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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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