Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI3409
2004-09-28 12:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL MEETING WITH UAE FOREIGN
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 05:29:20 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03409 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: AMB INFO: ECON POL DCM DISSEMINATION: AMB CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MJSISON DRAFTED: DCM:RAALBRIGHT CLEARED: POL:JMAYBURY VZCZCADI343 PP RUEHC RUEHZM RUCNDT DE RUEHAD #3409/01 2721223 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281223Z SEP 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6108 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0017
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003409
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2014
TAGS: PREL UNGA KMPI TC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL MEETING WITH UAE FOREIGN
MINISTER
Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons: 1.4
(B),(D).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003409
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2014
TAGS: PREL UNGA KMPI TC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL MEETING WITH UAE FOREIGN
MINISTER
Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons: 1.4
(B),(D).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Making her initial call on UAE Foreign Minister
Rashed Abdullah al Noaimi September 27, the Ambassador and
the FM reviewed our robust bilateral cooperation agenda and
discussed cooperation under BMENA and MEPI. The Minister
expressed his desire to cooperate with the U.S. and benefit
from these regional efforts. However, he cautioned that
instability in Palestine and Iraq could limit the success of
reform efforts and urged continued U.S. engagement. The
Minister, who had just returned from New York, praised active
and effective engagement by the U.S. at UNGA. End Summary
--------------
ROBUST BILATERAL COOPERATION
--------------
2. (C) FM Rashed Abdullah underscored the UAE,s
long-standing desire to boost economic and security
cooperation with the U.S., which he described as critical.
Both he and MFA U/S Abdullah Rashed noted that they had just
reviewed the latest revision of our Strategic Partnership
agenda and commented on our robust cooperation. The
Ambassador stated that this cooperation was reflected in the
number and quality of our visits and exchanges, particularly
in the areas of trade, investment, counter terrorism and
security. She noted the utility of the agenda as a work plan
for our bilateral cooperation, adding that she had asked the
embassy staff to add a section documenting our long-standing
scientific and technical cooperation. The Under Secretary
also viewed the agenda as a work plan and proposed that we
review it on a quarterly basis to document progress and map
out future efforts.
--------------
UNGA
--------------
3. (C) The Minister expressed appreciation for his meetings
with the Secretary (together with other GCC FMs) in New York
and commented positively on the strong engagement by the
President and the U.S. delegation at this year,s UNGA.
--------------
BMENA
--------------
4. (C) Rashed Abdullah stated that the UAE wants to work
with the U.S. on reform and expressed appreciation for our
assistance and the Ambassador's news of the establishment of
the regional MEPI office at Embassy Abu Dhabi. The Minister
said he was confident that that the UAE would benefit from
this coordination, particularly in the areas of social and
economic development and women,s issues. Commenting that
UAE society differed from those of the other Gulf countries
-- citing in particular the large foreign worker population
-- he praised the basic premise of BMENA and MEPI that reform
must spring from each country. The FM observed that most
countries in the region had overcome their initial confusion
or hesitancy about BMENA and are now looking at how they can
cooperate and benefit from it. The Ambassador stated that
the UAE had much to offer others in the region, such as the
UAE's experience in entrepreneurial skills training, job
creation and women,s education. She reviewed for the
Minister some ongoing MEPI programs in the areas of
journalist training and education.
-------------- --------------
BUT REFORM IMPACT LIMITED WITHOUT REGIONAL STABILITY
-------------- --------------
5. (C) The FM stated that the success of BMENA and reform
efforts would ultimately be limited if there were no
resolution to the Arab Israeli conflict and Iraq remained
unstable. He urged the U.S. to maintain its focus on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he repeatedly referred to
as a "human issue." The Minister commented that despair was
pushing many Palestinians and Iraqis to resort to terrorism
because they viewed their predicaments as hopeless.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaikh Hamdan
bin Zayed al Nahayan remains our key bilateral point of
contact. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Rashed Abdullah can
be a useful interlocutor. As the MFA's senior diplomat, he
has served as Minister since 1980 (de facto from 1980 to
1990, when he was officially named Minister.) While playing
little role in day-to-day policy making, he represents the
UAE at UNGA and in other international fora, such as the Arab
League and NAM. Although critical of U.S. policy toward the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Minister, in general,
favorably views the U.S. as an indispensable ally.
