APHSCT TOWNSEND DISCUSSES IRAN, REGIONAL CT ISSUES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 002695

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, S/CT, INR/NESA
NSC FOR FRAN TOWNSEND, MMALVESTI, MTAYLOR, NSHAMPAINE
COMMERCE FOR U/S DMCCORMICK, WWYSONG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PTER PINS EPET ETTC SY IR IQ AE
SUBJECT: APHSCT TOWNSEND DISCUSSES IRAN, REGIONAL CT ISSUES
WITH UAE STATE SECURITY DIRECTOR

REF: A. ABU DHABI 2358

B. ABU DHABI 2422

C. ABU DHABI 2633

D. ABU DHABI 2245

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (S/NF) Summary. On June 19, Assistant to the President
for Homeland Security and Counter Terrorism (APHSCT) Frances
Fragos Townsend met with the Director of the UAE's State
Security Department (SSD) Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed al-Nahyan to
discuss the growing Iranian threat in the region and ongoing
U.S./UAE counterterrorism cooperation. Hazza reported that
Iranian intelligence units are actively gathering information
in the UAE. Describing the relationship between UAE and
Syrian intelligence services as "not fully successful yet,"
Hazza said the Syrians do not cooperate at all on issues
relating to Iran. Hazza expressed concern over any security
incentives that the P-5 plus 1 may have offered Iran. The
UAE continues to work with Iyad Allawi in Iraq to encourage
greater Sunni and moderate Shi'a participation. Hazza
stressed securing the country should be the new Iraqi
government's top priority. During a discussion about the
Palestinian Territories, Hazza stated that with additional
financial support, Fatah might effectively be a counter to
Hamas. Recognizing that communication between Pakistan and
Afghanistan is essential to Afghanistan's stability, the UAE
continues to mediate between the two countries. Townsend and
Hazza discussed the problem of Yemeni tribal relationships
influencing the government's willingness to cooperate with
international efforts to counter extremism. The UAE is in
the process of forming its newly-announced National Security
Council End summary.


2. (S/NF) Hazza was accompanied by SSD Director of External
Relations Colonel Hamad al-Shamsi, SSD Director for
Counterterrorism Major Saif Majed al-Mehairi, and SSD Chief,
European and American External Relations Department, Major
Sultan Saeed Mohammed Saleh al-Shamisi. APHSCT Townsend was
accompanied by Ambassador, NSC Senior Director for Combating
Terrorism Dr. Michelle Malvesti, Aide to APHSCT Michael
Taylor, PolMil Chief, and Econoff (notetaker).

Iran - A Continuing Concern
--------------


3. (S/NF) APHSCT Townsend began the meeting by thanking Hazza
for the UAE's cooperation with the U.S. on counter-
terrorism, counter-proliferation, and Iran. Agreeing that
cooperation with "friends" is essential, Hazza told Townsend
that the U.S. and the UAE have the same objective of
countering both terrorism and the growing Iranian threat, and
he noted that the UAE's cooperation with the U.S. has no
limits. "We will work with you until we feel we are in a
risky position (on matters relating to Iran)."


4. (S/NF) Hazza reported that he is growing more concerned
about Iranian activity in the UAE. The Iranians have
recently stepped up their intelligence collection efforts in
the UAE, with a particular emphasis on UAE and U.S. military
sites, he said. Additionally, Hazza stated that the Iranian
intelligence service tries to "use" Iranian citizens and
Shi'a living in UAE. Hazza noted that the SSD is in the
process of forming a special unit to counter Iranian and
Shi'a influence in the country.


5. (S/NF) Hazza told Townsend that the SSD had no formal
relationship with Iranian intelligence units, but that the
SSD established a relationship with Syrian intelligence 5-6
years ago. Hazza said that cooperation with the Syrians is
"hit or miss" and that they are "not cooperative at all" on
issues relating to Iran. Although the SSD is trying to
improve the relationship between the two services, Hazza
stated that he is aware Iranian intelligence is working
through Syrian intelligence to gather information in the UAE
and the region.


6. (S/NF) Turning to a discussion about potential dialogue
with Iran, Hazza probed for more detail on the P-5 plus 1

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package. In particular he wanted more information on any
security incentives for Iran that might have been included.
APHSCT Townsend responded that the USG agreed to not share
details until Iran has a chance to review the package, but
she did note that President Bush had approved the proposal.
(Note: Hazza's brother, ForMin Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan,
had also asked Ambassador for the same information, refs
A-B). Townsend told Hazza that the decision to dialogue
rests with Iran. She asked for the UAE's assistance in
measuring Iranian commitment to any future dialogue.

