TFLE01: PRESIDENT KHALIFA MEETS SAAD HARIRI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002893 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG LE AE SUBJECT: TFLE01: PRESIDENT KHALIFA MEETS SAAD HARIRI REF: A. ABU DHABI 2887 (NOTAL) ¶B. ABU DHABI 2886 ¶C. ABU DHABI 2885 Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) UAE President Khalifa received Lebanese leader of the Al Mustaqbal parliamentary caucus Saad Al-Hariri July 14, during a regional visit described by Al-Hariri as "aimed at safeguarding the security of the Lebanese people and ending the Israeli aggression." ¶2. (SBU) Khalifa, according to press reports, expressed UAE support to Lebanon and condemnation of "the Israeli aggression on the sovereignty, security, stability and infrastructure of Lebanon." The official news agency WAM said that Khalifa called on the international community "to redouble efforts" to "immediately and urgently end the current aggression on Lebanon" and that "the President underlined the need to implement the relevant Arab and international resolutions on Lebanon, particularly the Khartoum Summit resolutions in addition to UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1680." ¶3. (C) U/S for Political Affairs Tariq Haidan told Ambassador July 15 that the UAE had made no further promises of aid to Lebanon during Hariri's visit and was "waiting to see" what might be required when the situation stabilized. The UAE already provides aid to Lebanon in the areas of police, law enforcement, medical facilities, demining, and refugees. ¶4. (SBU) Suggesting the importance the UAE's rulers place on solidarity with Lebanon at this juncture, the Khalifa-Hariri meeting was attended by Abu Dhabi were Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan (the Ruler's Representative in Abu Dhabi and the Eastern Region),Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and other senior officials. The official WAM agency also reported on a July 15 meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid at which the UAEG reiterated the essence of President Khalifa's statements regarding solidarity with Lebanon, seeking an end to aggression, and calling for the implementation of relevant UN resolutions. SISON