Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI4130
2004-11-21 12:15:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE FOREIGN POLICY UNALTERED BY ZAYED'S DEATH
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 04:05:20 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: S E C R E T ABU DHABI 04130 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: AMB P/M DCM POL DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MJSISON DRAFTED: POL:JMAYBURY CLEARED: DCM:RALBRIGHT VZCZCADI502 RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHDE RHMFISS RHRMDAB RHEFDIA RUEKJCS RHEHNSC RUENAAA RUMICEA DE RUEHAD #4130 3261215 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 211215Z NOV 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6813 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4504 RHMFISS/COMUSCENTAF SHAW AFB SC RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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).
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
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