SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: VISIT OF NEA A/S DAVID

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001232

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA;
INR/B; RRU-NEA IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR MCKUNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR AE KPAO OVIP
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: VISIT OF NEA A/S DAVID
WELCH TO THE UAE



1. SUMMARY: The March 27-29 visit of David Welch, US
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, to
the UAE received prominent coverage in all UAE Arabic and
English dailies. Abu Dhabi TV carried a 7-minute interview
on the daily program News of the Day with A/S Welch
commenting on Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israeli elections and
Hamas. Abu Dhabi TV carried excerpts of Welch's interview
during its News of the Day program on March 30, 2006 at
12:00 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. UAE TV noted that Welch had
praised the strong US-UAE relationship in all areas. END
SUMMARY.


A. Arabic Dailies


1. Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation
85,000) ran March 30 article with page 5 photo (Nation
Section) under headline "US Assistant David Welch lauds US-
UAE ties."

Welch: "We appreciate the bilateral relationship between our
countries and consider it very important in all its
aspects."



2. Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation
90,000) ran March 30 page 4 article with photo (Business
Section) under headline "US official: P&O deal did not
affect US-UAE relations."

Welch: "President George Bush made great efforts to convince
the Congress that Dubai Ports World is efficient and capable
enough to manage US ports."



3. Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation
65,000) ran March 30 front page article with photo under
headline "Welch lauds UAE efforts to achieve stability in
Iraq and Afghanistan" and in the Business Section under the
subhead "The era when Syria had custody over Lebanon is
over."

Welch: "We appreciate the efforts taken by the UAE government
to achieve stability and rebuild Afghanistan and Iraq. We do
not the play the role of custodian over Lebanon."



4. Dubai-based Pan Arab daily "Emaratalyoum" (circulation
25,000) ran March 30 page 22 article (Foreign Section) under
headline "US official: P&O deal will not affect US-UAE
relationship".

Welch: "The wise leadership of the UAE played a prominent
role in shortcutting the problem when it handed the
management of the ports to a US company."



5. Dubai-based Pan Arab daily "Akhbar Al-Arab,"
(circulation 25,000) ran March 30 page 9 article (Nation
Section) under headline "David Welch affirms his country's
appreciation of its ties with the UAE."

Welch: "We appreciate the bilateral relationship between our
countries and consider it very important in all its
aspects."



B. English Dailies


1. Under the headline "US official: No longlasting fallout
over DP world issue," and under the sub-head "We praise UAE
Ports Authority for the way they handled affair," Dubai-based
English Language daily "Gulf News" (circulation 95,000) ran
March 30 page 7 article with photo in the Nation Section.

Welch: "US-UAE relations have suffered no long-term fallout
over Dubai Ports World decision to transfer its US ports
operations to a US authority. Did we learn some lessons from
this? I think absolutely. The American administration has to
be careful to make a more convincing case about issues such
as foreign investment in strategic areas. And our foreign
partners likewise want to pay attention to the political
environment in the United States and to make presentations in
a way that is responsive to that political environment."


2. Under headline "Welch: Behaviour of Tehran 'worrying'
GCC states," and sub-head "N-plan in the hands of a dangerous
regime is not accepted," Dubai-based English Language daily
"Khaleej Times" (circulation 80,000) ran March 30 article
with photo in the Nation Section.

Welch: "The GCC states are justified in their concerns about
Iran's nuclear ambitions. We commend the government and the
Dubai Ports Authority for the statesmanship the government
has shown and the company's recent announcement that it will
transfer its US ports operations to a US entity."

With regard to Iran, Welch said: "Definitely, we prefer a
diplomatic solution. President George Bush has a clear and
fixed idea of what is necessary, but has not taken any option
off the table. However, diplomacy is preferred."

Democracy in Arab world:
"... Welch said he had no contacts with former Syrian Vice-
President Abdel Halim Khaddam, who now lives in Europe. But
he said the US has no objection to talk to him."


C. TV


1. UAE channel 2 carried a 2-minute report on March 29,
citing David Welch, praising US-UAE ties in all fields.
Welch lauded the decision taken by the government of Dubai
to hand the management of the US ports to an American
company to resolve the issue. He added that the UAE and the
US are working together to conclude an FTA.


2. Abu Dhabi TV carried a 7-minute interview on the daily
program (News of the Day) March 29 with David Welch,
commenting on Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israeli elections and
Hamas. Abu Dhabi TV carried excerpts of David Welch's
interview on News of the Day March 30 (Noon, 3 p.m. and 6
p.m.).


SISON