Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI1701
2004-05-24 11:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ILSA
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 12:56:38 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM May 24, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1701 - ROUTINE) TAGS: EPET, PGOV, BEXP, ENRG, ECON, EINV Captions: None Subject: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ILSA Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 01701 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: RSO AMB DCM P/M ECON Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: CCRUMPLER CLEARED: CGD: JDAVIS VZCZCADI356 RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHDE RUCPDOC RHEBAAA RUEHLO RUEHFR DE RUEHAD #1701 1451148 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 241148Z MAY 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4497 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4033 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0804 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0841
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001701
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/24/08
TAGS: EPET PGOV BEXP ENRG ECON EINV TC IR
SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ILSA
REFS: A) STATE 108728
B) DUBAI 1948 AND PREVIOUS
C) ABU DHABI 1540
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001701
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/24/08
TAGS: EPET PGOV BEXP ENRG ECON EINV TC IR
SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ILSA
REFS: A) STATE 108728
B) DUBAI 1948 AND PREVIOUS
C) ABU DHABI 1540
1. (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard A.
Albright, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) The Ambassador raised ref A talking points May 23
with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (HbZ) and
expressed USG concern about reports of plans to import
Iranian gas to the UAE. HbZ noted that the UAE's future
energy needs require looking for alternate sources of gas,
but the UAEG did not want to provoke USG sanctions under
ILSA. HbZ added that he met with an Iranian official
recently to discuss the pending gas deal, which Tehran is
eager to conclude to begin gas exports to the UAE within
six months. He reiterated to the Ambassador that all gas
deals with Iran are pending, and no company in the UAE
would move forward without the explicit consent of Abu
Dhabi.
3. (C) Separately, the Ambassador discussed USG concerns
with Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince and UAE Armed Forces
Chief of Staff Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MbZ) during
his recent visit to Washington. MbZ responded that the
UAEG is aware of the ILSA statute and would not violate the
sanctions. MbZ reportedly also had a very positive meeting
with Occidental Petroleum Chairman Dr. Ray Irani during his
official visit to Washington. According to Oxy
representatives, MbZ allayed their concerns about the
negative repercussions a gas deal with Iran could pose to
the Dolphin project, and explained that the UAE's future
gas requirements far surpass what the Dolphin project is
able to provide. Any gas deal with Iran would seek to
satisfy the UAE's longer-term gas deficit.
4. (C) CG raised reftel talking points May 23 with the
Chief of the Ruler's court in Dubai, Dr. Khalifa Ahmed
Suleiman, and with Crescent Oil Chairman Hamid Jaffar in
Sharjah. Both men listened closely and said that they
understood the message. CG also raised the talking points
with Brig. Michael Barclay, a British expat who handles
many petroleum-related issues for the de facto ruler of
Dubai, Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR).
Barclay said that Dubai was "talking to everyone in the
neighborhood" who had gas, which was something Dubai
desperately needed, but that no decisions or deals had been
reached. Barclay said that Dubai had no intention of
violating ILSA, and had lawyers studying that situation
closely. He said that Dubai officials also understood that
U.S. concerns went beyond what was stipulated in ILSA. His
longstanding marching orders had been "don't do anything
that would give offense to the U.S.," and those orders
remained in effect.
5. (C) In recent weeks, Econoff in Abu Dhabi has discussed
our concerns about Iranian gas imports with Chief Operating
Officer of Mubadala (and former Projects Manager for UAE
Offsets Group) Khaldoon Al-Mubarak (ref C). Mubarak is
cognizant of Washington's sensitivities to any proposed gas
deal with Tehran, and undertook to avoid conflict with our
ILSA statute. We will seek additional details from our
interlocutors on the pending gas deals, including
information on the specific source of the gas to be
imported from Iran, the value of the proposed agreements,
and the volumes contemplated.
Wahba
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/24/08
TAGS: EPET PGOV BEXP ENRG ECON EINV TC IR
SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON ILSA
REFS: A) STATE 108728
B) DUBAI 1948 AND PREVIOUS
C) ABU DHABI 1540
1. (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard A.
Albright, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) The Ambassador raised ref A talking points May 23
with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (HbZ) and
expressed USG concern about reports of plans to import
Iranian gas to the UAE. HbZ noted that the UAE's future
energy needs require looking for alternate sources of gas,
but the UAEG did not want to provoke USG sanctions under
ILSA. HbZ added that he met with an Iranian official
recently to discuss the pending gas deal, which Tehran is
eager to conclude to begin gas exports to the UAE within
six months. He reiterated to the Ambassador that all gas
deals with Iran are pending, and no company in the UAE
would move forward without the explicit consent of Abu
Dhabi.
3. (C) Separately, the Ambassador discussed USG concerns
with Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince and UAE Armed Forces
Chief of Staff Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MbZ) during
his recent visit to Washington. MbZ responded that the
UAEG is aware of the ILSA statute and would not violate the
sanctions. MbZ reportedly also had a very positive meeting
with Occidental Petroleum Chairman Dr. Ray Irani during his
official visit to Washington. According to Oxy
representatives, MbZ allayed their concerns about the
negative repercussions a gas deal with Iran could pose to
the Dolphin project, and explained that the UAE's future
gas requirements far surpass what the Dolphin project is
able to provide. Any gas deal with Iran would seek to
satisfy the UAE's longer-term gas deficit.
4. (C) CG raised reftel talking points May 23 with the
Chief of the Ruler's court in Dubai, Dr. Khalifa Ahmed
Suleiman, and with Crescent Oil Chairman Hamid Jaffar in
Sharjah. Both men listened closely and said that they
understood the message. CG also raised the talking points
with Brig. Michael Barclay, a British expat who handles
many petroleum-related issues for the de facto ruler of
Dubai, Shaykh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR).
Barclay said that Dubai was "talking to everyone in the
neighborhood" who had gas, which was something Dubai
desperately needed, but that no decisions or deals had been
reached. Barclay said that Dubai had no intention of
violating ILSA, and had lawyers studying that situation
closely. He said that Dubai officials also understood that
U.S. concerns went beyond what was stipulated in ILSA. His
longstanding marching orders had been "don't do anything
that would give offense to the U.S.," and those orders
remained in effect.
5. (C) In recent weeks, Econoff in Abu Dhabi has discussed
our concerns about Iranian gas imports with Chief Operating
Officer of Mubadala (and former Projects Manager for UAE
Offsets Group) Khaldoon Al-Mubarak (ref C). Mubarak is
cognizant of Washington's sensitivities to any proposed gas
deal with Tehran, and undertook to avoid conflict with our
ILSA statute. We will seek additional details from our
interlocutors on the pending gas deals, including
information on the specific source of the gas to be
imported from Iran, the value of the proposed agreements,
and the volumes contemplated.
Wahba