Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI2655
2006-06-27 08:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

FNC ELECTIONS: "POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, NOT

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM AE 
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VZCZCXRO1369
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #2655/01 1780824
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 270824Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5885
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 6268
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002655 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM AE
SUBJECT: FNC ELECTIONS: "POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, NOT
DEMOCRACY"

REF: A. ABU DHABI 0016

B. DUBAI 1074

C. ABU DHABI 2437

D. 05 DUBAI 5906

E. 05 ABU DHABI 4919

ABU DHABI 00002655 001.2 OF 002


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002655

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM AE
SUBJECT: FNC ELECTIONS: "POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, NOT
DEMOCRACY"

REF: A. ABU DHABI 0016

B. DUBAI 1074

C. ABU DHABI 2437

D. 05 DUBAI 5906

E. 05 ABU DHABI 4919

ABU DHABI 00002655 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary: On June 24, Ambassador called on Dr. Anwar
Gargash, Minister of Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs,
to discuss the FNC. Gargash described the upcoming indirect
elections as "political participation, not democracy." (The
FNC is at present an appointed consultative body rather than
a legislature; by year end the FNC will be half-appointed and
half-indirectly elected--refs A and B). He stated that the
UAEG is cautious because it wants to make sure that the these
first steps are successful, but also because the UAEG wants
to ensure that they do not provide an entre for
"destabilizing influences." In order to maintain the
appearance of independence, the UAEG is not interested in any
foreign governmental training or assistance, but will
consider assistance from "more neutral" bodies. The indirect
elections will be run by a National Election Committee, yet
to be named. He admitted that the UAE's political
development continued to lag behind others in the region, but
noted that this first step would lead to direct FNC elections
in as little as perhaps four years. End Summary.

--------------
Cautious First Steps Driven by
Security and "Stability" Concerns
--------------

2. (C) Gargash, a GWU and Cambridge University-educated
professor of Political Science, spoke frankly about the
announced FNC indirect elections, being careful to describe
the elections as "political participation" and not
"democracy." He was not apologetic for this distinction,
noting that the UAE is a country devoid of an electoral or
political culture, and that "successful elections are not
simply a matter of creating institutions and making an
announcement." He argued that educating citizens in the
process and purpose were equally important. Gargash stated
that "although we may be overdoing the planning, this is
intentional; we want to ensure that (these initial first
steps) are done well."


3. (C) Commenting on the reason for the announcement of
indirect FNC elections, Gargash stated that the UAE "is very
far ahead of the GCC in every area except in the political
arena." He continued: "We have a self-image of having, and
playing, a leadership role in the region, and our current
political system does not reflect that status." He expressed
a desire among many senior leaders to have a political system

that reflects the open economic system that the UAE has
already developed. He described political reform as the last
step in "completing the circle" of political institutions and
economic development and liberalization.


4. (C) Gargash repeatedly emphasized that "stability is what
built this country," and is, and will remain, a top priority
for the UAEG. Gargash stated that UAEG leaders "recognize
that the world is changing," and that they "want to make sure
that we are taking a lead, and not simply reacting to the
events around us." Referring specifically to extremist
concerns, he said, "We are aware of the Islamic
fundamentalism sweeping through the region, and are careful
to limit its influence here." Gargash stated that the
announced elections are "not the result of a failed state;
they are not even an immediate issue," and that unlike other
democratizing states, because the "UAE is not cornered, we
have the leisure to develop a plan well, a plan for current
and future stability."


5. (C) Noting the success of the MEPI-sponsored International
Republican Institute (IRI) "Women's Campaign School" training
held in Dubai in May, Ambassador stated that the USG would
like to play a useful role, and suggested several different
programs in addition to MEPI that might support civic and
political participation, including Fulbright specialists and
the International Visitor program (Gargash and ForMin
Abdullah bin Zayed had personally approved the first-ever IRI
activity before it was launched). Gargash responded that the
UAEG "is not involving any international groups or foreign
delegations at this time." He noted that this decision "is
for a purpose; we are in a region sensitive to foreign
influence and want to appear that we are independent of
foreign interference." He added that he appreciated the
offer of assistance, stating that for now the greatest help
would be to simply encourage the UAEG in its plan. (Note: He
later added that programs from non-governmental, non-partisan
groups might be acceptable. Embassy will pursue. End Note.)

