Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI4969
2003-11-12 12:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAEG REACTION TO POTUS DEMOCRACY

Tags:  PREL TC 
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Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 03:48:43 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM November 12, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 4969 - ROUTINE) 

TAGS: PREL 

Captions: None 

Subject: UAEG REACTION TO POTUS DEMOCRACY SPEECH 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 04969

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: POL 
 INFO: AMB DCM P/M ECON RSO PAO 
Laser1:
 INFO: FCS PAO 

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MMWAHBA
DRAFTED: POL:JFMAYBURY
CLEARED: NONE

VZCZCADI627
RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHDE RUEHLO RUEHFR RUCJACC
DE RUEHAD #4969 3161232
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121232Z NOV 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2397
INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3532
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0742
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0772
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 004969 

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR NEA/REA, NEA/ARP
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/13
TAGS: PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAEG REACTION TO POTUS DEMOCRACY
SPEECH

Ref: Abu Dhabi 4903

(U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba,
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 004969

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR NEA/REA, NEA/ARP
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/13
TAGS: PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAEG REACTION TO POTUS DEMOCRACY
SPEECH

Ref: Abu Dhabi 4903

(U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba,
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).


1. (C) The UAEG has no plans to react publicly
to President George Bush's speech on democracy
in the Middle East region, Ibrahim Al-Abed, the
senior adviser to Information and Culture
Minister Shaykh Abdallah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,
told Polchief November 12. Al-Abed was quick to
add that while Emiratis are generally pleased
with the current political system, they are not
shy about debating change. "As far as Emiratis
are concerned, the speech will go away.
However, the debate is open in the UAE. Change
is on people's minds," he said.


2. (C) Al-Abed told Polchief that Emiratis at
all levels do not like it when change is
dictated or preached to them by outsiders. This
is particularly so in times of crisis when
people are preoccupied with the situation of
Arabs in Iraq and in the West Bank/Gaza. "One
right move" by the U.S. with regard to occupied
lands in West Bank/Gaza would make a bigger
difference than any speech, said Al-Abed, who is
originally from Palestine. In this respect, Al-
Abed echoed much of the local press sentiment
reported in reftel. Emiratis also believe in
gradualism and are not going to change their
political system overnight, Al-Abed said.
Polchief learned from Khadim Al-Darei, the
deputy manager for de facto Foreign Minister
Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, that Shaykh
Hamdan had reviewed President Bush's speech.


3. (C) COMMENT: We do not expect an official
public response to the President's speech. In
our view, that would be unusual.
WAHBA