Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI4802
2003-10-29 11:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

A/S MAURA HARTY: TRANSLATION OF ARTICLE IN UAE

Tags:  KPAO TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 04:05:26 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM October 29, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 4802 - ROUTINE) 

TAGS: KPAO 

Captions: None 

Subject: A/S MAURA HARTY: TRANSLATION OF ARTICLE IN UAE 
 AL-ITTIHAD NEWSPAPER 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04802

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: PAO 
 INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM 
Laser1:
 ACTION: PAO 

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: PAO:AHOSHAN
CLEARED: PAO:HOLSIN-WINDCKER

VZCZCADI198
RR RUEHC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #4802/01 3021155
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291155Z OCT 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2240
INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004802 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; ECA; IIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO TC
SUBJECT: A/S MAURA HARTY: TRANSLATION OF ARTICLE IN UAE
AL-ITTIHAD NEWSPAPER


SUMMARY: THE PAO OFFICE ARRANGED AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
ON OCTOBER 20 FOR A/S MAURA HARTY WITH THE ABU DHABI-
BASED SEMI-OFFICIAL ARABIC DAILY "AL-ITTIHAD" DURING HER
STOP IN THE UAE. DURING THE INTERVIEW, A/S HARTY
REITERATED U.S. OFFICIAL WELCOME OF UAE VISITORS,
WHETHER FOR EDUCATION, MEDICAL PURPOSES OR TOURISM. END
SUMMARY


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 004802

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; ECA; IIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO TC
SUBJECT: A/S MAURA HARTY: TRANSLATION OF ARTICLE IN UAE
AL-ITTIHAD NEWSPAPER


SUMMARY: THE PAO OFFICE ARRANGED AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
ON OCTOBER 20 FOR A/S MAURA HARTY WITH THE ABU DHABI-
BASED SEMI-OFFICIAL ARABIC DAILY "AL-ITTIHAD" DURING HER
STOP IN THE UAE. DURING THE INTERVIEW, A/S HARTY
REITERATED U.S. OFFICIAL WELCOME OF UAE VISITORS,
WHETHER FOR EDUCATION, MEDICAL PURPOSES OR TOURISM. END
SUMMARY



1. THE HEADLINE OF THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE ARAB AND
INTERNATIONAL SECTION OF THE DAILY READS: "ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS: 'EFFECTIVE

SIPDIS
MEASURES ARE UNDERWAY TO SPEED UP ENTRY VISAS TO THE
UNITED STATES.'"

FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSLATION OF THE ENTIRE ARTICLE:
"AMBASSADOR MAURA HARTY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS, ASSERTED THAT THE SPECIALIZED
AUTHORITIES IN HER COUNTRY HAVE UNDERTAKEN A SERIES OF
MEASURES TO SPEED UP PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING ENTRY
VISAS TO THE UNITED STATES. SHE SAID THAT THE PRESENCE
OF MEMBERS OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT IN THE
U.S. CONSULATES IN SOME ARAB AND MUSLIM COUNTRIES ARE
PART OF THESE NEW MEASURES, AND ARE NOT LIMITED TO A
CERTAIN NATION, OR DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF VISITORS
COMING FROM IT, OR THE PRESENCE OF SYMPATHIZERS WITH
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, AS MENTIONED BY SOME AMERICAN
MEDIA.


2. "DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH 'AL-ITTIHAD' YESTERDAY,
THE AMERICAN OFFICIAL REITERATED HER COUNTRY'S WELCOME
OF ALL UAE VISITORS, WHETHER FOR EDUCATION, MEDICAL
TREATMENT OR TOURISM, NOTING THAT THE NUMBER OF UAE
VISITORS HAS INCREASED.


3. "ON HER CURRENT VISIT, AMBASSADOR HARTY SAID THAT IT
COMES AS PART OF A REGIONAL VISIT THAT WAS STARTED IN
EGYPT, WHERE SHE PARTICIPATED IN A REGIONAL CONFERENCE
FOR U.S. CONSULS IN THE REGION, WHOSE AIM WAS EXCHANGING
VIEWS AND EXPERTISE AND REVIEWING THE NEW MEASURES
REGARDING ENTRY VISAS TO THE U.S., AS WELL AS OTHER
ISSUES RELATED TO AMERICAN CHILDREN OF NON-AMERICANS.
SHE PERSONALLY FOLLOWS THIS PORTFOLIO AND, AT THE SAME
TIME, IT RECEIVES SPECIAL ATTENTION FROM BOTH THE
AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION AND THE CONGRESS. SHE ADDED
THAT HER TOUR TOOK HER TO EGYPT, JORDAN, AND THE UAE AND
THEN TO SAUDI ARABIA.