ABU DHABI 00002655 002.2 OF 002



--------------
Election Mechanics Laid Out )
Form as Important as Content
--------------

6. (C) Gargash stated that the Ministry of FNC Affairs has
concentrated all its efforts to date on Stage I of the plan
laid out in reftel B (Stage I establishes a framework, Stage
II is the empowerment of the FNC, Stage III is direct
elections of one-half of the FNC, and Stage IV is the direct
elections of the entire, empowered, FNC.) Specifically his
ministry has focused on establishing an "electoral college"
consisting of representatives from all seven emirates and
determining how the indirect elections will be carried out.
He explained that all election activity will be instituted by
a National Elections Committee, yet to be created. This
committee will have the power and legal authority to make and
enforce any necessary bylaws. Gargash stated that his
ministry is coordinating all the FNC election-related work
prior to turning it over to the committee instead of the
Ministry of Interior because "we don't want the appearance"
that the elections are in any way associated with the police.


7. (C) The National Committee will have seven functional
supervisory committees (one for each emirate). The
Committee's first responsibility will be to establish bylaws
to guide the actions of the functional committees as well as
the candidates. "We are trying to establish a civic
culture," he stated, "including campaigns, which means we
will also need campaign regulations, such as capping spending
on advertising." Gargash expressed confidence that "We can
have good regulations that will ensure fairness, without
having a sanitizing effect on the candidates."


8. (C) Balloting will be kept simple, in order to provide
transparency and success. Mobile committees will be formed,
consisting of 30-40 individuals who will travel to each
emirate to run the balloting. These mobile election
committees will check names, explain voting procedures, and
ensure that the election process is consistent in every
emirate. Gargash emphasized "while content is important, so
is form." Voting will be by secret ballot. Although no
seats on the FNC will be specifically reserved for women, as
previously reported, Gargash stated that the other half of
the FNC will be appointed after the elections, and that it is
likely that local rulers will use the appointments to balance
the election results (i.e., appointing women if none are
elected). He noted that his ministry had already received
the list of 1000-plus proposed electors from Dubai Emirate,
and that it contains the names of over 200 women. He stated
that the guarantee of women's participation and the
empowerment of women has never needed to be explicit, because
in the UAE, as opposed to other countries in the region, full
participation of women, both economically and politically, is
implied and understood.


9. (C) In regard to the timing of the elections, Gargash said
to watch for the naming of the National Committee, calling it
"a trigger." "Once the Committee is named and the President
and Supreme Council have empowered it, everything else will
follow quickly," he said, "but until then, nothing else can
happen." "At this point," he added, "we are waiting for the
Supreme Council to make an announcement, and then we will
follow." He added that once the process begins, things
should progress quickly, leading to direct elections (Stage
IV) in perhaps four years. (Note: On June 26, the UAE Cabinet
approved the organizational structures for the FNC General
Secretariat. End note.)

SIPDIS


10. (C) Comment: During a June 24 meeting with Higher
Education Minister Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Ambassador had
also inquired about the upcoming FNC elections. Sheikh
Nahyan was quick to correct, "elections, or selections?" For
his part, Gargash noted that there are groups that think that
the UAEG is not moving fast enough (possibly referring to
reformers such as Sheikh Nahyan) as well as those that think
that even these tentative steps are too aggressive (likely
referring to the ruler of Sharjah). Although these first
steps appear almost painfully slow and cautious, they
indicate a recognition within the UAEG of the need to build
an "electoral culture" within both the government and the
broader population. The FNC issues have sparked, for the
UAE, a lively public debate. For example, in a June 25
Agence France Presse story filed from Dubai, Mohammed
Al-Rokn, an Islamist member of the UAE Jurists Association,
was quoted as saying "The Muslim Brotherhood could currently
win seats if direct elections were held today. I think that
this is the main reason the government has opted for
controlled elections." End Comment.
SISON

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