MFA REQUESTS USG PRE-CLEAR ALL INTERACTION WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003816

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, ISN/FO ROOD AND MCNERNY, ISN/CPI FOLEY
DOC FOR DAS WYSONG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON AE
SUBJECT: MFA REQUESTS USG PRE-CLEAR ALL INTERACTION WITH
UAE COMPANIES

Classified By: MICHELE J.SISON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b&d)

1.(SBU) On September 20, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
sent Embassy Abu Dhabi a diplomatic note requesting all USG
contact with companies in the UAE be coordinated through and
approved by the Ministry of Economy. The dipnote states
private companies complained about requests for information
from Embassy Commercial Officers -- a likely reference to
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
(DOC/BIS) pre-license checks and post-shipment verifications.


2.(C) This diplomatic note follows a September 12 meeting at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between MinEcon U/S Al-Saleh,
MFA Director of European, American, and Oceanic Affairs
Al-Zarouni and DCM, EconChief, and Econoff. At that meeting,
Al-Saleh asked that post work through the UAEG to set up
meetings with private companies, especially if discussing
"sensitive issues" as opposed to standard trade promotion.
In response to DCM and EconChief's contention that these
contacts were a normal part of the job and working through
the ministries would be unnecessarily onerous for both sides,
both Al-Zarouni and Al-Saleh said that they were instructed
to have this meeting by "higher-ups." At the meeting,
Al-Saleh mentioned an alleged agreement on textiles with the
Embassy, whereby the Embassy had agreed to work through the
Ministry of Economy before approaching textiles firms as a
possible model. His and Zarouni's subsequent comments made
clear that textiles were not the major issue.

3.(C) On September 22, Ambassador spoke with DOC/BIS Deputy
Assistant Secretary Wendy Wysong about USG response to the
dipnote. Ambassador plans to again explain to senior UAEG
officials -- including Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin
Zayed Al Nahyan -- the role of DOC/BIS in country. At this
time, post does not/not plan to coordinate interactions with
UAE businesses through the Ministry of Economy.

4.(SBU) The following is the translated dipnote text:

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments
to the Embassy of the United States of America.

(Begin informal translation.)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to draw to the
Embassy's attention that it has received some complaints from
private companies through the Ministry of Economy for
receiving queries directly from some commercial officers in
the Embassy.

The Ministry requests the Embassy not contact companies in
the UAE directly for any information, and any contact must be
through the Ministry of Economy and upon its approval.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy the assurances of its
highest consideration.
(End informal translation.)
SISON