DEMARCHE ON LONDON CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000108 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EB/ESC AND NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KDEM PGOV PREL AF AE SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON LONDON CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN REF: A. STATE 3627 ¶B. 05 ABU DHABI 5250 ¶C. 05 STATE 226670 ¶1. (SBU) Pol Chief discussed ref A points with MFA International Organizations Director Yacub al-Hosani January ¶16. Al-Hosani said the UAEG had not yet determined who will represent the UAE at the conference on Afghanistan, but that the UAEG will support Afghanistan and the objectives of the Afghanistan Compact. Pol Chief used the opportunity to review the discussions Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Tony Wayne and Ambassador Sison had with Dubai Ruler and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed about the Strategic Investment Initiative. ¶2. (SBU) Econoff had discussed the Afghanistan Compact points December 31 with MFA Assistant U/S for International Cooperation Mohammed Abdul Rahim Abduljalil, who agreed that supporting Afghanistan's political and economic development is critical to enhancing global stability. More recently, January 15, British Charge informed DCM that UK's focus on UAE assistance for Afghanistan would be in the counter-narcotics area. SISON