UAE MINECON UPSET OVER NEGATIVE PORTRAYLS OF UAE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002510 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/IFD,OIA STATE PASS TO USTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2016 TAGS: EWWT ETRD EINV PREL OVIP AE SUBJECT: UAE MINECON UPSET OVER NEGATIVE PORTRAYLS OF UAE AS A RESULT OF DUBAI PORTS WORLD Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 b and d. ¶1. (C) In a June 17 meeting with Ambassador, UAE Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna al-Qasimi expressed great frustration with the website www.portsforus.org that claims Dubai Ports World and the "Emir" of Dubai continue to execute control over U.S. ports from which it had agreed to divest itself. The website includes a "clock" that gives the number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds that the "Emir of Dubai has owned operations in 22 U.S. ports" and further states that there is nothing that requires the "Emir" to sell the ports unless Congress takes action. The website also included a picture of Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid (MbR),along with the caption, "You're being duped, America. Say hello to the owner and operation of our ports, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum." Al-Qasimi stated, "It is an insult to the UAE to have Sheikh Mohammed's photo on the website." Al-Qasimi was also upset over an apparent advertisement in the June 14 edition of the Congressional weekly, Roll Call, which showed MbR's photo and contained some of the same information found on the website. ¶2. (C) Note: Al-Qasimi will be in Washington for meetings at USTR and elsewhere June 19 - 23, and she is likely to express her concern and frustration about what she regards as inaccurate and unfair media coverage of the United Arab Emirates. End note. SISON