ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT TOWNSEND'S DECEMBER 2

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001811

SIPDIS

WHITE HOUSE FOR APHSCT TOWNSEND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PARM PGOV KISL BA AE CTR OFFICIALS REGION
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT TOWNSEND'S DECEMBER 2
MEETING WITH UAE MFA UNDERSECRETARY AL NOAIMI

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and
Counter-Terrorism (APHSCT) Frances Fragos Townsend met with
United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Abdalla Rashid Al Noaimi December 2 on the
margins of the IISS Gulf Security Dialogue conference in
Manama. APHSCT Townsend encouraged the UAE to continue its
support of the Iraqi government, including encouraging the
participation of the Sunni leadership in the December 15
elections. Al Noaimi recognized that Iraq needs help and
recalled that it was the UAE that first recognized the
initial Iraqi Governing Council, even in the face of Saudi
and Arab League opposition. He said that the strength of
Iraq is of strategic importance for the Gulf; Iran will
exploit a politically weak Iraq and work to create a closed
Gulf to the detriment of the current climate of openness.


2. (C) APHSCT Townsend raised concerns about the flow of
cash across regional borders in support of terrorism and
extremists, and encouraged a strong uniform standard on cash
couriers across the nations of the Gulf. Al Noaimi pointed
to the UAE National Committee for Terrorist Financing and the
Central Bank taskforce as the responsible institutions
enforcing laws on terrorist financing. He said that all
financial transfers over $2,000 are documented, and the
transferor is required to show identification. He added that
the Emirati government is working on a system of documenting
transfers carried out under the hawala system. Al Noaimi
expressed satisfaction with communication between the Central
Bank taskforce and the U.S. Department of Treasury in
investigating cases and taking necessary action. APHSCT
Townsend encouraged further cooperation on the most difficult
cases and in sharing understanding of evolving systems of
money transfer. Al Noaimi welcomed further cooperation to
close any existing loopholes.


3. (C) APHSCT Townsend praised the agenda of the
Organization of Islamic Conference meeting to be hosted by
Saudi Arabia December 7-8 in Mecca, calling it ambitious and
potentially historic. She focused on the importance of
support for the Amman Declaration. Al Noaimi said that
Kuwaiti representatives were involved in working toward
achieving consensus at the Mecca conference, and praised
Saudi Arabia for taking a leading role. He stressed that it
is important for the Islamic world to revisit what it is
doing in the areas of education and human rights.


4. (U) APHSCT Townsend cleared this message.


MONROE