FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE ON NAM STATEMENT ON IRAN: "THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002277

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2016
TAGS: KNNP PREL AORC AE
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE ON NAM STATEMENT ON IRAN: "THE
MOST SCARED PEOPLE IN THE REGION"

REF: SECSTATE 89324

Classified By: DCM Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On June 3 DCM delivered demarche points on the NAM
Statement on Iran to MFA America desk director Ambassador Ali
Al Zarouni -- along with a copy of the NAM statement.
MinState Foreign Affairs Mohammed Hussain Al Sha'ali led the
UAE delegation to the May 27-30 NAM meeting in Kuala Lumpur.


2. (C) Al Zarouni's first comment on the demarche was that
since Iran was an NAM member, a favorable statement out of
the meeting had to be expected. He indicated that the UAE
had not played a major role in crafting the statement, but
quickly digressed into general commentary on the Iran nuclear
program. He remarked as citizens of the UAE, "We are the
most scared people in the region." He said the UAEG is very
worried about faulty Iranian nuclear technology, and the
possibility of radiation leaks, the Iranians, as he said,
having picked up their nuclear know-how from North Koreans,
Chinese and Russians. Al Zarouni said the UAE also greatly
fears spillover from any military action in the region.


3. (C) Al Zarouni said that the UAE certainly does not want
to see Iran become any stronger. It is necessary to maintain
"the balance of power in the Gulf." He confided his personal
theory that what Iran most wants at this stage is assurance
that it will not be attacked -- by the United States or by,
what it fears may be more likely, by Israel.
SISON