SYRIAN VP IN UAE TO QUELL FEARS ABOUT IRAN?

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002243 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016 TAGS: PREL ECON IR SY AE SUBJECT: SYRIAN VP IN UAE TO QUELL FEARS ABOUT IRAN? Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) On May 29, Syrian Vice President Faruq al-Shara'a met with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Vice President/Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (MbR),and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MbZ). Arabic language press noted that the meetings gave UAE officials an opportunity &to affirm their Arab solidarity.8 A day earlier, al-Shara'a was received in Abu Dhabi by UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan (HbZ), along with the Minister of Labor, Ali al-Ka'abi, and the UAE Ambassador to Syria, Abdul Hameed Saloom. ¶2. (C) Sultan al-Romeithy, top aide to HbZ, told PolChief May 30 that the talks with Al-Shara,a concerned Syria,s desire to revive a UAE-Syria economic commission that has been dormant for the past three years, and to hold more political dialogue. Dubai-based al-Arabiya television station speculated that evening that al-Shara'a's visit might be to explain Iran,s nuclear program to the UAEG. It was widely speculated among local journalists that al-Shara'a's presence indicated an effort by Syria to interject itself as an intermediary between the Gulf States and Iran. On May 26, London-based al-Hayat reported that al-Shara'a would visit the UAE to discuss bilateral issues, and to convey assurances on the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. ¶3. (C) Comment: Media speculation about the purpose of this visit may have merit since al-Shara'a met with Sheikh Khalifa, MbZ, and MbR, and then departed the UAE for Yemen. The high level meetings and the itinerary lend credence to the rumor that al-Shara,a may be on a regional trip on behalf of the Iranians to allay Gulf states' concerns about Iran's intentions. End comment. SISON