Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI5031
2003-11-19 14:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

ADNOC EXECUTIVES AND STUDENTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT OF

Tags:  KPAO CVIS CMGT ECON EPET BEXP TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 03:47:51 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM November 19, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 5031 - ROUTINE) 

TAGS: CVIS, CMGT, ECON, EPET, BEXP, KPAO 

Captions: None 

Subject: ADNOC EXECUTIVES AND STUDENTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT OF 
 VISITORS AT US PORTS OF ENTRY 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 05031

SIPDIS
Laser1:
 INFO: FCS PAO CONS 
CXABU:
 ACTION: AMB 
 INFO: ECON PAO CONS DCM 

DISSEMINATION: AMB
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: CON:TPONCE
CLEARED: PAO:HOLSIN-WINDECKER; CON:MMARRANO; ECON:OJOHN

VZCZCADI835
RR RUEHDI RUEHC RUEHXK ALSAC
DE RUEHAD #5031/01 3231421
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191421Z NOV 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHDI/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3534
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2448
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
ALSAC/ALL SOUTH ASIA COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 005031 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; NEA/FO; ECA; IIP/G/NESA;
CA/EX; CA/FO; CA/VO; CA/P

REF: ABU DHABI 4315

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO CVIS CMGT ECON EPET BEXP TC
SUBJECT: ADNOC EXECUTIVES AND STUDENTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT OF
VISITORS AT US PORTS OF ENTRY


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 005031

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; NEA/FO; ECA; IIP/G/NESA;
CA/EX; CA/FO; CA/VO; CA/P

REF: ABU DHABI 4315

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO CVIS CMGT ECON EPET BEXP TC
SUBJECT: ADNOC EXECUTIVES AND STUDENTS ALLEGE MISTREATMENT OF
VISITORS AT US PORTS OF ENTRY



1. (U) SUMMARY: ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2003, ABU DHABI
CONOFF AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ASSISTANT VISITED THE ABU DHABI
NATIONAL OIL COMPANY (ADNOC) SCHOLARSHIP OFFICE. DURING THIS
MEETING, CONOFF DISCUSSED VISA PROCESSING DELAYS, DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) PROCEDURES AT US PORTS OF ENTRY (US
POES),IMPROVEMENTS TO BOTH PROCESSES, AND NOTIFIED ADNOC
EXECUTIVES OF THE NEW FINGERPRINTING PROCEDURES. ALTHOUGH
UNCONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW FINGERPRINTING PROCEDURES, THE ADNOC
EXECUTIVES VOICED THEIR DISPLEASURE AT ALLEGED MISTREATMENT OF
UAE STUDENTS BY DHS OFFICERS. THEY NOTED THAT SUCH BEHAVIOR
IS A PRIMARY REASON THEY RECOMMEND THEIR STUDENTS CHOOSE
AUSTRALIA AND THE UK OVER THE US. ADNOC SENT ONLY 4 NEW
STUDENTS TO THE U.S. IN 2002 AND IS ONLY SENDING 2 NEW
STUDENTS FOR 2003, DOWN FROM AN AVERAGE OF 100 TO 150 EACH
YEAR. SIMILAR VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED IN A VIDEOCONFERENCE ON
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, WHERE UAE STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP
OFFICIALS URGED DHS AND STATE TO REVIEW USG ACTIONS AT ITS
BORDERS. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
NEW AND IMPROVED: FINGERPRINTS AND FASTER VISA PROCESSING
-------------- --------------


2. (U) AS PART AN ONGOING OUTREACH PROGRAM TO STUDENTS,
EDUCATORS, AND UAE SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIALS, CONOFF AND FSN
CULTURAL AFFAIRS ASSISTANT MET WITH ADNOC SCHOLARSHIP OFFICE
HEAD AHMED OBAID AL MANSOURI AND SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP OFFICER
MOHAMMED NAWAR AL ABID. CONOFF BEGAN BY EXPLAINING THE NEW
FINGERPRINTING REQUIREMENTS FOR NIV APPLICANTS. THE
DEMONSTRATION INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE FINGERPRINTING DEVICE,
COPIES OF ARTICLES ON THE PROCEDURES, AN EXPLANATION OF USE OF
THE DEVICE, AND DREW UPON CA PRESS GUIDANCE TO ANSWER BASIC
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES. CONOFF NOTED THAT THE
FINGERPRINTING PROCEDURES AND RECENT CHANGES TO THE VISA
PROCESS ARE PART OF THE USG EFFORT TO INCREASE US SECURITY
WHILE FACILITATING THE TRAVEL OF LEGITIMATE VISITORS.

