UAEG and Iraq ferry operator submit

1.(U) Classified by Charge Thomas E. Williams
for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).

2.(C) UK DCM contacted Charge 2/8 to inquire into
USG representations to the UAE on the issue of the Iraq
ferries. The UK diplomat noted that the UAEG was
claiming in New York to have the support of the U.S.
Embassy for the establishment of a U.N.-approved cargo
inspection facility in Dubai. Charge noted that our
consistent position is that the ferries are not
authorized to carry cargo, only passengers. The UK
Consul-General in Dubai subsequently provided CG Dubai
with texts of letters from the UAE's U.N. mission in
New York to the 661 Committee (the latest dated 1/31)
alleging -- based on a letter from UAE ferry operator
Naif Marine Services -- that an "agreement" has been
reached between Naif and "the MIF (Marine (sic)
Interdiction Force) and the United States Embassy in
Abu Dhabi" to allow inspection of cargo at Port Rashid
by "an independent representative reporting to the 661
Committee."



3. (C) This representation by Naif Marine Services,
repeated by the UAE mission, is simply incorrect. The
idea of establishing a U.N. inspection facility at Port
Rashid is an old one, which has been consistently
rebuffed because the ferries are not authorized by the
U.N. to carry cargo -- legitimate, inspected, or
otherwise. This clear message was most recently
delivered by the Ambassador directly to Dubai's de
facto ruler, Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
(MBR) in January (see reftel). We believe Naif is
deliberately seeking to misrepresent our position now
because without the cargo, its operations will be
unprofitable. In recent low-level, operational
discussions with Naif personnel, Mission staff and, we
understand, MIF personnel, have been asked to comment
on various proposals to work around the cargo
restriction, but our response has been consistent:
current permission exists for passengers and their
personal effects only; any change to that status would
need to be decided by the UNSC.

WILLIAMS