CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR REACTION TO PROPOSED

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 004982 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, EB/ESC NSC FOR ZARATE TREASURY FOR LEVEY, GLASER, MURDEN, HEFFERNAN, LENBENSON MANAMA FOR BEAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 TAGS: KTFN PTER EFIN AE SUBJECT: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR REACTION TO PROPOSED U.S.-UAE JOINT TERRORIST FINANCE COORDINATING COMMITTEE REF: A. SECSTATE 208617 ¶B. ABU DHABI 4828 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Please see para 5 for an action request. ¶2. (S) On December 10th, Ambassador and econoff met with the UAE Central Bank Governor, Sultan Nasser al-Suwaidi, to discuss the proposed U.S.-UAE Joint Terrorist Finance Coordinating Committee (JTFCC). This meeting was a follow-up to the November 26th meeting, during which Ambassador delivered Ref A proposal to al-Suwaidi (ref B); the purpose was to seek the Governor's feedback before disseminating the proposal to other UAEG entities. ¶3. (S) Governor al-Suwaidi provided a cautious, measured response to the proposal, and he highlighted three key concerns: - Iran and Syria Policy. Expressing his concern that the U.S. might use the JTFCC to "force its political agenda on the UAE," al-Suwaidi stated that he is worried the U.S. will ask the UAE to take actions against Iran and Syria that could damage the UAE's relationship to its neighbors. Noting, "Right now, the U.S. does not have good relationships with these countries, but in ten years that could change, and the UAE would be left holding the bag." Ambassador assured the Governor that the committee would enjoy a two-way dialogue and that its purpose would be to coordinate activities. The UAE would have input into what actions the committee ultimately took. - Public Leaks. Reiterating the UAE's desire to keep the extent of its CT cooperation with the U.S. below the radar screen, the Governor was concerned that U.S. officials might leak content of the meetings to the media. Ambassador underscored that the JTFCC proposal explicitly states that the substance of the meetings are classified. - UAE Benefit. Governor al-Suwaidi requested a more precise picture of what the UAE had to gain by the establishment of a JTFCC. He wanted to know if the UAE would have the opportunity to comment on decisions before they were taken. Complaining that their FIU often receives requests for information based on "incomplete" names, al-Suwaidi also indicated he hoped the JTFCC would provide a mechanism for vetting these requests. Ambassador emphasized that consultation and advanced coordination are among the explicit purposes of the JTFCC. Al-Suwaidi was appreciative of this assurance. ¶4. (S) Governor al-Suwaidi noted that "others" in the Government would determine whether it is implemented or not. Ambassador noted that Treasury U/S Levey desired to travel to the UAE in late January to hold the inaugural JTFCC meeting. The Governor requested a proposed agenda for the first meeting, which could then be shared with other UAEG authorities, including Dubai officials, to obtain their buy-in to the JTFCC. ¶5. (S) Action request: Please forward a proposed agenda for the first JTFCC to Embassy for passage to the Central Bank Governor and other UAE counterparts, including officials in the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Justice, the federal State Security Directorate, and Dubai's State Security Organization. SISON