Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI240
2004-01-21 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SPE JAMES BAKER'S VISIT TO THE
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 04:05:01 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM January 21, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 240 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: OIIP, KMDR Captions: None Subject: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SPE JAMES BAKER'S VISIT TO THE UAE Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00240 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: PAO INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM Laser1: ACTION: PAO DISSEMINATION: PAO CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: PAO:HOWINDECKER DRAFTED: PAO:AALKHATIB CLEARED: PAO:HOWINDECKER VZCZCADI835 OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RUEHFR RHRMDAB RUCJACC RUCQSOC DE RUEHAD #0240 0211405 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 211405Z JAN 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3088 RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0762 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0797 RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// RUCQSOC/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL//PA//
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000240
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/P, INR
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SPE JAMES BAKER'S VISIT TO THE
UAE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000240
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/P, INR
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SPE JAMES BAKER'S VISIT TO THE
UAE
¶1. SUMMARY: THE 01/20 VISIT OF SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY JAMES
BAKER TO THE UAE TO DISCUSS IRAQI DEBT RECEIVED PROMINENT
COVERAGE IN THE LOCAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. REPORTS AND
PHOTOS WERE ON FIRST PAGE OF MOST PAPERS; THERE WAS NO EDITORIAL
COMMENT. END SUMMARY.
¶2. UAE ARABIC AND ENGLISH DAILIES REPORTED PROMINENTLY THE VISIT
OF FORMER SECRETARY BAKER TO THE UAE AND HIS MEETING WITH HIS
HIGHNESS SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHAYAN, ABU DHABI CROWN
PRINCE AND DEPUTY SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE UAE ARMED FORCE.
SHEIKH HAMDAN BIN ZAYED, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF
STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALSO ATTENDED THIS MEETING.
¶3. ARTICLES WRITTEN BASED ON THE FIRST REPORT FILED BY THE
EMIRATI NEWS AGNECY (WAM) REPORTED THAT DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD ON
THE SITUATION IN IRAQ, EFFORTS TO REBUILD IRAQ, AND IRAQI DEBTS.
BOTH SIDES AFFIRMED THAT POLITICAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY IN IRAQ ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE REGION'S STABILITY AND
PEACE. ARTICLES WRITTEN AFTER THE SECOND OFFICIAL REPORT BY WAM
STATED THAT SHEIKH KHALIFA ASSURED SPE BAKER THAT THE UAE IS
COMMITTED TO HELP THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO REBUILD IRAQ AND THAT IT
WILL CANCEL MOST OF THE IRAQI DEBTS AND IS WILLING TO START
NEGOTIATING THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (NOTE: MOST ARABIC
SPEAKERS TRANSLATE THIS IDEA AS "MOST OF IRAQ'S DEBTS", HOWEVER
SUBSEQUENT ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY WAM SAID "MAJOR PART OF ITS
OUTSTANDING LOANS".)
¶4. HEADLINES IN THE ENGLISH DAILIES READ:
- DUBAI-BASED ENGLISH DAILY "GULF NEWS": "UAE READY TO LAUNCH
TALKS ON IRAQ'S DEBTS."
- DUBAI-BASED ENGLISH DAILY "KHALEEJ TIMES": "KHALIFA, BAKER
DISCUSS REGIONAL ISSUES."
- SHARJAH-BASED ENGLISH DAILY "GULF TODAY": "UAE IS READY TO
WAIVE MOST OF IRAQ'S DEBTS, KHALIFA TELLS BAKER."
HEADLINES IN ARABIC DAILIES READ:
- ABU DHABI-BASED SEMI-OFFICIAL ARABIC DAILY "AL-ITTIHAD":
"KHALIFA: UAE IS COMMITTED TO CANCELLING MOST OF THE IRAQI
DEBTS."
- DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED ARABIC DAILY "AL-BAYAN":
"KHALIFA: THE UAE WILL CANCEL MOST OF THE IRAQI DEBTS."
- SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ": "THE UAE WILL CANCEL
MOST OF THE IRAQI DEBTS."
- ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AKHBAR AL-ARAB": "KHALIFA
DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS AND IRAQI DEBTS WITH BAKER."
- ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL WAHDA": "KHLAIFA AFFIRMS THAT
THE UAE IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT SECURITY AND STABILITY OF IRAQI
PEOPLE."
WAHBA