-------------- --------------

FINGERS, SHMINGERS - TREATMENT AT BORDER IS THE CONCERN
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) MR. AL MANSOURI RAISED THE ISSUE OF STUDENT TURN
AROUNDS AT US POES DUE TO NATIONAL SECURITY ENTRY/EXIT
REGISTRATIONS SYSTEM (NSEERS) NON-COMPLIANCE. MR. AL ABID
ADDED THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VISA PROCESS WERE MUCH
APPRECIATED AND THAT THE FINGERPRINTING PROCEDURES ARE NOT A
CONCERN. THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS THE ALLEGED
MISTREATMENT OF STUDENTS AND OTHER UAE CITIZENS AT US POES.
MR. AL ABID STATED THAT 10 ADNOC SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS HAD
FAILED TO COMPLY WITH NSEERS EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS INCLUDING LACK OF SIGNAGE AT AIRPORTS AND CONFUSING
INFORMATION (SEE REFTEL) AND HAVE BEEN TURNED AROUND. THESE
NSEERS VIOLATORS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR FAILURE TO COMPLY BUT
HAVE ALSO ALLEGED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MISTREATED BY DHS
OFFICERS AT US POES.


4. (SBU) MR. AL ABID EMPHASIZED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT
STUDENTS AND VISITORS MUST BE FINGERPRINTED. THE PROBLEM IS
HOW RUDELY PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATED AT US POES. THESE ACTIONS
GIVE LEGITIMACY TO NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT THE US. ADNOC,
WHICH USUALLY SENDS 100 TO 150 STUDENTS EACH YEAR TO THE US,
SENT 4 NEW STUDENTS IN 2002 AND WILL ONLY SEND 2 NEW STUDENTS
FOR 2003. BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11TH, ADNOC HAD APPROXIMATELY 450
STUDENTS IN THE US. NOW, THE NUMBER HAS DIPPED TO 197, AND
THIS TREND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE AS STUDENTS GRADUATE AND ADNOC
DIRECTS NEW AND CURRENT STUDENTS TO STUDY IN AUSTRALIA AND THE
UK. "STUDENTS WANT TO GO TO THE US. BUT THEY ARE TIRED OF
BEING MISTREATED," HE NOTED.


5. (U) MR. AL ABID RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS ALREADY IN THE US
BE ALLOWED TO GO TO DHS OFFICES FOR FINGERPRINTING AND EXACT
INSTRUCTIONS ON DEPARTING AND ENTERING THE US TO ENSURE THAT
THEY ARE NOT HARASSED AT US POES. IN ADDITION, HE SUGGESTED
THAT A US IDENTIFICATION CARD BE ISSUED TO ALL STUDENT
VISITORS TO ENSURE THEIR LEGITIMATE STATUS IN THE US IS
RECOGNIZED. "MAYBE THIS WILL REDUCE THE HARASSMENT THEY
RECEIVE AT US POES," HE ADDED.

--------------
THINGS ARE IMPROVING - JUST WAIT AND SEE
--------------


6. (U) CONOFF REPLIED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
VISA PROCESSING, AND VISITORS ARE BEING TREATED BETTER AT ALL
US POES. HE ADDED THAT ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT WOULD
BE THE INSTALLATION OF EXIT CONTROLS AT ALL US POES. THIS NEW
EXIT SYSTEM WILL INCLUDE SELF-SERVICE KIOSKS THAT PROVIDE
VISITORS INFORMATION ON PROPERLY EXITING THE US. FINALLY,
CONOFF NOTED THAT NSEERS VIOLATORS MAY APPLY FOR A NEW VISA
AND EXPLAIN TO A CONOFF THEIR REASONS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.
MANY UAE STUDENTS HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A NEW VISA AND
RETURNED TO STUDIES IN THE US.

--------------
DRIVEN HOME AGAIN - LIVE VIA SATELLITE
--------------


7. (U) ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2003, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE FACILITATED A DIGITAL VIDEOCONFERENCE (DVC) FOR
STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE HIGHER
COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE ALL-WOMEN ZAYED UNIVERSITY AND
OFFICIALS FROM MAJOR UAE SCHOLARSHIP OFFICES. IN WASHINGTON,
PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED CA AND PD OFFICIALS, A DHS BUREAU OF
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM (SEVP) OFFICE, AND
OFFICIALS AND UAE STUDENTS FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
(GW).


