U.S. delegation pays condolences to UAE rulers

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003983 SIPDIS STATE FOR D, NEA/FO, AND INR/B SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR OVIP TC SUBJECT: U.S. delegation pays condolences to UAE rulers ¶1. (U) On November 5, an official USG delegation led by Deputy Secretary Armitage paid condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his father Sheikh Zayed. Most of Sheikh Zayed's other 18 sons, including Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sultan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Sheikh Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan, and Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Abdullah were gathered in the large reception hall at Khalifa's palace. They, senior members of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family, and other members of the ruling families of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, greeted the USG delegation, which also included NEA A/S Burns, PM DAS Bue, the Ambassador, DCM, Polchief, and D staffer Ryu. The reception hall was teeming with large numbers of Emiratis, from prominent business people to elderly Bedouins, as well as a large number of foreign delegations. ¶2. (U) After the initial greeting, President Khalifa indicated his desire to exchange thoughts with the Deputy Secretary and invited him to sit in the place of honor for SIPDIS more than 20 minutes. The discussion was punctuated by Khalifa's need to greet Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Bosnian Prime Minister Adnan Terzi, former Iraqi Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi, and dozens of other foreign dignitaries, but Khalifa pulled himself away from his other callers to sit and speak with the Deputy Secretary at some length. Khalifa and the Deputy Secretary SIPDIS focused their discussion on the achievements of Sheikh Zayed over his five decades of public life, and each expressed a strong commitment to the bilateral relationship. Khalifa voiced his strong commitment to working with the USG in the war on terror. The Deputy Secretary thanked Khalifa for the UAE's steadfast SIPDIS friendship and for the late Sheikh Zayed's generosity and visionary leadership. He invited Khalifa's advice on regional issues, noting the UAE's important role. Khalifa also passed his congratulations to President Bush for his re-election, and noted that he had hoped for this victory. Khalifa was warm, genuine, and sincere in expressing his deep appreciation for the USG delegation's visit, as was Defense Minister/Dubai Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. ¶3. (SBU) On November 6, UAE media featured the USG condolence call, as well as the November 4 call to Sheikh Khalifa by President Bush, and the November 5 signing of the condolence book at the UAE Embassy in Washington. POTUS had telephoned Khalifa on November 4 to offer his condolences on behalf of the United States and his father, and to congratulate him on his new position as president. On November 5, the Secretary signed the condolence book at the UAE Embassy in Washington. Condolence call on former First Lady Sheikha Fatima -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Following the Deputy Secretary's meeting with President Khalifa, part of the USG delegation consisting of Ambassador, DAS Bue, and PAO visited former UAE First Lady Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's Sea Palace. The First Lady, speaking through her interpreter, congratulated President Bush on his victory. She also spoke of Sheikh Zayed and how he believed in women, children and the environment. She highlighted Zayed's last official act, the appointment of a new Cabinet, including Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi as Minister of Economy and Planning - the first woman appointed to the UAE Cabinet. ¶5. (U) This message was cleared by the Deputy Secretary. ¶6. (U) Embassy Baghdad -- minimize considered. SISON