IRAQI PM MALIKI VISITS ABU DHABI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002781 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM IZ AE SUBJECT: IRAQI PM MALIKI VISITS ABU DHABI REF: A. 05 ABU DHABI 4579 ¶B. ABU DHABI 2633 Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On July 3, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki met President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Vice-President and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR),Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (HbZ),Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MbZ),and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (AbZ). The UAE-Iraqi discussions focused on creating three cooperative groupings addressing security, investment, and military assistance. MbR reportedly assured Maliki that UAEG support will continue until Iraq is secure and stable and able to provide for its citizens. Iraqi officials were also specifically promised cooperation on environmental and energy issues. End Summary. ¶2. (U) PM Maliki was accompanied on his two-day visit by Iraqi Ministers Hussein Al-Sharstani (Oil),Abdul Gadir Mohammed Jasim (Defense),Karim Wahid Hassan (Electricity), Narmin Othman (Environment),Mohammed Alawi (Communications), and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Rafi Al-Isawi. Three Areas of Cooperation -------------- ¶3. (C) International Affairs Director for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, Yousef Al-Otaiba, described to Ambassador the discussions with Maliki as focusing on three "groupings" or areas for cooperation. The first, security, will deal with common security challenges. The second, investment, will focus on UAE-led investment in Iraq's energy and telecom sectors. The third, military assistance, will include a visit to Iraq by representatives of the UAE's military and defense sectors to examine materiel and funding needs there. The UAEG is particularly interested in creating linkages between Baghdad and UAE manufacturers of ballistic vests, ammunition, and the TIGER, an all-terrain vehicle (similar in purpose to the Humvee) manufactured by the Bin Jabr Group of Abu Dhabi. Promises of Assistance -------------- ¶4. (U) President Khalifa told Maliki that "the UAE people, the government, and the leadership stand ready to provide the necessary support to the people of Iraq during their current ordeal." He then called on political and religious forces within Iraq to "rise above their differences for the sake of Iraq." In their meeting with Maliki on July 4, MbR and AbZ discussed recent political and security developments in Iraq. Maliki expressed gratitude for UAE assistance and humanitarian support, and MbR reportedly assured the PM that such support would continue until Iraq restores its stability and is able to provide adequate care for its citizens. Ministerial Meetings -------------- ¶5. (C) Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA),met with Iraqi Minister of Electricity Karim Wahid Hassan on July 4. Sheikh Dhiyab expressed ADWEA's readiness to cooperate fully and provide the needed support for the Iraqi Electricity Ministry. (Note: In 2004 the UAEG pledged to provide two 200-megawatt/day power generators to Iraq. Although there was some delay in deciding who would pay for the transportation and setup of the generators, ADWEA has agreed to cover all costs (ref A). The generators have not been delivered to date. End Note.) ¶6. (C) Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Kindi, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, met with Iraqi Environment Minister Narmin Othman Hassan on July 4. Majid Al-Mansouri, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, told EconOff that his agency will work with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment on several issues including: satellite bird tracking, controlling the trade of endangered species, sustainable transportation, and environmental impact assessments. After the meeting, Al-Mansouri stated that he spoke with HbZ who told him to "do whatever (you) can to help the Iraqis." ¶7. (C) Note: Although HbZ extended an invitation to Maliki on June 16 (ref B),according to Yousef Al-Otaiba, Maliki did not inform the UAEG of his intent to visit until he arrived in Riyadh on July 1. End Note. SISON