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