ENDING STATE SPONSORSHIP OF TERRORISM -

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002997 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/14 TAGS: PTER PREL IR TC SUBJECT: ENDING STATE SPONSORSHIP OF TERRORISM - DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 187644 Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Polchief delivered reftel points to MFA Assistant Under Secetary for Political Affairs Tariq Al Haidan on September 1. Al Haidan affirmed that the UAEG was indeed a close partner of the USG in the global campaign against terror. Nonetheless, he emphasized that it will not be easy for the UAE to put pressure on Iran to end support for terrorism. There has not been a high-level visit between the countries in about two years, and there is tension over Iran's occupation of the UAE's Abu Musa and Tunbs islands. "They want to put the (islands) problem aside, and then you see them working hard on other bilateral issues, such as tourism, banking, and economic ties," said Al Haidan, who served in Tehran for a decade in the 70's and 80's. The UAE, which also wants to see the international community exert more pressure on Iran to prevent it from developing its nuclear program, has not directly confronted Iran about nuclear issues either, Al Haidan said. "The Iranians know our position: A nuclear weapons-free Gulf." SISON