UAE CONDEMNATION OF THE AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE BOMBING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000713 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR S/I, NEA/I AND NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KISL IZ AE SUBJECT: UAE CONDEMNATION OF THE AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE BOMBING REF: STATE 28802 Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan issued a statement February 22 condemning the bomb attack in Samarra earlier in the day. The widely published condemnation stated: "The UAE condemns in the strongest possible terms this terrorist act which mainly aims at sowing the seeds of division and sedition among the brotherly Iraqi people. The UAE appeals to all to deny the terrorists, who do not respect sanctity, the opportunity to carry out their schemes which seek to destroy Iraq and divide its people." ¶2. (C) UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed al-Nahyan also discussed the attack with the Secretary during their bilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi SIPDIS February 23. SISON