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