UAE FOREIGN POLICY UNALTERED BY ZAYED'S DEATH

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 004130 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/IFD/OMA AND NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2014 TAGS: PREL TC SUBJECT: UAE FOREIGN POLICY UNALTERED BY ZAYED'S DEATH REF: A. (A) STATE 239509 ¶B. (B) STATE 238110 ¶C. (C) STATE 238063 ¶D. (D) STATE 236229 (U) Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Sheikh Zayed,s death earlier this month will not alter UAE foreign policy, MFA Under Secretary Abdullah Rashid told the Ambassador on November 20. There may be changes in &style, rhythm, and momentum under new President Khalifa but the UAE,s foreign policy depends on institutions, not people,8 he said. The focus on counterterrorism, nonproliferation, law enforcement, and military-to-military cooperation will remain constant. ¶2. (S) The UAEG reopened for business on November 20 after a nearly three-week hiatus since Sheikh Zayed,s November 2 passing. The Ambassador used the opportunity to review a number of Strategic Partnership and bilateral initiatives: -- Iraqi debt relief (Ref. B): Abdullah Rashid expressed interest in the outcome of the Paris Club deliberations and said the UAE would do &no less8 than Iraq,s other creditors, whether they be Paris Club or non-Paris Club (septel). -- Aid to the Palestinian Authority (Ref. D): Abdullah Rashid reported the issue was still being reviewed &internally.8 (Comment: We take this to mean that Al Nahyan family members have this topic under discussion. End comment.) -- Military-to-military ties: Secretary of the Navy England is visiting November 23-24, and CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid is visiting November 28-30. -- Law enforcement cooperation: The UAEG is eager to commence discussions on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and exploratory talks on an extradition treaty in the December-January timeframe. -- Nonproliferation: The Ambassador passed information to Abdullah Rashid concerning a Sharjah-based company, Elmstone Trading LLC, which has been working as a procurement agent for the Iranian missile program (Ref. A). -- Trafficking in Persons: In response to points in Ref. C, Abdullah Rashid said the HBO-SPORTS documentary on the continued trafficking and exploitation of child camel jockeys in the UAE concerns Deputy Prime Minister/MinState for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, who has asked for an interagency UAEG review of anti-trafficking regulations to determine their effectiveness. The Ambassador provided details of the December 10-13 visit of a G/TIP Reports Officer. -- Free Trade Agreement: Abdullah Rashid discussed the possibility of a UAE interagency team (at either the under secretary or assistant secretary level) visiting Washington SIPDIS to meet with key USG interlocutors to discuss free trade issues. Ideally, the group would travel before mid-February (Note: The 90-day FTA congressional notification period expires on February 15, 2005. End note). ¶3. (C) Abdullah Rashid commented to the Ambassador that he had had discussions within the MFA about the possibility of having Deputy Prime Minister/MinState for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visit Washington in the next few months. We will advise Washington as soon as the UAEG formally proposes such a visit. SISON