Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI1734
2007-10-21 04:40:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
ADIA OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE OUTREACH TO
how-toVZCZCXRO5089 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHAD #1734 2940440 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 210440Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 7363 RUETIAA/NSA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9889
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.
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
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