SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE TO GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 004512 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS OPDC IZ IR TC SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE TO GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS DELIVERED REF: STATE 264697 (U) Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On December 12, DCM delivered reftel points to Ambassador Sultan Al Romeithi, office director for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Al Romeithi expressed his government's support for the upcoming Iraqi elections, and indicated agreement with the USG position regarding Iran's WMD program and its need to comply with IAEA verification. Mahmoud Abbas can expect the full support of the UAE leadership when he visits here December 19, Al Romeithi added. End Summary. Iraq -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Al Romeithi told DCM that the UAEG supports the Iraqi elections on January 30. Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi visited the UAE December 8-10 and was Sheikh Hamdan's guest on his private island off the coast of Abu Dhabi. On December 11, NEA DAS Dibble discussed with both UAE Information and Culture Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and with MFA Under Secretary Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi, the importance of urging Iraqi Sunni participation in the elections. Al Romeithi said his government would fulfill a request from the Iraqi Embassy for assistance in facilitating absentee voting by Iraqi expatriates in the UAE. In a separate conversation, Special Assistant to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Yousef Al Otaiba, told DCM that the voting assistance request had come from Iraq Prime Minister Allawi's national security advisor Kassim Daoud. Al Otaiba said that the Iraqis wanted assistance in publicizing the absentee voting procedures and hoped to use the voting arrangements here to support Iraqi expatriates in several countries. The UAE Information Ministry is working with the Iraqis on arrangements. (Note: Although Allawi's visit was private and received no press coverage, the UAEG has publicly expressed its support for the Iraqis. On December 5, after a meeting with Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, chairman of the Iraqi Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed issued a statement reiterating the UAE's support for the Iraqi people. The statement emphasized the importance of inclusiveness in the Iraqi political process. End note.) Iran -------------- ¶3. (S) Al Romeithi nodded in agreement, saying "you know our position" as the DCM delivered the points about Iran's WMD programs and USG concerns that Iran comply with IAEA verification or face referral to the UN Security Council. Middle East Peace -------------- ¶4. (S) The UAE expects to host Mahmoud Abbas on December 19, Al Romeithi told the DCM. Abbas will ask for UAEG assistance for the Palestinian Authority. Al Romeithi said that Abbas has credibility as a leader of the Palestinians, and the UAE leadership strongly supports him. The current situation in the Middle East presents "not a window, but a door of opportunity, and we must offer our support," Al Romeithi said, adding that the UAE intends to support the PA. SISON