Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI3364
2006-08-19 14:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF AUGUST 20
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 08/26/2006 04:30:13 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 03364 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: AMB INFO: PAO ECON DCM POL DISSEMINATION: AMB CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:MQUINN DRAFTED: DCM:MQUINN CLEARED: POL:AMAGLEBY ECON:ACURTIS VZCZCADI379 PP RUEHC RUEHAS RUEHAM RUEHGB RUEHLB RUEHEG RUEHDM RUEHDO RUEHKU RUEHLO RUEHMK RUEHMS RUEHNK RUEHFR RUEHRB RUEHYN RUEHTV RUEHTU RUEHDE RUEHJM RUCNDT DE RUEHAD #3364 2311424 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191424Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6655 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0220 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0670 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0188 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0507 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0906 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0796 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 1296 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 1140 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1096 RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 1228 RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 0542 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 0053 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0989 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0363 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA 1418 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0499 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0597 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 6351 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0150 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0086
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003364
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2016
TAGS: KPAO PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF AUGUST 20
ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL IN CAIRO
REF: STATE 136507
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs, a.i. Martin Quinn, reason 1.5 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003364
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2016
TAGS: KPAO PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF AUGUST 20
ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL IN CAIRO
REF: STATE 136507
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs, a.i. Martin Quinn, reason 1.5 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) On August 19, CDA delivered demarche in advance of
August 20 Arab League Ministerial to MFA Assistant Under
Secretary for International Cooperation Mohammad Abdul Rahim
SIPDIS
Abdul Jalil. (UAE Foreign Minister and Under Secretary are
already in Cairo.) Ambassador Abdul Jalil said that the UAE
fully supported UNSC 1701, citing Foreign Minister Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed's leadership role at the Beirut
Ministerial and in New York, but at the same time expressed
strong doubt that the Arab League would adopt a stand in
Cairo recommending immediate or unconditional release of the
two Israeli soldiers. In the aftermath of the large scale
destruction in Lebanon, Abdul Jalil said public sentiment was
running in exactly the opposite direction and would demand a
return of Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the Israelis,
suggesting Arab leaders would be disinclined to resist the
tide.
2. (C) Abdul Jalil agreed completely with the position that
Lebanon reconstruction must be led by the Government of
Lebanon -- rather than by Hizballah passing out wads of "what
everyone knows is Iranian money." He noted that while the
UAE stands behind efforts to prevent sale or supply of arms
to Hizballah, disarming the Islamic guerrilla group would be
extremely problematic and could not happen overnight: "We
just can't say, 'Hand over your arms tomorrow.'" Abdul Jalil
also noted that in order to achieve a long term solution in
Lebanon, Hizballah's "excuses" to incite violence --
prisoners in Israeli jails and Sheba'a Farms -- must be
"removed."
3. (C) In an effort to acquaint the CDA with "what the Arab
street feels" about the post ceasefire situation, Abdul Jalil
mentioned the anti-U.S. drumbeat in the Arabic media and also
a recent poll by Cairo's Ibn Khaldun Center indicating that
the three most popular figures in the Islamic world are now:
Hassan Nasrallah, Khalid Mishal, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
4. (C) According to Abdul Jalil, the best thing the U.S. can
do at present to improve its negative image in the Arab world
(made worse, he said, by the recent conflict) would be to get
out in front in the campaign to rebuild Lebanon and to
provide humanitarian assistance to its displaced, injured and
homeless. CDA noted that the U.S. has made an initial $50 M
pledge, plans to send a high level delegation to the donor
conference in Sweden, and has long been known in Beirut for
the work of the American University. Abdul Jalil
acknowledged the American record, but said the U.S. should
move quickly to build an American hospital, fund the
construction of apartment blocks and contribute to the
de-mining program -- all in the mainly Shi'ite south of
Lebanon: "That's where you need to focus U.S. efforts in
order to counter Hizballah's campaign."
5. (C) On Bashar al-Asad's speech praising Hizballah, Abdul
Jalil (who served in Damascus four years ago) opined that
"other Arab leaders were not happy with his remarks." The
language, he suggested, emanated from the old guard
surrounding the Syrian president, a weak leader compared to
his father.
QUINN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2016
TAGS: KPAO PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF AUGUST 20
ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL IN CAIRO
REF: STATE 136507
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs, a.i. Martin Quinn, reason 1.5 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) On August 19, CDA delivered demarche in advance of
August 20 Arab League Ministerial to MFA Assistant Under
Secretary for International Cooperation Mohammad Abdul Rahim
SIPDIS
Abdul Jalil. (UAE Foreign Minister and Under Secretary are
already in Cairo.) Ambassador Abdul Jalil said that the UAE
fully supported UNSC 1701, citing Foreign Minister Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed's leadership role at the Beirut
Ministerial and in New York, but at the same time expressed
strong doubt that the Arab League would adopt a stand in
Cairo recommending immediate or unconditional release of the
two Israeli soldiers. In the aftermath of the large scale
destruction in Lebanon, Abdul Jalil said public sentiment was
running in exactly the opposite direction and would demand a
return of Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the Israelis,
suggesting Arab leaders would be disinclined to resist the
tide.
2. (C) Abdul Jalil agreed completely with the position that
Lebanon reconstruction must be led by the Government of
Lebanon -- rather than by Hizballah passing out wads of "what
everyone knows is Iranian money." He noted that while the
UAE stands behind efforts to prevent sale or supply of arms
to Hizballah, disarming the Islamic guerrilla group would be
extremely problematic and could not happen overnight: "We
just can't say, 'Hand over your arms tomorrow.'" Abdul Jalil
also noted that in order to achieve a long term solution in
Lebanon, Hizballah's "excuses" to incite violence --
prisoners in Israeli jails and Sheba'a Farms -- must be
"removed."
3. (C) In an effort to acquaint the CDA with "what the Arab
street feels" about the post ceasefire situation, Abdul Jalil
mentioned the anti-U.S. drumbeat in the Arabic media and also
a recent poll by Cairo's Ibn Khaldun Center indicating that
the three most popular figures in the Islamic world are now:
Hassan Nasrallah, Khalid Mishal, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
4. (C) According to Abdul Jalil, the best thing the U.S. can
do at present to improve its negative image in the Arab world
(made worse, he said, by the recent conflict) would be to get
out in front in the campaign to rebuild Lebanon and to
provide humanitarian assistance to its displaced, injured and
homeless. CDA noted that the U.S. has made an initial $50 M
pledge, plans to send a high level delegation to the donor
conference in Sweden, and has long been known in Beirut for
the work of the American University. Abdul Jalil
acknowledged the American record, but said the U.S. should
move quickly to build an American hospital, fund the
construction of apartment blocks and contribute to the
de-mining program -- all in the mainly Shi'ite south of
Lebanon: "That's where you need to focus U.S. efforts in
order to counter Hizballah's campaign."
5. (C) On Bashar al-Asad's speech praising Hizballah, Abdul
Jalil (who served in Damascus four years ago) opined that
"other Arab leaders were not happy with his remarks." The
language, he suggested, emanated from the old guard
surrounding the Syrian president, a weak leader compared to
his father.
QUINN