LETTER FROM UAE PRESIDENT TO POTUS REGARDING

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004706 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, AND NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREL TC SUBJECT: LETTER FROM UAE PRESIDENT TO POTUS REGARDING MADRID DONORS CONFERENCE AND IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ¶1. The Office of UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaykh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan requested that the Ambassador forward a letter from UAE President Shaykh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to the President. The original will be pouched to the State Department. We are providing an unofficial translation of the Arabic text below. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: October 22, 2003 The Honorable George W. Bush President United States of America Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President We received with appreciation your letter dated October 16, 2003. We share your vision regarding the fact that the Middle East region is going through a critical phase of unrest. This requires us to intensify our cooperation and common efforts to work to overcome this phase so that security and stability prevail, and complete development will be achieved to provide a good life for the nations of the region. Our participation at the Madrid Donors Conference during the month of October stems from our commitment to Iraq and its people, as well as the necessity of assisting and providing basic needs, such as food, clothing, and providing security for the people. Based on this, we have provided a range of assistance in the form of foodstuffs, hospital equipment and medicine, crucial medical equipment, drilled wells, and built desalination plants to provide drinking water, provided a power station, among other items. Our total contribution in the aforementioned humanitarian areas has exceeded $150 million so far. We continue to provide support and assistance to the brotherly Iraqi people. Concerning our participation in the Madrid Donors Conference, we have assigned His Excellency the Minister of State for Financial Affairs and Industry to lead our delegation. In conclusion, we are very pleased with the level of our present bilateral relations, and we are determined to continue our cooperation with your friendly country in all domains. The first priority at this time is supporting Iraq, and providing it with the necessary resources to help with reconstruction. This is a preliminary step toward restoring its historic role at the international level. With all due respect and appreciation, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan President United Arab Emirates END TEXT WAHBA