CHARGE CALL ON HBZ: HURRICANE KATRINA, IRAN NUKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005025 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015 TAGS: EAGR PTER PREL PHUM PNUC ASEC KNNP LE AF IR IS, SY, AE SUBJECT: CHARGE CALL ON HBZ: HURRICANE KATRINA, IRAN NUKE CAPACITY, TUENI ASSASSINATION, AFGHANISTAN, BIRD FLU REF: SECSTATE 223709 Classified By: CDA Martin R. Quinn, reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. In call today by CDA to present House of Representatives resolution on Hurricane Katrina foreign donors, UAEG Deputy PM/Min State Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed raised concern over Haaretz report that Iran could be three months away from acquiring a nuclear weapon. See action request para 4 below. HbZ also denounced Tueni assassination in Lebanon (blaming Syria),and commented on cooperation of UAE special ops forces in Afghanistan and UAE preparations for Avian Influenza. End summary. ¶2. (C) CDA called on Deputy PM/Min State Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan late this afternoon in order to present framed original of House of Representatives resolution of appreciation for Hurricane Katrina foreign donors. HbZ was extremely pleased with plaque and said it had been UAE's "duty" to contribute $100M. He asked UAE News Agency (WAM) correspondent to get details from CDA and posed for photographs. ¶3. (C) Following plaque presentation, HbZ echoed UAEG's strong denunciation today in media statement by Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the attack in Lebanon that killed Lebanese lawmaker Jibran Tueni. ("The UAE condemns the cowardly, criminal act, which has not only targeted a prominent Lebanese journalist, but is part of a series of crimes that began with the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.") CDA had earlier given copy of President Bush and Secretary Rice's statements to HbZ's assistant. MinState said that he had met Jibran Tueni several months before, and thus the loss was also personal. HbZ plainly indicated UAEG conviction that Syria was responsible. ¶4. (C) Action item: Second topic raised by HbZ was whether statement by IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz reported on Haaretz website today could be true -- "that Iran will reach the point of no return regarding its capability to produce nuclear weapons within three months." HbZ said the report was carried on Radio SAWA and asked what it meant. He commented that UAEG's clear national interest lies in knowing whether or not Iran could be three months away from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Request department guidance on this point. ¶5. (C) HbZ expressed pleasure that cooperation between US and UAE special operations forces in Afghanistan has been increasing. He said that his elder brother the Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, was especially glad to learn that UAE troops had recently participated with US forces in an exercise involving Blackhawk helicopters. ¶6. (C) In response to CDA comment on Embassy consultations with UAEG health officials on Avian Influenza precautions, HbZ mentioned UAEG was taking the matter seriously with regard to its preparations to deal with a potential outbreak. He said the UAEG was watching the situation and was determined to respond prudently should human-to-human spread of the disease occur. HbZ expressed concern that should an outbreak occur in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, countries of origin for two thirds of UAE's expatriate community),the governments there lack the technical means and resources to respond quickly and efficiently. At the same time he expressed confidence in UAEG's responsive capacity. QUINN