8. (U) DURING THE DVC, EACH WASHINGTON PARTICIPANT GAVE AN
IMPRESSION OF VISA PROCESSING AND REGULATIONS AND LIVING,
WORKING, AND/OR STUDYING IN THE US POST-SEPTEMBER 11TH. GW
OFFICIALS AND STUDENTS RECANTED FEW PROBLEMS WITH VISA
PROCESSING AND ENTRY AND EXIT FROM US POES AND EMPHASIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF EACH UNIVERSITY'S INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OFFICE
AS THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ANY PROBLEMS NEW STUDENTS MAY
ENCOUNTER. THE UAE STUDENTS FROM GW NOTED THAT THEY HAD
EXPERIENCED NO HARASSMENT OR PROBLEMS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11TH,
ALTHOUGH ONE RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS "STAY AWAY FROM THE
MIDWEST AND MORE CONSERVATIVE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY." THE CA
AND DHS OFFICIALS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING STUDENT UNDERSTANDING
OF VISA PROCESSING AT AN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE, HOW THE STUDENT
AND EXCHANGE VISITOR INFORMATION SYSTEM (SEVIS) REGISTRATION
AND FORM I-20 ARE GENERATED, HOW THESE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS ARE
NECESSARY AT ENTRY AND EXIT, AND WHAT STUDENTS SUBJECT TO
NSEERS REQUIREMENTS MUST DO AT POES AND AFTER THEY ARRIVE.


9. (U) AT THE BEGINNING OF THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER PERIOD,
QUESTIONS FROM THE UAE PARTICIPANTS FOCUSED ON DHS TREATMENT
OF STUDENTS AND VISITORS AT US POES. ONE UAE STUDENT NOTED
THAT HE WAS TURNED AROUND SIMPLY BECAUSE HE COULD NOT FIND THE
APPROPRIATE OFFICE. LIKEWISE, SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIALS FROM ADNOC
AND ABU DHABI INVESTMENT AUTHORITY, WHICH ALONE FUNDED THE
STUDY OF APPROXIMATELY 1,500 UAE STUDENTS IN THE US PRIOR TO
SEPTEMBER 11TH, ASSERTED THAT DHS OFFICERS' TREATMENT OF
STUDENTS AND VISITORS AT US POES WAS THE PRIMARY REASON
STUDENTS WERE CHOOSING OTHER COUNTRIES. BOTH OFFICIALS URGED
DHS TO REVIEW DHS OFFICERS' TREATMENT OF STUDENTS AND VISITORS
AT POES AND TAKE ACTION.


10. (SBU) COMMENT: WHILE CONTENTIOUS, THE DVC ACHIEVED TWO
IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE RESULTS. FIRST, THE DVC PROVIDED AN
OUTLET FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIALS TO VENT THEIR
FRUSTRATIONS WITH WASHINGTON-BASED USG OFFICIALS AT THE
STRICTURES OF NEW VISA AND POE PROCEDURES. SECOND, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN ATTENDANCE SAW
FIRST HAND THAT THE PROCEDURES ARE NOT AS DIFFICULT AS THE
UAE'S CONSPIRACY THEORISTS MAKE THEM OUT TO BE AND, FROM
CREDIBLE EMIRATI SOURCES, THAT THE US IS STILL THE BEST PLACE
TO TRAVEL AND STUDY. WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE THIS OUTREACH
EFFORT TO DEAL WITH BOTH THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE U.S.
VISA/DHS PROCESS AND WITH THE AGGRESSIVE EFFORTS FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS MISUNDERSTANDING TO PROMOTE
THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING ALTERNATIVES.


11. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: ADNOC'S DECISION TO DIRECT ITS
STUDENTS ELSEWHERE HAS TROUBLING LONG TERM REPERCUSSIONS FOR
U.S. ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS, ESPECIALLY TO THE
EXTENT IT REFLECTS A LARGER TREND. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE HEARD
FROM CONTACTS AT OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM THAT ITS UAE PARTNERS IN
THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR DOLPHIN PROJECT (TO BRING NATURAL GAS
FROM QATAR TO THE UAE) HAVE DECIDED TO SEND STUDENTS TO FRANCE
FOR TRAINING, BECAUSE OF VISA PROBLEMS. AS ADNOC AND ADIA
PERSONNEL ARE INCREASINGLY TRAINED OUTSIDE THE U.S., THE U.S.
NOT ONLY LOSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN UAE OFFICIALS, BUT
ALSO RISKS LOSING CONTRACTS AND EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES AS THESE
OFFICIALS NO LONGER HAVE THE TIES TO THE U.S. THAT THEY ONCE
DID. END COMMENT.

WAHBA