SISON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2014
TAGS: PREL UNGA KMPI TC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL MEETING WITH UAE FOREIGN
MINISTER
Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons: 1.4
(B),(D).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Making her initial call on UAE Foreign Minister
Rashed Abdullah al Noaimi September 27, the Ambassador and
the FM reviewed our robust bilateral cooperation agenda and
discussed cooperation under BMENA and MEPI. The Minister
expressed his desire to cooperate with the U.S. and benefit
from these regional efforts. However, he cautioned that
instability in Palestine and Iraq could limit the success of
reform efforts and urged continued U.S. engagement. The
Minister, who had just returned from New York, praised active
and effective engagement by the U.S. at UNGA. End Summary
--------------
ROBUST BILATERAL COOPERATION
--------------
2. (C) FM Rashed Abdullah underscored the UAE,s
long-standing desire to boost economic and security
cooperation with the U.S., which he described as critical.
Both he and MFA U/S Abdullah Rashed noted that they had just
reviewed the latest revision of our Strategic Partnership
agenda and commented on our robust cooperation. The
Ambassador stated that this cooperation was reflected in the
number and quality of our visits and exchanges, particularly
in the areas of trade, investment, counter terrorism and
security. She noted the utility of the agenda as a work plan
for our bilateral cooperation, adding that she had asked the
embassy staff to add a section documenting our long-standing
scientific and technical cooperation. The Under Secretary
also viewed the agenda as a work plan and proposed that we
review it on a quarterly basis to document progress and map
out future efforts.
--------------
UNGA
--------------
3. (C) The Minister expressed appreciation for his meetings
with the Secretary (together with other GCC FMs) in New York
and commented positively on the strong engagement by the
President and the U.S. delegation at this year,s UNGA.
--------------
BMENA
--------------
4. (C) Rashed Abdullah stated that the UAE wants to work
with the U.S. on reform and expressed appreciation for our
assistance and the Ambassador's news of the establishment of
the regional MEPI office at Embassy Abu Dhabi. The Minister
said he was confident that that the UAE would benefit from
this coordination, particularly in the areas of social and
economic development and women,s issues. Commenting that
UAE society differed from those of the other Gulf countries
-- citing in particular the large foreign worker population
-- he praised the basic premise of BMENA and MEPI that reform
must spring from each country. The FM observed that most
countries in the region had overcome their initial confusion
or hesitancy about BMENA and are now looking at how they can
cooperate and benefit from it. The Ambassador stated that
the UAE had much to offer others in the region, such as the
UAE's experience in entrepreneurial skills training, job
creation and women,s education. She reviewed for the
Minister some ongoing MEPI programs in the areas of
journalist training and education.
-------------- --------------
BUT REFORM IMPACT LIMITED WITHOUT REGIONAL STABILITY
-------------- --------------
5. (C) The FM stated that the success of BMENA and reform
efforts would ultimately be limited if there were no
resolution to the Arab Israeli conflict and Iraq remained
unstable. He urged the U.S. to maintain its focus on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he repeatedly referred to
as a "human issue." The Minister commented that despair was
pushing many Palestinians and Iraqis to resort to terrorism
because they viewed their predicaments as hopeless.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaikh Hamdan
bin Zayed al Nahayan remains our key bilateral point of
contact. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Rashed Abdullah can
be a useful interlocutor. As the MFA's senior diplomat, he
has served as Minister since 1980 (de facto from 1980 to
1990, when he was officially named Minister.) While playing
little role in day-to-day policy making, he represents the
UAE at UNGA and in other international fora, such as the Arab
League and NAM. Although critical of U.S. policy toward the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Minister, in general,
favorably views the U.S. as an indispensable ally.
SISON