Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI5379
2003-12-23 10:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
IRAQ GC PRESIDENT AL HAKIM DECEMBER 21
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 11:30:22 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM December 23, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 5379 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: PREL Captions: None Subject: IRAQ GC PRESIDENT AL HAKIM DECEMBER 21 VISIT TO ABU DHABI Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 05379 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: P/M ECON RSO AMB DCM DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MMWAHBA DRAFTED: POL:JFMAYBURY CLEARED: A/DCM:HOLSIN-WINDECKER VZCZCADI923 OO RUEHC RUCNRAQ RHMFISS DE RUEHAD #5379 3571040 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231040Z DEC 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2772 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTH BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005379
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/NGA AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/13
TAGS: PREL IZ TC
SUBJECT: IRAQ GC PRESIDENT AL HAKIM DECEMBER 21
VISIT TO ABU DHABI
Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba,
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 5132, (B) Abu Dhabi 4704, (C)
Abu Dhabi 4010
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005379
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/NGA AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/13
TAGS: PREL IZ TC
SUBJECT: IRAQ GC PRESIDENT AL HAKIM DECEMBER 21
VISIT TO ABU DHABI
Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba,
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 5132, (B) Abu Dhabi 4704, (C)
Abu Dhabi 4010
1. (U) Summary: Iraq Governing Council President
Abdulaziz Al Hakim paid a brief visit to the UAE
December 21, meeting with UAE President Shaykh
Zayed, Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE
Armed Forces Chief, Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) and
with Deputy Prime Minister and MinState for
Foreign Affairs Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayed (HbZ).
The discussions covered the situation in Iraq
and efforts to restore security and stability
there. As with earlier such visits by IGC
delegations (refs A and B),the UAEG rolled out
the red carpet and issued a strong public
statement in support of the interim Iraqi
leadership. End summary.
2. (C) Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince and UAE
Armed Forces Chief of Staff, LTG Shaykh Mohammed
bin Zayed, told the Ambassador and visiting U.S.
Air Force Chief of Staff General Jumper that
President Zayed and Al Hakim met in an open
majlis for 20 minutes, then held a private
discussion. "It was a very good meeting," he
added. President Zayed had emphasized to Al
Hakim the need for good governance and pledged
UAE's ongoing support of Iraq. In the second,
smaller meeting Al Hakim raised three issues: a)
concern over transit of Al Qaida through the
UAE; b) presence of former Baathists in the UAE;
and c) UAE support for Iraq's reconstruction.
MbZ told Al Hakim that the UAE actively looks
out for Al Qaida operatives given its many
borders and has a close cooperation with the
USG. On former Baathists traveling to the UAE,
he told Al Hakim that many Iraqis along with all
other nationalities enter the UAE freely, but if
the CPA or GC have any serious concerns and
evidence regarding former Baathists, the UAE
would gladly put them on a plane for Baghdad.
3. (C) Deputy PM and MinState for Foreign
Affairs Hamdan bin Zayed HbZ held meetings with
Al Hakim both before and after Shaykh Zayed's
meeting. According to HbZ's staff, the
discussions focused on the UAE's role in the
reconstruction of Iraq and humanitarian support
for the Iraqi people through the UAE's Red
Crescent Society.
4. (U) In an official statement released to the
press, Shaykh Zayed called for the restoration
of tranquility and stability in Iraq. His
statement was generally consistent with earlier
public statements of support for the IGC by the
UAEG (ref C),with promises that Emiratis and
the Arab world would stand by their Iraqi
brothers. President Zayed underscored the
importance of Iraqi sovereignty, and called on
the U.S.-led coalition to hand over power to the
Iraqis as soon as their mission is accomplished
and security is restored. Non-Iraqi opinion on
the issues of stability and sovereignty are
unacceptable, the President added. "On these
issues, it is only the opinion of the Iraqis
that should reign supreme."
5. (U) Due to the brief length of Al Hakim's
visit, there was no time to meet with Abu
Dhabi's Iraqi expatriate community, a fact
confirmed by two of the Embassy's regular Iraqi
contacts active in the expat community.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/NGA AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/13
TAGS: PREL IZ TC
SUBJECT: IRAQ GC PRESIDENT AL HAKIM DECEMBER 21
VISIT TO ABU DHABI
Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba,
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 5132, (B) Abu Dhabi 4704, (C)
Abu Dhabi 4010
1. (U) Summary: Iraq Governing Council President
Abdulaziz Al Hakim paid a brief visit to the UAE
December 21, meeting with UAE President Shaykh
Zayed, Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE
Armed Forces Chief, Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) and
with Deputy Prime Minister and MinState for
Foreign Affairs Shaykh Hamdan bin Zayed (HbZ).
The discussions covered the situation in Iraq
and efforts to restore security and stability
there. As with earlier such visits by IGC
delegations (refs A and B),the UAEG rolled out
the red carpet and issued a strong public
statement in support of the interim Iraqi
leadership. End summary.
2. (C) Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince and UAE
Armed Forces Chief of Staff, LTG Shaykh Mohammed
bin Zayed, told the Ambassador and visiting U.S.
Air Force Chief of Staff General Jumper that
President Zayed and Al Hakim met in an open
majlis for 20 minutes, then held a private
discussion. "It was a very good meeting," he
added. President Zayed had emphasized to Al
Hakim the need for good governance and pledged
UAE's ongoing support of Iraq. In the second,
smaller meeting Al Hakim raised three issues: a)
concern over transit of Al Qaida through the
UAE; b) presence of former Baathists in the UAE;
and c) UAE support for Iraq's reconstruction.
MbZ told Al Hakim that the UAE actively looks
out for Al Qaida operatives given its many
borders and has a close cooperation with the
USG. On former Baathists traveling to the UAE,
he told Al Hakim that many Iraqis along with all
other nationalities enter the UAE freely, but if
the CPA or GC have any serious concerns and
evidence regarding former Baathists, the UAE
would gladly put them on a plane for Baghdad.
3. (C) Deputy PM and MinState for Foreign
Affairs Hamdan bin Zayed HbZ held meetings with
Al Hakim both before and after Shaykh Zayed's
meeting. According to HbZ's staff, the
discussions focused on the UAE's role in the
reconstruction of Iraq and humanitarian support
for the Iraqi people through the UAE's Red
Crescent Society.
4. (U) In an official statement released to the
press, Shaykh Zayed called for the restoration
of tranquility and stability in Iraq. His
statement was generally consistent with earlier
public statements of support for the IGC by the
UAEG (ref C),with promises that Emiratis and
the Arab world would stand by their Iraqi
brothers. President Zayed underscored the
importance of Iraqi sovereignty, and called on
the U.S.-led coalition to hand over power to the
Iraqis as soon as their mission is accomplished
and security is restored. Non-Iraqi opinion on
the issues of stability and sovereignty are
unacceptable, the President added. "On these
issues, it is only the opinion of the Iraqis
that should reign supreme."
5. (U) Due to the brief length of Al Hakim's
visit, there was no time to meet with Abu
Dhabi's Iraqi expatriate community, a fact
confirmed by two of the Embassy's regular Iraqi
contacts active in the expat community.
WAHBA