Securing Iraq - Continued UAE Role
--------------


7. (S) SSD Director of External Relations Colonel Hamad
al-Shamsi briefed APHSCT Townsend on Iyad Allawi and U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad's June 15 meeting with Deputy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed (HbZ) (which
Ambassador Sison and al-Shamsi had also attended, ref C).
Al-Shamsi said that Allawi is forming a "national unity
front" that will be "more effective than before." Among
other things, Allawi wants to reach out to moderate Shi'a,
and the UAE is encouraging and facilitating this effort. A
month ago, al-Shamsi reported, anti-Iranian senior Shia'a
tribal leaders from southern Iraq visited the UAE to discuss
ways to get out from under Iranian influence, and al-Shamsi
said that the UAE and other regional players in the &Group
of Six8 were helping them to coordinate with other moderates
like Allawi.


8. (C) Noting that Iraq is "in the middle of a thunderstorm,"
Hazza said that the death of Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi was a very
positive development. However, the most important job of the
new Iraqi government remains the issue of securing the
country, he said. The new Ministry of Interior has an
important role to play, but the government must carefully
monitor it to ensure that it is not corrupt. Additionally,
al-Shamsi said that the government must find a way to
eliminate the "militias" that are continuing the insurgency.
Al-Shamsi said that once the government secures the country,
only then will it be able to work to attract foreign direct
investment. He indicated, however, that the UAE is favorably
considering the idea of hosting a regional conference to
encourage economic development in Iraq (particularly in the
oil and gas sector),which was discussed during Khalilzad's
meeting with HbZ.

Supporting Fatah to Counter Hamas
--------------


9. (S) Townsend began a discussion of the Palestinian
territories and Hamas by telling Hazza that the USG
understands and supports the UAEG's desire to provide aid to
Mahmud Dahlan. Hazza told Townsend that the UAE agrees with
the U.S. policy of not supporting the Hamas-led Palestinian
government. He reiterated his belief that if Hamas
successfully governs, it could encourage other extremist
organizations. "As Muslims and Arabs, we worry that their
efforts will destroy us...I believe that the only people who
can be successful in the West Bank and Gaza are the PLO and
Fatah." Al-Shamsi elaborated and said that the UAE believes
it is important to support Fatah and the PLO's efforts and to
try to erode support for Hamas. Hazza said that the UAE has
encouraged Fatah to remove corrupt officials, and al-Shamsi
said that Fatah is trying to reform itself by bringing
competent technocrats into the organization to do such things
as control NGO activity in the West Bank and Gaza. Al-Shamsi
noted, however, that Fatah needs more financing to support
its efforts. "If Fatah had the same funds as Hamas, then
they could more effectively challenge Hamas," he said. In
particular, he said that if Fatah's security forces had more
financial support, they could more effectively counter Hamas.
If Hamas feels enough international pressure, it might
accept the PLO position regarding Israel, al-Shamsi said.

Mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan
--------------


10. (S) Hazza told Townsend that UAE ForMin Sheikh Abdullah

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bin Zayed al-Nahyan intends to host Afghanistan and Pakistan
in a security meeting to try to resolve outstanding issues
between the two countries. Hazza said that successful
mediation is essential because Pakistan will play an
important role in ensuring Afghanistan has the "good future
it deserves." Hazza also added that building trust between
the two countries security services will be a critical part
of the process, noting that the chiefs of the two services
would meet shortly in Abu Dhabi.

Regional Stability - Problems in Yemen
--------------


11. (S) In a discussion about ensuring terrorists do not use
the UAE as a base and/or transit point, Hazza assured APHSCT
Townsend that the UAE had implemented security procedures
that make it difficult for individuals to smuggle explosives
or dangerous items into or through the country. Noting that
Yemeni cooperation with the USG has deteriorated in the past
year, Townsend voiced concern about the risk of explosives
coming into the UAE and other neighboring countries from
Yemen. Hazza agreed that the situation in Yemen is
difficult, particularly given the fact that the Yemeni
Government does not exercise control over all of the various
tribes. The UAE's approach is to dialogue with Yemen and
encourage them to take action against extremist tribal
elements, he said. Townsend noted that one of the most
problematic figures, Abdelmajid Zindani, exploits Yemeni
President Saleh's inability to exercise control as a tool
against the U.S. and the international community. Agreeing,
Hazza noted that the problem is twofold. First, Zindani is
the holy leader of a tribe with close ties to President
Saleh. Second, the Muslim Brotherhood has "penetrated" the
Yemeni Government, and is pressuring it to not take action
against Zindani and other extremists.

UAE's National Security Council
--------------


12. (C) APHSCT Townsend congratulated Hazza on the recent
formation of the UAE's National Security Council (ref D).
Hazza said that he believes the committee will be an
important mechanism to enhancing the UAE's own security.
Hazza reported that the council members are in the process of
appointing the individuals who will serve on the secretariat
to run the day-to-day operations of the council and that a
National Security Advisor would soon be named.
SISON