Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI2263
2004-07-07 11:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON IRAN GAS NEGOTIATIONS
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 02/06/2007 05:23:34 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM July 07, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2263 - ROUTINE) TAGS: EPET, PGOV, BEXP, ENRG, ECON, EINV Captions: None Subject: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON IRAN GAS NEGOTIATIONS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 02263 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA: RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: CCRUMPLER CLEARED: NONE VZCZCADI041 RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHDE RUCPDOC RHEBAAA RUEHLO RUEHFR DE RUEHAD #2263 1891107 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 071107Z JUL 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5032 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4130 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0816 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0854
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002263
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL 07/07/09
TAGS: EPET PGOV BEXP ENRG ECON EINV TC IR
SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON IRAN GAS NEGOTIATIONS
REFS: A) SECSTATE 144237 B) ABU DHABI 2033 AND PREVIOUS
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002263
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL 07/07/09
TAGS: EPET PGOV BEXP ENRG ECON EINV TC IR
SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON IRAN GAS NEGOTIATIONS
REFS: A) SECSTATE 144237 B) ABU DHABI 2033 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Richard A.
Albright, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) Charge delivered ref A talking points to MFA
Assistant Secretary Abdullah Rashid Al-Noaimi July 6, and
expressed our concerns about Abu Dhabi's potential project
to import gas from Iran. Al-Noaimi agreed that Tehran
pursues policies that destabilize the region, including its
ongoing pursuit of WMD, but noted, "they are our
neighbors," with whom the UAE must co-exist. In his view,
a boycott of Iran is not the solution, nor is it a
practical option for the UAE -- Iran is the UAE's top
trading partner for non-oil goods, and a sizable Iranian
expat community is resident here.
3. (C) Al-Noaimi posed a hypothetical situation to Charge:
If Iran built a pipeline (without UAE investment) to an
offshore gas facility, and the UAE built its own pipeline
to the same gas facility, and the two pipelines were then
linked to import gas to the UAE, would such a scenario
violate U.S. laws against investment in Iran? (Comment: It
seems from our dialogue with Al-Noaimi and numerous other
UAE interlocutors that a pipeline "link up" is what the
UAEG's lawyers have advised. End comment.) Charge replied
that Washington would need to examine the specifics of any
project to make a determination about the applicability of
U.S. law. But he reminded Al-Noaimi that the U.S. would
oppose, in principle, any agreement that benefits Iran, a
country that poses a threat to us, to the UAE and others in
the region.
4. (C) Charge asked Al-Noaimi if a potential gas deal
would be linked to concessions from Iran on other issues,
such as Iran's occupation of Abu Musa and the Tunbs. Al-
Noaimi replied that a gas supply agreement with Iran would
not/not be contingent on resolution of the islands issue,
but conceded that a gas agreement with Iran was more than a
simple commercial arrangement. Any deal would have
political overtones. Charge stated that despite our
differing positions, it was important that we remain in
communication about the gas project. Al-Noaimi agreed.
Albright
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL 07/07/09
TAGS: EPET PGOV BEXP ENRG ECON EINV TC IR
SUBJECT: UAEG RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON IRAN GAS NEGOTIATIONS
REFS: A) SECSTATE 144237 B) ABU DHABI 2033 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) Classified by Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Richard A.
Albright, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) Charge delivered ref A talking points to MFA
Assistant Secretary Abdullah Rashid Al-Noaimi July 6, and
expressed our concerns about Abu Dhabi's potential project
to import gas from Iran. Al-Noaimi agreed that Tehran
pursues policies that destabilize the region, including its
ongoing pursuit of WMD, but noted, "they are our
neighbors," with whom the UAE must co-exist. In his view,
a boycott of Iran is not the solution, nor is it a
practical option for the UAE -- Iran is the UAE's top
trading partner for non-oil goods, and a sizable Iranian
expat community is resident here.
3. (C) Al-Noaimi posed a hypothetical situation to Charge:
If Iran built a pipeline (without UAE investment) to an
offshore gas facility, and the UAE built its own pipeline
to the same gas facility, and the two pipelines were then
linked to import gas to the UAE, would such a scenario
violate U.S. laws against investment in Iran? (Comment: It
seems from our dialogue with Al-Noaimi and numerous other
UAE interlocutors that a pipeline "link up" is what the
UAEG's lawyers have advised. End comment.) Charge replied
that Washington would need to examine the specifics of any
project to make a determination about the applicability of
U.S. law. But he reminded Al-Noaimi that the U.S. would
oppose, in principle, any agreement that benefits Iran, a
country that poses a threat to us, to the UAE and others in
the region.
4. (C) Charge asked Al-Noaimi if a potential gas deal
would be linked to concessions from Iran on other issues,
such as Iran's occupation of Abu Musa and the Tunbs. Al-
Noaimi replied that a gas supply agreement with Iran would
not/not be contingent on resolution of the islands issue,
but conceded that a gas agreement with Iran was more than a
simple commercial arrangement. Any deal would have
political overtones. Charge stated that despite our
differing positions, it was important that we remain in
communication about the gas project. Al-Noaimi agreed.
Albright