Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI1680
2005-04-14 10:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

AMB. JONES CONSULTS WITH SHEIKH HAMDAN ON IRAQ

Tags:  PREL ECON IZ IR TC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001680 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON IZ IR TC
SUBJECT: AMB. JONES CONSULTS WITH SHEIKH HAMDAN ON IRAQ

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001680

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON IZ IR TC
SUBJECT: AMB. JONES CONSULTS WITH SHEIKH HAMDAN ON IRAQ

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: Senior Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq
Policy Ambassador Richard Jones consulted with Deputy Prime
Minister/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan
bin Zayed on April 12 on Iraq developments. Ambassador
Jones, who had been in Iraq three days earlier, briefed
Sheikh Hamdan on the formation of a new government, and
outlined key U.S. and Iraqi priorities, chief among them,
defeating the insurgency and completing the political
process. Sheikh Hamdan expressed concern over Iranian
interference in the Iraqi political process and pledged
continued UAE support to the Iraqi people. Ambassador Jones
also briefed ambassadors and charges from G-8 and coalition
country embassies. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On April 12, Deputy Prime Minister and de facto
Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamdan discussed Iraq with Ambassador
Richard Jones, Senior Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq
Policy. Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by his office
director, Sultan Al Romeithi; MFA Under Secretary Abdullah
Rashid Al Noaimi; MFA GCC Director Abdullah Al Mazrouie; and
the UAE Charge in Baghdad, Ali Al Ka'abi. Ambassador Jones
was accompanied by the Ambassador; Larry McDonald, Director
of the Department of Treasury Office of Reconstruction; Col.
Philip Smith, Chief, Coalition Strategy Branch, Joint Chiefs
of Staff; Executive Assistant Matthew Fuller; and Pol Chief
(notetaker).

Concerns About Iran
--------------


3. (C) Ambassador Jones thanked the UAE for close cooperation
with the U.S. on Iraq. Sheikh Hamdan noted that the UAE and
the U.S. have common interests in Iraq and urged
collaboration in the run-up to the December 2005 elections.
He criticized the U.S. and its allies for being too focused
on the security and military aspects of Iraq when, in his
view, we should have been addressing Iran's spreading
influence in Iraq more forcefully. Iran has very clear
objectives regarding Iraq. Sheikh Hamdan expressed concern
regarding Iran's nuclear program. He expressed particular
concern that if the Interior Minister post went to someone
close to Iranian intelligence, there could be assassinations

of Sunnis and liberal-minded Sunnis. While the U.S. shares
the UAE's concerns about Iran's influence in Iraq, Ambassador
Jones said there was no evidence that Iran was behind the
current violence. He added that we would learn from our
mistakes, and that one of his duties as Coordinator for Iraq
Policy was to adjust policies to make them more effective.

Overview of Key Priorities
--------------


4. (C) Noting that he had met with all members of the
Presidency Council and other senior Iraqi officials during
his latest visit, Ambassador Jones stressed that there was
agreement that the key priorities were to defeat the
insurgency, and to complete the political process on
schedule. The new constitution must be drafted by August 15
and ratified in a referendum by October 15, and a new
government must be elected by December 15 and take office by
December 31. While the Transitional Administrative Law
allows for a six-month slippage, the U.S. is encouraging Iraq
to adhere to the timetable and continuing to appeal to all
Iraqis to participate in the process. Other priorities
include strengthening the rule of law through capable law
enforcement, judiciary, and correctional systems; providing
essential services such as electricity, water and fuel; and
promoting economic security through job creation, debt
forgiveness, implementation of IMF agreements, and
restoration of the agricultural sector.


5. (C) Sheikh Hamdan acknowledged that the task ahead was a
very difficult one and he wished the U.S. every success. He
added that it was critical to restore stability and security
in Iraq as that would encourage Iraq,s neighbors to help
out. Sheikh Hamdan agreed that the political process should
not be delayed, and offered to cooperate by tapping the UAE's
network of contacts inside and outside Iraq. He said Iyad
Allawi was a friend of his and of his brother, Abu Dhabi
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed, and opined that Allawi had not
done well in the January elections because members of his own
group had let him down. Ambassador Jones said Allawi's group
could still play a role in government, particularly if it is
able to claim Allawi's objectives of either the Defense or
Interior portfolio, the energy portfolio, and two essential
"service" portfolios (such as electricity). Sheikh Hamdan
commented that Allawi could have more influence by working
inside the power structure. He said that Allawi would be
visiting him in the coming days.