4. "ON THE COMPLEXITIES AND THE LONG TIME REQUIRED FOR
VISA PROCESSING FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER 11, THE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS NOTED THAT MANY THINGS

SIPDIS
HAVE CHANGED FOLLOWING 9/11, AND THAT WE, AS A
GOVERNMENT, HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND

SECURITY OF OUR CITIZENS AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR
NATION. AS A REMINDER, THOSE WHO WERE KILLED IN THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK WERE NOT ONLY AMERICANS,
BUT ALSO CITIZENS BELONGING TO MORE THAN 90 COUNTRIES.


5. "SHE ADDED THAT PARENTS WHO DECIDE TO SEND THEIR
CHILDREN TO STUDY ABROAD ARE KEEN THAT THEY LIVE IN A
SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE SAME THING APPLIES TO
VISITORS; THEREFORE, SECURITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AS FOR THE ROLE OF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY IN US CONSULATES, SHE EXPLAINED THAT THESE ARE
PEOPLE WITH LONG EXPERIENCE WHO HAVE WORKED IN
DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS INS, CUSTOMS OR THE COAST GUARD, AND
THAT WE HAVE STARTED SENDING THEM TO OUR MISSIONS ABROAD
TO USE THEIR EXPERTISE AND ENSURE THE QUICK AND
EFFICIENT APPLICATION OF THE NEW MEASURES. IT IS NO
SECRET TO SAY THAT THE PREVIOUS MEASURES WERE SLOW AND

SIPDIS
REQUIRED MODIFICATION AND WE DID OUR BEST TO MAKE THEM
FASTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE.


6. "ON WHETHER THESE MEASURES ARE TARGETING ONLY ARABS
AND MUSLIMS, THE AMERICAN OFFICIAL DENIED THIS NOTION,
ASSERTING THAT THESE MEASURES ARE IMPOSED WORLDWIDE AND
OUR MISSION (AS A GOVERNMENT) IS TO MAINTAIN THE
SECURITY OF ALL LEGAL TRAVELERS. SECRETARY THOMAS RIDGE
(HOMELAND SECURITY) VISITED A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO
BRIEF THEM ON THESE MEASURES.


7. "REGARDING THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY THE PREVIOUS
MEASURES ON THOSE WHO SOUGHT EDUCATION IN THE US,
AMBASSADOR HARTY NOTED: 'WE'RE SORRY FOR THEIR
SUFFERINGS AND ONCE AGAIN I SAY THAT THIS IS DUE TO OUR
INTEREST IN PROVIDING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS
SEEKING TO MAKE USE OF OUR ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
WE WOULD ALSO BE HAPPY TO SEE THESE STUDENTS GO BACK TO
THEIR HOME COUNTRIES AFTER GRADUATION AND BECOME LEADERS
IN THEIR OWN NATIONS. WE RENEW OUR WELCOME OF STUDENTS
AND HOPE THAT THAT THEY SEE TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY AND
SPEED IN THE NEW MEASURES. THEY WOULD ALSO FEEL A
FLEXIBILITY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO APPLY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR
APPOINTMENTS AS LONG AS THEIR DOCUMENTS ARE COMPLETE.'


8. "WHAT APPLIES TO STUDENT ALSO APPLIES TO VISITORS
SEEKING MEDICAL CARE, TOURISM OR EVEN IMMIGRATION.
DESPITE WHAT MANY SEE AS SLOWNESS AND COMPLICATIONS OF
THE SYSTEM, THE NUMBER OF VISAS HAS INCREASED TO 6.8
MILLION.

9. "REGARDING THE RISE IN RATE OF INCIDENTS TARGETING
ARABS AND MUSLIMS IN THE US RECENTLY, DESPITE EFFORTS BY
THE ADMINISTRATION TO HIGHLIGHT TOLERANCE AND ETHNIC
DIVERSITY IN AMERICA, AMBASSADOR HARTY SAID, 'OF COURSE
THE GENERAL MOOD OF THE SOCIETY HAS CHANGED AFTER 9/11;
WE REJECT THESE ASSAULTS AND CONSIDER THEM CRIMES, FOR
THEY AFFECT OUR VALUES AND OUR IMAGE AS A NATION THAT
WAS BUILT BY IMMIGRANTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND RACES
AND RELIGIONS.'


10. "HARTY CONCLUDED HER STATEMENT BY REASSERTING HER
NATION'S WELCOME OF ALL THOSE WHO SEEK EDUCATION,
MEDICAL TREATMENT, TOURISM OR TRADE WITH THE US, WHETHER
THEY ARE UAE NATIONALS OR EXPATRIATES LIVING IN THE UAE.
SHE ALSO REVIEWED ALL THE FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR THEM
IN THE AREAS THEY SEEK, WHETHER THE DEVELOPED
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM,
THE EXCELLENT MEDICAL CARE, OR TOURISM IN AMERICA."

ALBRIGHT