A/S BURNS' MARCH 21 MEETING WITH ABU DHABI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000906

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD KMPI IZ IR IS TC
SUBJECT: A/S BURNS' MARCH 21 MEETING WITH ABU DHABI
CROWN PRINCE KHALIFA BIN ZAYED

Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, reasons
1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary: NEA Assistant Secretary William Burns
met in Abu Dhabi on March 21 with Abu Dhabi Crown
Prince Shaykh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Deputy Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince and Armed Force Chief Shaykh
Mohammed bin Zayed and Information and Culture
Minister Shaykh Abdullah bin Zayed attended the
meeting. Burns was accompanied by the Ambassador and
Polchief (notetaker). On Iraq, Khalifa denounced
terrorist attempts at destabilizing the country and
urged the U.S. to warn Iran not to interfere in Iraq's
internal affairs. The CP said he hoped the U.S. would
make every effort to help resolve the Israeli-
Palestinian dispute. Khalifa agreed with Burns on the
need for reform and that each country needed to define
its own needs to suit its society and culture. Burns
and Khalifa reviewed bilateral progress, the March 15
TIFA signing in Washington, and expressed satisfaction
about the successful Strategic Partnership dialogue
held earlier in the day (to be covered septel). Burns
also granted interviews to Abu Dhabi TV and the Arabic
language daily Al Ittihad. End Summary.

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Iraq
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2. (S) Burns thanked the UAE Government on behalf of
POTUS for its generous reconstruction assistance in
Iraq ($215 million pledged in Madrid) and in
Afghanistan (over $150 million). He said the U.S. was
committed to working with the UN to try to ensure
Iraq's stability, but he acknowledged that it would
not be easy. "There will be challenges, but we will
do our part," he said. Burns said the U.S. was
concerned about Iran's ability to destabilize Iraq.
"We are watching very carefully, and taking it very
seriously," Burns said, adding that Europeans and
others should convey similar concerns.


3. (S) The Crown Prince said the UAE has a duty to
provide assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan. He said
some UAE funds allocated for Afghanistan projects have
not yet been spent because of administrative delays in
Afghanistan, and he hoped the projects would be soon
identified and agreed upon by the two sides. In Iraq,
he said, the UAE and its allies have helped restore
water and electricity, and its armed forces have built
six hospitals. He said terrorists are attempting to
destabilize Iraq after the U.S.-led Coalition has
freed Iraq from years of tyranny. He urged the U.S.
to warn Iran not to interfere in Iraq's internal
affairs. Khalifa said that the Iranians know that
Iraq's stability is in Iran's best interest.

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Palestinians and Israelis
--------------


4. (S) President Bush is very concerned about the
situation between Palestinians and Israelis and
remains fully committed to a two-state solution, Burns
said. The two-state solution brings dignity to both
sides, and that, in turn, contributes to regional
stability. Burns provided a brief outline of the
Israeli proposal for a withdrawal from Gaza and noted
U.S. concern that the measures need to be consistent
with the Roadmap and achieving a two-state solution.
Burns thanked the UAE for its financial assistance to
Finance Minister Salam Fayyad to help him better
manage the PA's finances. Burns told Khalifa that he
hoped his meeting with Mubarak in Cairo on March 22
would create momentum and move the process forward.
Egypt, he added, has a role to play to rebuild the PA
security apparatus.


5. (S) Khalifa said the UAE has a duty to provide
assistance to the Palestinians. His initial reaction
to the Israeli suggestion of a withdrawal from Gaza
was that it would not solve the problem. He said he
hoped the U.S. would use its prominent international
role to "deploy every effort" to solve the dispute.
Khalifa blamed terrorists for brainwashing Arab youth.
The UAE believes that terrorism and extremism results
when people feel their rights have been trampled. If
the Palestinian problem is resolved, Khalifa said,
most of the terrorism problem would come to an end.

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Reform and modernization
--------------


6. (S) Burns clarified U.S. intentions with regard to
reforms in the Middle East (aka the Greater Middle
East concept),emphasizing that the U.S. had no
intention of imposing change on anyone. Economic,
social, and political change are very important and
urgent issues for the region, but change has to come
from within Arab societies. He said the U.S. wants to
help countries that want reforms, for example,
assisting the UAE in opening up its trade. He said
that modernizing the educational system goes hand-in-
hand with modernizing the economy. Burns said the
U.S. also wants to help people participate more fully
in their political systems. Burns said it was
important that the region see the U.S. making progress
on Iraq, the Palestinian-Israeli problem, the GWOT,
and reforms. Khalifa said he was optimistic that that
would be the case.


7. (S) Khalifa said it was unfortunate that some had
exploited the "Greater Middle East" concept by
accusing the U.S. of seeking to impose reforms. Each
country can begin to evaluate its circumstances and
priorities gradually, and added that the UAE welcomes
any friend who wants to demonstrate how reform will
benefit UAE society. He agreed with Burns about the
need for educational reforms to train people for
economic opportunities.

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Progress on the bilateral front
--------------


8. (S) Burns and Khalifa noted the success of the
second Strategic Partnership dialogue held earlier in
the day in Abu Dhabi (reported septel). Burns, who
led the U.S. delegation, told Khalifa that the
Strategic Partnership demonstrated that the bilateral
relationship is in good shape and he credited the UAEG
for their accomplishments. The TIFA signing is an
example of what the two sides can do to bolster trade.
Burns said progress on export controls to stop the
proliferation of WMD materials was in both countries'
interest. He said the Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI) was another avenue to strengthen
cooperation. The planned May 1-2 JMC and the new Gulf
Air Warfare Center illustrate the growing military
cooperation. "In every area -- commercial, WMD,
Export Controls -- the pace of our cooperation is
faster than it is in any other country in the region,"
he said.


9. (S) Khalifa stated that he was pleased with the
strong ties and he welcomed further initiatives in all
fields. He agreed about the importance of non-
proliferation of WMD. "We hope to see WMD totally
removed from the region," Khalifa said.

(U) This cable was cleared by A/S Burns.
WAHBA