Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI467
2004-02-24 13:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 03:22:11 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM February 24, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 467 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ETRD, ECON, EFIN Captions: None Subject: GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG EFFORTS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00467 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: DCM POL P/M AMB Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB: MWAHBA DRAFTED: ECON:CCRUMPLER CLEARED: DCM: AALBRIGHT; ECON:OJOHN VZCZCADI822 RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUCPDOC DE RUEHAD #0467 0551349 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241349Z FEB 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3280 INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000467
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
SUBJECT: GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG
EFFORTS
REFS: A) RIYADH 728 AND PREVIOUS
B) ABU DHABI 136
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000467
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
SUBJECT: GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG
EFFORTS
REFS: A) RIYADH 728 AND PREVIOUS
B) ABU DHABI 136
1. (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) The GCC Secretariat's proposal to initiate
region-wide free trade negotiations with the United States
(ref A) has put UAE officials in the uncomfortable
political position of having to support the GCC 'party
line,' while at the same time, vigorously pursuing a
bilateral TIFA and FTA agreement with Washington. In a
February 17 meeting with Econoff, UAE Director of WTO
Affairs Saeed Al-Nasibi asked whether Washington had
responded to the GCC proposal, and noted that a negative
response from Washington could "put to rest once and for
all" the possibility of negotiating an FTA with the GCC.
3. (SBU) Comment and action request: Although some UAEG
interlocutors have voiced restrained support for the GCC
proposal (most probably out of a sense of obligation to
their Gulf brethren),senior officials have made it very
clear that the UAE intends to pursue bilateral trade
agreements with Washington (ref B). They have said that
GCC talks, which include Saudi Arabia, would "bog down"
negotiations. The UAEG would welcome, however,
clarification of our preference to pursue bilateral
agreements with the Gulf states vice a multilateral
approach to the GCC. We second Embassy Riyadh's request
that Washington expeditiously provide a response to the GCC
Secretariat's proposal, and provide talking points for use
SIPDIS
in the Gulf capitals, as well. End comment and action
request.
Wahba
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
SUBJECT: GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG
EFFORTS
REFS: A) RIYADH 728 AND PREVIOUS
B) ABU DHABI 136
1. (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) The GCC Secretariat's proposal to initiate
region-wide free trade negotiations with the United States
(ref A) has put UAE officials in the uncomfortable
political position of having to support the GCC 'party
line,' while at the same time, vigorously pursuing a
bilateral TIFA and FTA agreement with Washington. In a
February 17 meeting with Econoff, UAE Director of WTO
Affairs Saeed Al-Nasibi asked whether Washington had
responded to the GCC proposal, and noted that a negative
response from Washington could "put to rest once and for
all" the possibility of negotiating an FTA with the GCC.
3. (SBU) Comment and action request: Although some UAEG
interlocutors have voiced restrained support for the GCC
proposal (most probably out of a sense of obligation to
their Gulf brethren),senior officials have made it very
clear that the UAE intends to pursue bilateral trade
agreements with Washington (ref B). They have said that
GCC talks, which include Saudi Arabia, would "bog down"
negotiations. The UAEG would welcome, however,
clarification of our preference to pursue bilateral
agreements with the Gulf states vice a multilateral
approach to the GCC. We second Embassy Riyadh's request
that Washington expeditiously provide a response to the GCC
Secretariat's proposal, and provide talking points for use
SIPDIS
in the Gulf capitals, as well. End comment and action
request.
Wahba