Security Update
--------------

6. (C) Ambassador Jones briefed Sheikh Hamdan on Coalition
efforts to rebuild the Iraqi security forces. He thanked the
UAE for offering its police and military training facilities
to the Iraqis being trained by Germany, and for supplying
surveillance aircraft, Armored Personnel Carriers, and ships
to the Iraqis. The UAE has assisted with military and police
training as well (the latter with Germany). Sheikh Hamdan
said the majority of Iraqis in uniform are soldiers and
police officers who served their country and want to take
care of their families. He applauded the new direction the
Coalition is taking, including plans to have trained and
equipped 270,000 security personnel by summer 2006 and to
transfer eight regional commands to Iraqis. Sheikh Hamdan
said that the UAE Charge in Baghdad had informed him that the
situation in Fallujah remained difficult, and that most of
the 300,000 residents forced to leave the city had still not
returned. Ambassador Jones acknowledged that the situation
was bad, but was improving, and that about 90,000 of the
city's 300,000 residents had returned home. He said U.S.
Marines were working hard to restore basic infrastructure,
and that the U.S. was committing $70 million on
reconstruction projects.

Debt Relief
--------------


7. (C) Ambassador Jones described existing Iraqi debt and the
terms of the Paris Club agreement, and urged the UAEG to
offer terms at least as generous as those of the Paris Club.
He noted that, given the estimated $50 billion that Iraq owed
the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, announcements on this
issue by the UAEG and its sister governments would be more
significant than the Paris Club decision. Ambassador Jones
also described a proposed June U.S. and EU-sponsored
conference on Iraq. Sheikh Hamdan wanted to know if the
Saudis and Kuwaitis had made firm commitments to reduce Iraqi
debt, and whether a public statement would be preferable
before or during the conference. Ambassador Jones replied
that Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah
had told him April 9 that Kuwait would be "generous" and that
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah had said that debt relief was
important to Iraq's stability. A UAE public commitment to
cancel Iraq's debt would be welcome at any time, although
issuing a statement before the conference could encourage
other countries to come forward with support of their own,
Ambassador Jones said. Sheikh Hamdan noted that Special
Envoy Baker had discussed this issue with then-Abu Dhabi
Crown Prince Khalifa bin Zayed in January 2004.


8. (C) Sheikh Hamdan told Ambassador Jones that the Siemens
generators that the UAE had pledged as part of its $215
pledge at the Madrid Conference were still being warehoused
in UAE because of "complications" on the Iraqi side.
Ambassador Jones said the generators should be a welcome
addition because Iraq still has significant challenges in
meeting the demand for electricity. Sheikh Hamdan thanked
Ambassador Jones for trying to help resolve the issue.
(Note: We understand that the UAEG had requested support from
the Germans and possibly other donors to pay for the shipment
and installation of the generators. We are seeking further
details on the size and specifications of the generators to
convey to Ambassador Jones.)


9. (C) Prior to meeting Sheikh Hamdan, Ambassador Jones
briefed G-8 and coalition country Ambassadors/charges. They
sought clarification about the upcoming conference, GCC
countries' positions on debt relief, and Iran. In response
to a question about growing Iranian involvement in Iraq,
Ambassador Jones stated that as its Iraqi allies gain power
in their government, they would be less likely to take
instructions from Iran. The French Charge inquired whether
the U.S. was concerned about Moqtada Al Sadr's influence, and
whether we talk with him. Ambassador Jones said the press
has exaggerated Moqtada's influence, and that this was mostly
an intra-Iraqi affair between Iraq's prominent Shi'a families
- Al Sadr and Al Hakim. The USG talks to Moqtada's aides,
but not to Moqtada himself because he is the subject of an
arrest warrant issued by an Iraqi judge in connection with
the murder of moderate Shi'a leader, Abdul Majid al Khoel, in
April 2003.


10. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.


11. (U) This message was cleared by Ambassador Jones.
SISON