ADIA OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE OUTREACH TO

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 001734 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, A/S GARDNER, A/S OBRIEN, DAS GLASER, DAS MENDELSOHN, OFAC DIR SZUBIN, JJERMANO, PCONLON, BGRANT, KHECHT, MMILLERWISE NSC FOR ZARATE STATE FOR NEA/IR, NEA/ARP STATE FOR S/CT, EB/ESC/TFS, INL/C/CP CIA FOR OTI NSA FOR FTM E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017 TAGS: ECON AE IR PREL PTER KTFN SUBJECT: ADIA OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE OUTREACH TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON IRAN REF: A. 06 ABU DHABI 4473 ¶B. 07 ABU DHABI 1389 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (S//NF) Summary. On 18 October 2007, Treasury Attache Matthew Epstein and Econ Chief Oliver John met with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) officials Mohammed bin Rouda Al Ameri and Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi. Epstein and John passed an updated list of banks believed to maintain financial relations with Iran and asked ADIA to use its influence with the institutions to dissuade dealings with Iran. Al Ameri and Al Suwaidi agreed to reach out to institutions with which they have existing financial ties and encourage them to support financial isolation of Iran. The updated list was requested by UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an August 2007 meeting with Treasury Under Secretary Stuart Levey (Ref B). End Summary. ¶2. (S//NF) On 18 October 2007, Treasury Attache Matthew Epstein and Econ Chief Oliver John met with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority officials Mohammed bin Rouda Al Ameri and Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi. Al Ameri is the Office Director for ADIA Managing Director H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Al Suwaidi is the Executive Director of ADIA's Treasury Department (responsible for fixed income investments). Epstein and John passed an updated list of banks that are believed to maintain financial relations with Iran and requested that ADIA use its influence with the institutions to discourage dealings with Iran. ¶3. (S//NF) Al Ameri and Al Suwaidi were fully apprised of the original list passed by U/S Levey and asked engaging questions regarding the most effective way to communicate the message with international financial institutions, and the effectiveness of outreach efforts to date. Al Suwaidi, who maintains relations with international financial institutions in the context of his duties, studied the list of banks and inquired as to which banks maintained the most significant business with Iran. Al Ameri, straight faced, thanked us for including the names of senior executives at each bank to aid the outreach effort. Al Ameri and Al Suwaidi pledged to work the message into communications with their banking counterparts, and expressed no reservation about using their influence with existing financial relationships. The updated list was requested by UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan during an August 2007 meeting with Treasury Under Secretary Stuart Levey (Ref B). ¶4. (S//NF) As the conversation drifted to Iran more broadly, Al Ameri stated that it is illogical for a country with Iran's resources to pursue nuclear power, but for an intention to produce a nuclear weapon. Al Ameri and Al Suwaidi believed that Iran would need a face saving solution, which would be unlikely while Ahmedinejad remained in power. Al Ameri and Al Suwaidi agreed that a nuclear Iran would pose an unacceptable threat to UAE and the Gulf region. SISON