UAE REACTS TO IRAQ GC-CPA AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005003 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/NGA, EB-IRAQ TASK FORCE, IO/UNP AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/13 TAGS: PREL IZ TC SUBJECT: UAE REACTS TO IRAQ GC-CPA AGREEMENT Refs: A)CPA OO 152049Z Nov 03 B)CPA OO 152040Z Nov 03 C)State 310962 D)State 309887 (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, for Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Two senior leaders in the UAEG told the Ambassador on November 16 that they applaud the U.S. decision to accelerate the transfer of authority to the Iraqis. Deputy Prime Minister and de facto Foreign Minister Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (HbZ) said the decision was a very wise move that should reduce the current volatile situation in Iraq. As HbZ did in his meetings with senior Administration officials in Washington in late October (refs C, D),he said Iraqis will need a stable Iraqi leadership that the Governing Council has been unable to provide. Post provided the UAEG with a copy of the GC-CPA agreement contained in ref B. ¶2. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador in Dubai, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defense Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR) called the decision a very important move, adding that the Iraq problem must be fixed before the U.S. election season. MbR said the selection of the Transitional National Assembly will be key to the success of the ensuing steps of establishing an interim government, the drafting of a new Iraqi constitution, and electing a new Iraqi government. MbR told the Ambassador that if a majority of Iraqis do not see the Transitional National Assembly as a credible entity, it will de-legitimize the entire process as well as the American role. MbR cautioned that the Shi'a majority will not find it easy to separate State from religion since for the Shi'a such a separation is artificial. He said it is therefore very important that the interim government consist of credible Iraqis, from all sects and ethnic groups, who are effective leaders with strong roots in the tribal and family clans throughout Iraq. WAHBA