ABU DHABI LEADERSHIP REITERATES COMMITMENT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000663 SIPDIS STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI STATE PASS TO USTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2015 TAGS: ELAB ETRD PHUM PREL TC SUBJECT: ABU DHABI LEADERSHIP REITERATES COMMITMENT TO SOLVING CAMEL JOCKEY PROBLEM (U) Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On February 13, MbZ aide Yousef al Otaiba told Ambassador Sison that the smaller emirates would suffer a financial penalty from Abu Dhabi if they do not cut the trafficking of underage camel jockeys. MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid al-Noaimi told visiting ARPI Office Director Alan Misenheimer and DCM in a concurrent meeting that Abu Dhabi is committed to preventing the trafficking of persons in the UAE. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On February 9, representatives from the ruling families of six of the seven emirates attended the 14th annual Arab camel race festival in the emirate of Ras al Khaimah. Although the race was held under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, notably absent from the audience were representatives of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Ambassador pointed out the media coverage of the race to MbZ aide Yousef al Otaiba during a February 13 conversation; al Otaiba emphasized that the smaller emirates, all financially dependent upon oil-rich Abu Dhabi would &pay a financial price8 if the camel jockey problem &was not cleaned up.8 ¶3. (C) In a concurrent meeting, MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid al-Noaimi told visiting ARPI Office Director Alan Misenheimer and DCM that Abu Dhabi is committed to preventing the trafficking of boys for camel jockeys and also of women for sexual exploitation. He stated that outside pressure and reports are useful to Abu Dhabi, as it can use the information to lean on other emirates which are slower to change their views on the use of underage camel jockeys. He also noted that linking this with the FTA is a useful tool in the discussions with other emirates. ¶4. (C) Al-Noaimi noted that the UAE is a federal system, and each emirate has a fair amount of discretion in their activities. He further stated that some personal views (i.e. those of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance) are impeding movement of this issue in some emirates. SISON