Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI3983
2004-11-08 07:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

U.S. delegation pays condolences to UAE rulers

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR OVIP TC 
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Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 04:48:28 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 03983

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: POL
 INFO: P/M ECON AMB PAO RSO DCM MEPI

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: POL:JMAYBURY
CLEARED: DCM:RALBRIGHT PAO:HOLSINWINDECKER

VZCZCADI020
OO RUEHC RUEHDE RUEHEE RHEHNSC RUCAACC RHMFISS
RHRMDAB RUEHKU RUEHGB RUEHIL
DE RUEHAD #3983 3130710
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 080710Z NOV 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6660
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4459
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCAACC/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/USCENTAF SHAW AFB SC
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0954
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1296
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003983 

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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


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

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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

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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

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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