Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
05ABUDHABI716 | 2005-02-15 12:11:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Abu Dhabi |
null Diana T Fritz 12/06/2006 02:54:40 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 00716 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: AMB INFO: POL ECON DCM DISSEMINATION: AMB CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MJSISON DRAFTED: ECON:ELWILLIAMS CLEARED: DCM:RALBRIGHT ECON:OJOHN POL:JMAYBURY VZCZCADI195 PP RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHEE RUCNIRA RUEHAS RUEHKU RUEHLO RUEHLE RUEHTV RUEHDE RUEHJM RUEHBS DE RUEHAD #0716 0461211 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151211Z FEB 05 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8198 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0190 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 0987 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0885 RUEHLE/AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG PRIORITY 0007 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0434 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 4840 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0094 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY |
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000716 |
1. (C) Summary: On February 13, MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid Al-Noaimi told visiting ARPI Office Director Alan Misenheimer and DCM that he is more optimistic about the prospect for peace in Israel and Palestine since Abu Mazen,s election. He noted that motion on this front will help solve other regional problems, but remained concerned about Iran,s potential to destabilize both Israeli-Paletinian peace and Lebanon. End Summary. 2. (C) Al-Noaimi told Misenheimer and DCM that &the peace train has departed from Sharm al-Sheikh and it,s not going to stop.8 He said the UAEG knows Abu Mazen well, is optimistic about him as a leader, and is encouraged by his engagement with Hamas. He called Abu Mazen a statesman who can lead people, whereas Arafat could never distance himself from his guerilla past. The UAE believes that supporting Abu Mazen and the Palestinians politically and financially is in its self interest, and will continue to do so. (Note: Post delivered draft version of reftel demarche during Misenheimer,s visit. End note.) Without committing to a direct figure, Al-Noaimi opened the door to renewed UAE assistance to the PA, noting that UAE concerns about Arafat and corruption had forced the UAEG to concentrate its support on humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and funnel it through the UAE Red Crescent. (Note: Although 2004 data is not available, the UAE provided Palestinians more than 200 million dollars in humanitarian aid in grants and loans in 2003; this figure does not include in-kind assistance. End note.). 3. (C) Al-Noaimi said that the momentum from progress in Israel and Palestine will propel resolution of other problems in the Middle East, such as Lebanon and Syria. He added that the more the Palestinians progress toward peace, the more pressure there will be on Syria to reform. 4. (C) Al-Noaimi viewed Iran as the biggest threat to stability and the peace process. Recalling his recent visit to Lebanon, Al-Noaimi said that he doesn,t like to see Iranians in the Bekaa Valley or hear Farsi on Lebanese radio. He stated that it was necessary to &unplug8 Iran from Lebanon and Syria, and urged the United States to keep up pressure on Iran. 5. (C) Misenheimer encouraged the UAEG to urge Iran to move in a constructive direction, stating Iran should support a final outcome of a Palestinian state. Al-Noaimi was pessimistic about Iran changing its policies. He described Tehran airport signs with Palestinian and anti-US slogans, and stated that Iran needs this rhetoric to maintain the regime,s legitimacy. SISON SISON |