KIDNAPPING OF UAE DEPUTY CHARGE IN BAGHDAD

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 002042

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PTER MARR IZ AE
SUBJECT: KIDNAPPING OF UAE DEPUTY CHARGE IN BAGHDAD

REF: A. EMBASSY TO OPERATIONS CENTER TELCON 05/17/06


B. EMBASSY TO UAE/QATAR DESK OFFICER TELCON 05/17/0

C. S/CT-NSC EMAIL ZARATE-M.THOMPSON-SISON 05/16/06

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) The Deputy Charge d'Affaires at the UAE Embassy in
Baghdad, Naji al-Naimi, was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen
May 16. One of his bodyguards, a Sudanese, was reportedly
injured in the incident. This morning, Ambassador reached
out to Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (who is in
Brussels on EU-GCC business) and Yousef al-Otaiba,
International Affairs Director for Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to express USG concern and
willingness to assist. Ambassador also conveyed to Minister
of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed al-Sha'ali and
al-Otaiba this morning our concern for the safe recovery of
the diplomat; our willingness to cooperate and assist fully
in that effort; and our policy of no concessions, but using
all elements of statecraft to gain his safe recovery, up to
and including a rescue if intelligence reaches an actionable
level (ref C). Al-Otaiba responded by saying that he
believed the UAEG,s policy on ransom would track closely
with ours. Al-Sha'ali was very appreciative of USG concern
and also took on board the no concessions, no ransom
considerations. Ambassador will accompany Assistant
Secretary for Political-Military Affairs John Hillen, DOD

SIPDIS
Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy Ryan Henry, and
NSC Senior Director for Near East and North Africa Michael
Doran to a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed this
evening and will reiterate the points and offer of assistance.


2. (C) CNN broadcast this news item shortly after midnight
local time (1600 EDT),saying only that the UAE's diplomatic
representative had been kidnapped while visiting the UAE
cultural center in Baghdad. Polchief immediately contacted
Yousef al-Otaiba, International Affairs Director for the Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince, and Sultan al-Rumaithy, Director of the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, who confirmed that the
kidnap victim was Deputy Charge al-Naimi. As of this
writing, there has been no claim of responsibility.


3. (S/NF) At approximately 2200 local time (1400 EDT),State
Security Directorate (SSD) contacted SIMO to report the
kidnapping. According to SSD, al-Naimi worked in the UAE
Embassy's consular section and had the title of second
secretary. He was reportedly visiting a friend at the time

SIPDIS
of the incident.


4. (S) UAE Armed Forces General Headquarters called Embassy
Abu Dhabi DATT at approximately 2230 local time (1430 EDT)
May 16 to inform him that UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff,
Lt. General Mohammed Hamed Thani al-Rumaithy, had ordered a
CN-235 aircraft to fly to Baghdad to transport the UAE's
Charge d'Affaires, Ali al-Ka'abi. DATT contacted the
Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at al-Udaid Air Base in
Qatar to request their assistance in allowing the UAE
aircraft to land in Baghdad. That flight was scheduled to
depart at 1100 local time (0300 EDT).


5. (U) Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV channel has been giving the
incident wide coverage, with the diplomat's mother appearing
on TV this morning. In an interview with English daily "Gulf
News," FM Sheikh Abdullah said, "This is painful. We also
understand that the situation in Iraq is unstable. This
makes us more concerned about Iraq and the necessity to unite
efforts at the Arab and international levels to restore
stability and help Iraq return to the Arab and international
fold." Meanwhile, an al-Qaida-affiliate forum,
www.alhesbah.org, has a post about the UAE diplomat,
including several comments calling for his death.
SISON