific issues for clarification. -------------- MEPI ENGAGEMENT ENCOURAGED -------------- ¶7. (SBU) A/S Burns briefed that we hope to engage the UAEG on a number of opportunities in the educational and economic realms. The Middle East Partnership Initiative, which Burns carefully noted was not intended to dictate solutions, could be a useful engagement tool. He welcomed a pooling of resources and an exchange of information, particularly with regard to economic reform and steps towards greater political participation. Burns noted in his upcoming visit, NEA/RA Director Gary Grappo would brief UAEG interlocutors on what the MEPI has to offer. Hamdan welcomed the cooperation, commenting that the UAE is open to new initiatives. -------------- -------------- CONCERN ABOUT DROPPING NUMBER OF UAE STUDENTS IN US -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Explaining that many of the UAE's 2,500 students in the U.S. had curtailed their studies and returned home because of the "many problems" encountered with visas and the new registration system and security measures, Hamdan asked if A/S Burns had anything new to convey. Burns noted that we are aware of the problems facing foreign students and that a drop in the foreign student population was one of the unintended consequences of the post- 9/11 enhanced security measures. We hope to alleviate these concerns by more fully explaining the new system and prepping students for what to expect. It is in our collective interest, Burns asserted, to send Emiratis for higher study in the U.S. Abdullah Rashid briefed that several Emirati students had been detained while registering for NSEERS because their transcripts did not accurately reflect their course load. The Ambassador noted that the students involved had been detained only briefly and that their universities had responded quickly, explaining any perceived discrepancies to the INS. ¶8. (U) This cable has been cleared by A/S Burns. WAHBA