FM FEEDBACK ON GCC MEETING; UAE REACTION TO GULF

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 002422 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR PM/RSAT, NEA/IR AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS IR AE SUBJECT: FM FEEDBACK ON GCC MEETING; UAE REACTION TO GULF SECURITY DIALOGUE REF: A. ABU DHABI 2358 ¶B. STATE 94092 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (S) SUMMARY. Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ) told Ambassador on June 11 that the previous day's GCC Foreign Ministers meeting in Riyadh had been a "brainstorming" session on Iran rather than a decision-making session. He complained again that he was "very disappointed" with EU Foreign Policy Chief Solana and the European input into the recent incentives/disincentives package for Iran. The Gulf Security Dialog should launch bilaterally at first, US-UAE, AbZ stated; if the entire GCC were called together "nothing would happen." Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Office has proposed that the GSD first round take place in July; UAEG participants and venue TBD. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S) AbZ downplayed the one-hour GCC Foreign Ministers meeting in Riyadh, saying that no decisions had been taken, although "some voices" had pushed for greater GCC engagement with the Iranians. Although AbZ declined to comment on which voices those were, he argued that "we have to live in this neighborhood, not the U.S. or the Europeans. It is very difficult for us." Echoing his June 8 comments (ref A),AbZ said that he was "very disappointed" with the Europeans for their "having insisted" on a "security element" as part of the Iranian incentive package. There should have been much more engagement by the Europeans with regard to the Iran incentives/disincentives package, he said. He welcomed the U.S. proposal for a first round of Assistant Secretary-level Gulf Security Dialog talks, and suggested that the process kept US-UAE for the time being. ¶3. (S) Ambassador also met with Yousef al Otaiba, International Affairs Director for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ),on June 10 to present the Gulf Security Dialog nonpaper (ref B) and seek UAE input on timing for GSD follow-on discussions. Al Otaiba, who had met the Henry-Hillen delegation on May 17 with MbZ, welcomed the paper. He noted that the Crown Prince was very interested in keeping up the momentum of US-UAE consultation on Gulf security matters. Al Otaiba read the text carefully, and agreed that the first round of bilateral GSD discussions would ideally take place soon; he proposed July and offered suggestions on counterpart UAEG participants. Al Otaiba also emphasized that keeping the delegations small (3-4 participants) might offer the best option for addressing the proposed agenda items. He noted that he would likely be among the participants. ¶4. (S) Al Otaiba agreed to provide MbZ's feedback on any additional agenda items and confirmation of timing and location shortly. Al Otaiba cautioned that the Crown Prince would likely wish to keep the talks bilateral in nature. MbZ (and Otaiba) departed June 11 for twelve days abroad (including stops in Korea and Thailand). SISON