Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI4211
2006-11-06 12:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UPCOMING ARAB LEAGUE CENTRAL BOYCOTT OFFICE

Tags:  PREL ECON KBCT AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0451
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAD #4211 3101229
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061229Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7593
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO PRIORITY 0007
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0513
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0168
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004211 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON KBCT AE
SUBJECT: UPCOMING ARAB LEAGUE CENTRAL BOYCOTT OFFICE
MEETING - UAE RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 180280

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004211

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON KBCT AE
SUBJECT: UPCOMING ARAB LEAGUE CENTRAL BOYCOTT OFFICE
MEETING - UAE RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 180280


1. (SBU) On November 5, Econchief and Polchief raised the
November Arab League Boycott meeting in Damascus with MFA
A/US for International Cooperation Mohamed Abduljalil and
urged the UAEG to neither attend nor support the meeting.
Abduljalil reiterated the UAE's position that it did not
implement the secondary and tertiary aspects of the boycott.
On the primary boycott, he noted the centrality of the Arab
League and said the UAE would work with the Arab League on
the issue. He was not aware whether the UAE would be sending
a representative or not.


2. (SBU) In response to Econchief's point that we viewed the
Arab League boycott as both an obstacle to Middle East peace
and a barrier to participation in the global economy,
Abduljalil said that -- "speaking personally" -- Arabs did
not see that there was an ongoing peace process. He
commented that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the U.S.
policy toward it, caused many problems for Americans and for
friendly Arab governments. He urged that the U.S. be more
"realistic" in its policies.


3. (SBU) Econchief had originally contacted MinEcon U/S
Abdullah Al-Saleh on November 2 to urge the Ministry of
Economy not to send a representative to the meeting.
Al-Saleh replied that participation was "a political
decision" and referred Econchief to the MFA. On November 6,
Al-Saleh called econchief to say that the Ministry of Economy
has not yet received any invitation to the boycott meeting.


4. (SBU) Comment: The UAE has frequently stated its
commitment not to implement the secondary and tertiary
applications of the boycott and has worked with the USG
toward that goal. It is not yet prepared to lift the primary
boycott, although the Minister of Economy has said that the
UAE realizes this would need to be addressed in the context
of an FTA with the U.S. End Comment.
SISON