Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI2096
2004-06-26 10:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT POSSIBLY BY 2004-05
null Diana T Fritz 02/06/2007 05:33:41 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM June 26, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2096 - ROUTINE) TAGS: PGOV, KDEM Captions: None Subject: UAE WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT POSSIBLY BY 2004-05 Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 02096 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: RSO PAO AMB DCM P/M ECON Laser1: INFO: PAO DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA:RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: POL:RBASSIL CLEARED: POL:JFMAYBURY VZCZCADI619 RR RUEHC RUEHZM DE RUEHAD #2096 1781007 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 261007Z JUN 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4855 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002096
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KWMN KDEM TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT POSSIBLY BY 2004-05
REF: ABU DHABI 2034
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002096
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KWMN KDEM TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT POSSIBLY BY 2004-05
REF: ABU DHABI 2034
1. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE UAE GENERAL WOMEN'S
UNION, NOURA AL-SUWEIDI, TOLD POLCHIEF ON JUNE 21 THAT
WOMEN COULD BE APPOINTED TO THE 40-MEMBER FEDERAL
NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) DURING THE 2004-05 SESSION THAT
BEGINS IN THE FALL. AL-SUWEIDI MENTIONED THAT A LIST OF
WOMEN NOMINATED BY RULERS OF EACH EMIRATE HAS BEEN
COMPILED AND SUBMITTED TO PRESIDENT SHAYKH ZAYED, WHO
WILL REVIEW AND APPROVE THE NAMES. "WE WILL HAVE WOMEN
IN THE PARLIAMENT IN THE NEXT SESSION, GOD WILLING," SHE
SAID.
2. IN RECENT YEARS, SHAYKH ZAYED'S WIFE, SHAYKHA FATIMA,
HAS CALLED PUBLICLY FOR THE RULERS OF EACH OF THE SEVEN
EMIRATES AND THE FNC TO INCLUDE UAE WOMEN IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS, INCLUDING APPOINTING THEM TO THE FNC.
NOURA AL-SUWEIDI HAS HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE FNC
LEADERSHIP TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF OPENING UP THE
PARLIAMENT MEMBERSHIP TO WOMEN. OUR FNC CONTACTS HAVE
CONFIRMED THAT THESE MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND HAVE
BEEN FRUITFUL, BUT THEY DID NOT SAY THAT THERE WAS A
SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME WHEN THEY EXPECTED WOMEN TO BE
APPOINTED.
3. THE DISCUSSION WITH AL-SUWEIDI ALSO COVERED THE RECENTLY
RELEASED TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT (SEE REFTEL),AL-SUWEIDI'S
PARTICIPATION IN THE MEPI "CAMPAIGN SCHOOL" IN DOHA LAST SPRING,
AND A PLANNED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE THAT THE GWU WILL
SPONSOR. AL-SUWEIDI AND HER STAFF GAVE POLCHIEF, EMBASSY
POLITICAL ASSISTANT, AND THE SECTION'S SUMMER INTERN, A
COMPREHENSIVE TOUR OF THE GWU, THE PRE-EMINENT WOMEN'S
ORGANIZATION IN THE UAE.
ALBRIGHT
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KWMN KDEM TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT POSSIBLY BY 2004-05
REF: ABU DHABI 2034
1. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE UAE GENERAL WOMEN'S
UNION, NOURA AL-SUWEIDI, TOLD POLCHIEF ON JUNE 21 THAT
WOMEN COULD BE APPOINTED TO THE 40-MEMBER FEDERAL
NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) DURING THE 2004-05 SESSION THAT
BEGINS IN THE FALL. AL-SUWEIDI MENTIONED THAT A LIST OF
WOMEN NOMINATED BY RULERS OF EACH EMIRATE HAS BEEN
COMPILED AND SUBMITTED TO PRESIDENT SHAYKH ZAYED, WHO
WILL REVIEW AND APPROVE THE NAMES. "WE WILL HAVE WOMEN
IN THE PARLIAMENT IN THE NEXT SESSION, GOD WILLING," SHE
SAID.
2. IN RECENT YEARS, SHAYKH ZAYED'S WIFE, SHAYKHA FATIMA,
HAS CALLED PUBLICLY FOR THE RULERS OF EACH OF THE SEVEN
EMIRATES AND THE FNC TO INCLUDE UAE WOMEN IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS, INCLUDING APPOINTING THEM TO THE FNC.
NOURA AL-SUWEIDI HAS HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE FNC
LEADERSHIP TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF OPENING UP THE
PARLIAMENT MEMBERSHIP TO WOMEN. OUR FNC CONTACTS HAVE
CONFIRMED THAT THESE MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND HAVE
BEEN FRUITFUL, BUT THEY DID NOT SAY THAT THERE WAS A
SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME WHEN THEY EXPECTED WOMEN TO BE
APPOINTED.
3. THE DISCUSSION WITH AL-SUWEIDI ALSO COVERED THE RECENTLY
RELEASED TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT (SEE REFTEL),AL-SUWEIDI'S
PARTICIPATION IN THE MEPI "CAMPAIGN SCHOOL" IN DOHA LAST SPRING,
AND A PLANNED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE THAT THE GWU WILL
SPONSOR. AL-SUWEIDI AND HER STAFF GAVE POLCHIEF, EMBASSY
POLITICAL ASSISTANT, AND THE SECTION'S SUMMER INTERN, A
COMPREHENSIVE TOUR OF THE GWU, THE PRE-EMINENT WOMEN'S
ORGANIZATION IN THE UAE.
ALBRIGHT