INTERNATIONAL COMPACT FOR IRAQ - UAE UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 004007 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016 TAGS: EIAD ECON EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV IZ AE SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMPACT FOR IRAQ - UAE UPDATE REF: A. ABU DHABI 3942 ¶B. STATE 165112 ¶C. ABU DHABI 3337 ¶D. BAGHDAD 3758 Classified By: CDA Martin Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b & d). ¶1. (C) On October 16, EconChief and UK Embassy Political Officer Alison Hall met with MinFin A/US for Revenue and Budget Khalid Al-Bustani to provide an update on recent actions with regard to the international compact for Iraq and to encourage the UAE to continue its support to Iraq in its efforts on the Iraq Compact. Iraqi Embassy DCM Mustafa Aboud refused to participate, explaining that he had received no instructions from the MFA since the September 10 Iraq Compact preparatory group meeting in Abu Dhabi. ¶2. (C) Al-Bustani, who had participated in the September 10 meeting, said that the MFA had the lead on all Iraqi assistance issues. He explained that MinState Finance Khirbash had given his remarks at the preparatory group meeting at the MFA's behest, and that MinFin was not participating currently in the Iraq Compact process. In response to Econchief's statement that MinFin would have the expertise to participate in shaping the compact, Al-Bustani said that the MFA would involve MinFin if it believed it was appropriate. Econchief and Hall later attempted to call MFA A/US for International Cooperation Mohammed Abduljalil (who also attended the compact) and reached his office director Abdul Khaliq bin Dhaher. Econchief encouraged bin Dhaher to have the UAE play an active role in the Iraq Compact process, including by participating in the drafting process, considering assistance, and participating in the adoption event. Econchief drew bin Dhaher's attention to the upcoming October 19 drafting meeting in Baghdad and encouraged the UAE to participate, either by sending a representative or through a video/telephonic link. Bin Dhaher explained that he was very sure that A/US Abduljalil was not receiving information on the compact and was not aware of either the October 9th or 19th drafting exercises. Bin Dhaher contacted econchief on October 17 to say that he had been unable to find out any more information about the Iraq Compact. ¶3. (C) On October 17 CDA spoke to MFA Acting U/S Tareq Al-Haidan to push for active UAE participation in the compact. Al-Haidan stressed the UAE's demonstrated support for the compact and record of support for Iraq in general. He opined that holding a meeting in Baghdad on October 19 would be a bad idea given the security situation and strongly advised that Iraq Compact meetings be held in locations outside of Iraq. (&I tell you frankly that no one will go to Iraq for a meeting.8) Al-Haidan said that the UAE would participate via video conference, but observed that no one would say anything substantive using such a medium )- due to sensitivity. He said that the UAE was aware of the high level meeting in November and planned to participate as long as it was not held in Iraq. ¶4. (C) Comment: It is very clear that the Iraqi mission to the UAE has not been kept in the loop on the Iraq Compact. Aboud complained that the Iraqi MFA had not issued him any instructions on the Iraq Compact since the September preparatory group meeting and that he did not know what his government's position was on the subject. It is not clear to us exactly what mechanism the GoI (or the UN) is using to communicate with the UAE. End Comment. QUINN