Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI1023
2006-03-18 10:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE: CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF AKBAR GANJI
how-toVZCZCXRO4216 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHAD #1023 0771015 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181015Z MAR 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4005 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001023
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (A.DATE CHANGE PARA 1;
B.NEW INFO SENTENCE 2 PARA
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001023
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (A.DATE CHANGE PARA 1;
B.NEW INFO SENTENCE 2 PARA 1)
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI IR AE
SUBJECT: UAE: CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF AKBAR GANJI
REF: STATE 42097
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In a meeting with UAE MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid
al-Noaimi March 18, Ambassador delivered reftel points and
together with DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles urged the UAE to join
other states in sending Iran a clear message in support of
Iranian journalist and political prisoner Akbar Ganji's
release. At the time of the meeting, neither Ambassador
nor MFA had been aware that Mr. Ganji had been released.
Barks-Ruggles sought UAE support by noting that Iran was
abusing people for actions that would be tolerated in the
UAE. She told al-Noaimi that Iran needs to hear from its
friends that the world has changed and that they need to
understand they are behind the times. Al-Noaimi indicated
that the UAE was unlikely to issue a public statement.
2. (C) Al-Noaimi told Ambassador and Barks-Ruggles that the
UAE does not publicly comment on every issue, consistent with
its preference for keeping a low profile. Ambassador
reminded al-Noaimi of the UAEG's positive public statements
made in regard to keeping the Gulf region free of weapons of
mass destruction. Al-Noaimi conceded that the UAEG
concentrates on its key regional security priorities. Iran
is a large neighbor with many "interactions" with the UAE,
al-Noaimi continued. Because Iranians are "very sensitive,"
the UAE has to "keep a balance" in its relations with Iran.
3. (C) Al-Noaimi added that while the UAE may not like and
may not agree with Iran's policies, at least it maintains a
"channel of communications." He cited the example of the
Iran-Iraq War, when UAE was the only country in the region to
maintain relations with Iran during that time. Despite Iraqi
complaints to the UAE, the UAE responded to Iraq that it
might need a channel of communication with Iran some day.
4. (C) Our fuller discussion with al-Noaimi on Iran-related
issues will be reported septel.
SISON
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (A.DATE CHANGE PARA 1;
B.NEW INFO SENTENCE 2 PARA 1)
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI IR AE
SUBJECT: UAE: CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF AKBAR GANJI
REF: STATE 42097
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In a meeting with UAE MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid
al-Noaimi March 18, Ambassador delivered reftel points and
together with DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles urged the UAE to join
other states in sending Iran a clear message in support of
Iranian journalist and political prisoner Akbar Ganji's
release. At the time of the meeting, neither Ambassador
nor MFA had been aware that Mr. Ganji had been released.
Barks-Ruggles sought UAE support by noting that Iran was
abusing people for actions that would be tolerated in the
UAE. She told al-Noaimi that Iran needs to hear from its
friends that the world has changed and that they need to
understand they are behind the times. Al-Noaimi indicated
that the UAE was unlikely to issue a public statement.
2. (C) Al-Noaimi told Ambassador and Barks-Ruggles that the
UAE does not publicly comment on every issue, consistent with
its preference for keeping a low profile. Ambassador
reminded al-Noaimi of the UAEG's positive public statements
made in regard to keeping the Gulf region free of weapons of
mass destruction. Al-Noaimi conceded that the UAEG
concentrates on its key regional security priorities. Iran
is a large neighbor with many "interactions" with the UAE,
al-Noaimi continued. Because Iranians are "very sensitive,"
the UAE has to "keep a balance" in its relations with Iran.
3. (C) Al-Noaimi added that while the UAE may not like and
may not agree with Iran's policies, at least it maintains a
"channel of communications." He cited the example of the
Iran-Iraq War, when UAE was the only country in the region to
maintain relations with Iran during that time. Despite Iraqi
complaints to the UAE, the UAE responded to Iraq that it
might need a channel of communication with Iran some day.
4. (C) Our fuller discussion with al-Noaimi on Iran-related
issues will be reported septel.
SISON