P5+1 IRAN INCENTIVE PACKAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003056

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP AORC IR EU AE
SUBJECT: P5+1 IRAN INCENTIVE PACKAGE

REF: STATE 119436

Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (B)
and (D).


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador emphasized reftel points on Iran
with MFA's number two on July 26. An inquiry about the
Minister's Iran travel plans led to a discussion of consular
and legal issues between the UAE and Iran which would be
addressed by an MFA team the following week. End summary.


2. (C) Ambassador met with MFA number two Ambassador Abdul
Rahman Al-Jarman on July 26 to brief on the P5 1 package of
incentives for Iran. Noting that Foreign Minister Abdullah
bin Zayed (AbZ, currently out of the country) had previously
requested details of the incentives associated with
"Promotion of Regional Security," Ambassador emphasized that
Iran's refusal to suspend its enrichment-related activities
and engage seriously leaves no choice but to pursue a UNSC
resolution. Al-Jarman said he would bring the list to the
attention of the Minister.


3. (C) Ambassador also inquired about AbZ's plans to travel
to Iran. Al-Jarman noted changes in the Foreign Minister's
plans (postponed from July 29 to "early August" and now to
"sometime in September"),and said that he (Al-Jarman) would
visit Iran next week as part of a "Consular Commission." The
second in a series of meetings (the first having been held in
the UAE),this commission would look at legal issues "like
extradition," legal assistance in criminal matters, etc. He
said the UAE had no extradition treaty with Iran but was
discussing the framework of a potential future agreement. He
noted that visas were another topic on the agenda.


4. (C) Al-Jarman would not venture a guess as to the number
of Iranian residents in the UAE (estimates range between 300
and 400 thousand),but cited problems with illegal border
crossings and boats entering UAE waters without permission --
many "fishing on the continental shelf" near UAE shores. He
acknowledged that a number of UAE fishermen were also picked
up by Iran from time to time and that the Consular Commission
offered a focal point for discussion on these issues.


5. (C) Stating that the commission would not discuss the
three UAE islands under Iranian occupation -- that was a
"political issue" outside the purview of consular talks --
Al-Jarman did note that Abu Musa was the only island of the
three with a significant UAE population. Movement around the
island, and chances of returning after leaving it, were "not
easy" and required Iran's permission.


6. (C) As for residents of the UAE visiting Kish Island in
Iran, Al-Jarman cited the convenience of the 30-minute flight
for those who needed to renew their UAE visas and return
directly. He said there were 25 daily flights to Kish Island
from the various Emirates, totaling 1,000 monthly flights --
which tended to be "quite full." He said UAE families and
businessmen also used these flights to visit Iran, but that
the UAE did not have many residents there.
SISON