UAE DEPUTY PM/MINSTATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON CT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003212

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2014
TAGS: PREL ODIP ETTC PTER TC
SUBJECT: UAE DEPUTY PM/MINSTATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON CT,
EXPORT CONTROLS, REFORM

Classified by: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5
(b) and 1.5 (d)


1. (U) Ambassador presented copies of credentials to Deputy
Prime Minister/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaikh
Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (HbZ) on September 14 in a
cordial and informal meeting. HbZ, who had spent much of the
summer traveling outside of the UAE, was keen to review
&next steps8 in the bilateral Strategic Partnership
launched in 2003, focusing on the Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement, Iran, counter-terror, export controls,
MEPI, and BMENA.


2. (U) HbZ opened the meeting by showing Ambassador a framed
photograph of himself with President Bush, noting that the
photo had pride of place in his Palace office. He voiced
sincere appreciation for the strong cooperation and
partnership between the USG and the UAEG. Ambassador recalled
our many joint successes and our mutual desire to deepen
U.S.-UAE ties. To this end, she noted, the Embassy would be
hosting three visitors in the coming weeks on counter-terror,
counter-terror finance, and political-military issues: S/CT
Coordinator Black; Treasury A/S Zarate, and PM A/S
Bloomfield. The Embassy was fully engaged in moving ahead
with TIFA Council preparations for the upcoming October 4-6
session in Washington, Ambassador reported. The Embassy was
also working with various UAEG offices to organize an October
Export Controls Workshop.


3. (C) These visits and meetings would be useful in
furthering the U.S.-UAE Strategic Partnership, HbZ agreed.
Security and export controls issues were key, he noted. The
discussion then turned to the ongoing IAEA Board of Governors
meeting and the issue of Iran,s nuclear safeguards
non-compliance. HbZ agreed with the need to ensure that Iran
accept verification of its activities. Ambassador thanked HbZ
for the UAE,s support for reconstruction and security
efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.


4. (C) Ambassador then informed HbZ that the MEPI Regional
Office in Abu Dhabi had opened during his travels. HbZ
nodded, having seen recent press coverage of this
development. Ambassador briefed HbZ on the small grants
program activities with Zayed University, the University of
Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, and Dubai Women,s
Higher Education Technical College. HbZ was pleased with the
news that a MEPI-organized Media Strategy Workshop for 30
regional participants would be held in Abu Dhabi in October.
The UAE had much to offer in sharing experiences in the field
of education, he noted, but also had much to learn in other
areas. He noted the UAE,s commitment to female higher
education, and then said that &the new cabinet8 would
probably boast women members. (Note: although Embassy had
heard discussion of a possible Cabinet change last spring,
there had been nothing on this for some months. There has
never been a female Minister or Minister of State in the UAE.
End Note.)


5. (U) After Ambassador reviewed recent BMENA developments,
HbZ confirmed that Foreign Minister Rashid Abdulla al Noaimi
would attend the September 24 Forum for the Future session in
New York, and that Minister of State for Finance Khirbash
looked forward to the October 1 meeting of Finance Ministers.
Ambassador briefed HbZ on the USG,s interest in an IFC
facility to provide technical advice to support private
sector development. The USG was working to provide $15
million over the next two years, and looked forward to
discussing with the UAE and other partners how to reach the
$100 million goal. HbZ expressed interest in the challenges
of job creation in the region.


6. (C) HbZ closed the meeting by asking for Ambassador,s
help in arranging high-level appointments for his brother,
Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, State Security Department
Director, at the NSC and Department of State on October 7.
Hazza had met NSA Rice and S/CT Black on his last visit, and
had much to discuss with respect to regional and
counterterror developments. He was especially keen to
finalize a White House appointment.


7. (U) Comment: Although the Sudanese, Finnish, and World
Food Program incoming Chiefs of Mission also called on HbZ
9/14 to present copies of their credentials, the Palace news
release included only the photo of the U.S. Ambassador ) a
welcome indication of the high esteem the UAEG holds for our
bilateral relationship. End Comment.
SISON