UAE HAILS IRAQ SOVEREIGNTY TRANSFER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002179 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/NGA AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2005 TAGS: PREL IZ TC SUBJECT: UAE HAILS IRAQ SOVEREIGNTY TRANSFER Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge d'Affaires, a.i., reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The UAE Cabinet of Ministers hailed the transfer of power to the Interim Iraqi Government at its weekly session on June 28, and Embassy contacts in the UAE foreign policy apparatus commented that the long-awaited transfer of power should give a boost to U.S. diplomacy, particularly in the Arab world. ¶2. (U) The UAE Cabinet chaired by Shaykh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, welcomed the early transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government, and reaffirmed its continued support for the Iraqi government. A statement after the meeting noted the Cabinet's confidence that Iraqis would be able to overcome the present situation and rally behind their government. "This will enable Iraq to reassume the role to which it aspires at a regional and international level," the statement said. The Cabinet also appealed to regional and international parties to provide support to the Iraqi Government and to facilitate its mission to maintain stability and security, and to rebuild the country. ¶3. (C) At the Foreign Ministry, some of our regular contacts said the early transfer of sovereignty came as a total surprise to them, but all greeted the change as an important step for U.S. diplomacy and for Iraq's reconstruction and return to stability. "We are relieved for you," said Yacub Al-Hosani, director of International Organizations, whose portfolio includes UN affairs. "For Iraqis, this is a chance for them to accomplish things on their own. It also allows their new leadership to demonstrate that they have the authority, but also to demonstrate their capacity to control the situation, even if it means taking some tough measures to restore order and stability." The UAE, he added, has always been ready to explore ways it can help the Iraqi people. ¶4. (C) Shaykha Nejla, an assistant to Under Secretary Abdullah Rashid Al-Nuaimi, said that the transfer of power saved U.S. diplomacy and should make it easier for U.S. diplomats to conduct their business, especially in the Arab world. "There had been so many questions among Arabs about U.S. credibility. There were questions about your role in Iraq. It was time to leave (Iraq) without being subjected to more criticism and violence," she said. ¶5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. ALBRIGHT