Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI2209
2004-07-04 13:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE and Iran free detained crews
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 02/06/2007 05:24:30 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM July 04, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2209 - PRIORITY) TAGS: PREL, MOPS Captions: None Subject: UAE AND IRAN FREE DETAINED CREWS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 02209 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: AMB USLO DAO RSO DCM P/M ECON DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA:RAALBRIGHT DRAFTED: POL:JFMAYBURY CLEARED: DAO:MWEAVER VZCZCADI897 PP RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHDE DE RUEHAD #2209 1861309 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041309Z JUL 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4980 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4119
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002209
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS IR TC
SUBJECT: UAE and Iran free detained crews
Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 1987, (B) Abu Dhabi 1881
Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge d'Affaires,
a.i., reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002209
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS IR TC
SUBJECT: UAE and Iran free detained crews
Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 1987, (B) Abu Dhabi 1881
Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge d'Affaires,
a.i., reasons 1. 5 (B) and (D).
1. (U) The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a
statement on July 1 announcing that the UAEG had
released the Iranian crew and their fishing boat that
had been seized on June 2 (see ref B). UAE
authorities determined that the crew had entered UAE
territorial waters unintentionally, according to the
official statement. Meanwhile, a June 30 IRNA report
cites Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza
Asefi as saying that Iran had freed Emirati crews and
their fishing boats seized June 13 in Iranian waters.
While neither announcement specified exact dates of
release, Asefi said that Iran acted following a
similar move by the UAE to release Iranian sailors
held on the same charges. Iranian officials "have
taken Iran's good relations with the UAE into
consideration and have released all the Emirati
sailors and their boats," he said.
2. (U) The UAEG statement published in the Arabic
daily Al-Ittihad said, "The UAE gives importance to
the good relations with its neighbor, the Islamic
Republic of Iran. Because of that, the UAE initiated
the release of all arrested Iranian crew members and
boats after preliminary investigations with the ship's
captain and crew, which determined that the crew had
entered UAE territorial waters unintentionally."
3. (C) Comment: As we noted in ref A, such boat
seizures are commonplace at this time of year and we
have no evidence that these actions are politically
motivated.
ALBRIGHT
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/NGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS IR TC
SUBJECT: UAE and Iran free detained crews
Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 1987, (B) Abu Dhabi 1881
Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge d'Affaires,
a.i., reasons 1. 5 (B) and (D).
1. (U) The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a
statement on July 1 announcing that the UAEG had
released the Iranian crew and their fishing boat that
had been seized on June 2 (see ref B). UAE
authorities determined that the crew had entered UAE
territorial waters unintentionally, according to the
official statement. Meanwhile, a June 30 IRNA report
cites Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza
Asefi as saying that Iran had freed Emirati crews and
their fishing boats seized June 13 in Iranian waters.
While neither announcement specified exact dates of
release, Asefi said that Iran acted following a
similar move by the UAE to release Iranian sailors
held on the same charges. Iranian officials "have
taken Iran's good relations with the UAE into
consideration and have released all the Emirati
sailors and their boats," he said.
2. (U) The UAEG statement published in the Arabic
daily Al-Ittihad said, "The UAE gives importance to
the good relations with its neighbor, the Islamic
Republic of Iran. Because of that, the UAE initiated
the release of all arrested Iranian crew members and
boats after preliminary investigations with the ship's
captain and crew, which determined that the crew had
entered UAE territorial waters unintentionally."
3. (C) Comment: As we noted in ref A, such boat
seizures are commonplace at this time of year and we
have no evidence that these actions are politically
motivated.
ALBRIGHT