Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBAI3902
2006-06-25 13:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Dubai
Cable title:  

IRAN AND UAE'S NEW ISLAND DISPUTE

Tags:  PGOV PREL ZP IR AE PARM 
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VZCZCXRO9811
RR RUEHBC RUEHKUK
DE RUEHDE #3902 1761356
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 251356Z JUN 06
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1687
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1579
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0103
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4660
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 003902 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ZP IR AE PARM
SUBJECT: IRAN AND UAE'S NEW ISLAND DISPUTE

REF: ABU DHABI 001903

CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Acting Consul General, Dubai,
UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)


C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBAI 003902

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ZP IR AE PARM
SUBJECT: IRAN AND UAE'S NEW ISLAND DISPUTE

REF: ABU DHABI 001903

CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Acting Consul General, Dubai,
UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



1.(C) Summary: Iran lodged a complaint with the UN that the
ongoing construction of man-made islands off the coast of the
UAE could cause environmental damage to Iran. A Dubai-based
environmental NGO believes rising temperatures and salinity
levels from regional desalinization plants pose a greater risk
to the health of the Gulf than these construction projects.
While his views cannot be counted as a definitive environmental
assessment, it seems clear Iran is using this accusation to try
to chill UAE's frequent comments about the environmental hazards
of an Iranian nuclear energy program. End summary

2.(U) On June 21, Mohammad Jaafar Sadat Mousavi, the head of
Iran's Majles Environment Commission, lodged a formal complaint
to the UN Secretary General regarding UAE construction of
artificial islands in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian government
expressed its concern about the environmental impact on Iran of
the island projects along the UAE coastline. The planned
construction of artificial islands spans the coastline from
Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah, with possible future expansions.

3.(C) In a conversation that predated Iran's accusation, Ibrahim
Al-Zu'bi, the Environment Department Director at Dubai-based NGO
Emirates Diving Association, told PolEconOff that desalinization
plants ringing the Gulf posed a significantly higher
environmental threat to the Gulf than the islands under
construction. The islands have negatively impacted the
ecosystem along the UAE's northern coast, but he did not
indicate this damage would spread beyond UAE's waters. Al-Zu'bi
told PolEconoff two of the biggest and best known island
projects in Dubai, the "Palm Jumeirah" and "The World" have
destroyed fragile corals and choked surrounding waters with
sediment. However, rising temperatures and salinity levels from
desalinization have nearly wiped out these corals.

4.(SBU) Comment: In its letter, Iran warns that the completion
of the island projects could undermine "peaceful coexistence"
between Iran and UAE, while omitting specifics about the feared
environmental damage. Al-Zubi's views do not substitute for a
thorough environmental impact study, and we cannot say
definitively that there is no substance to Iran's claim.
Nonetheless, Iran's raising of the UAE island projects as an
environmental concern may be a not-so-subtle hint to the UAE to
tone down its increasingly frequent statements on Iran's nuclear
program. The UAE, as well as some other GCC states, couch most
of its public statements of concern about Iran's nuclear program
in environmental terms, focusing on fears of nuclear fallout
from an industrial accident, rather than on more politicized
issues like nuclear weapons. (reftel)

5.(U) The text of Mousavi's letter, published June 21 by ISNA,
follows:

Dear Mr. Annan,

You are, no doubt, aware that the United Arab Emirates, our
neighbors on the south side of the Islamic Republic of Iran, are
pursuing the construction of numerous artificial islands, in the
Persian Gulf, covering an area expanding 50 square kilometers.

The purpose of this letter is not to dwell on the financial
aspects of this exercise, but rather to emphasize its serious
and devastating consequences on environmental consideration. The
fact that this project is being considered for implementation
without any reference to neighboring states is not of importance
at this juncture, but if this plan is to be implemented then it
will be a blatant violation of the international convention 1958
and 1982 and enshrined general provisions. Any move towards the
realization of this attempt, i.e. the construction of the
islands, by UAE or any other regional state will not only
jeopardize the environment but undoubtedly undermines the
friendship and peaceful co-existence we all enjoy which we
collectively endeavor to cultivate for the furtherance of the
region. End Text.

BURNS