MAHMOUD ABBAS VISITS UAE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000342 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAL AE SUBJECT: MAHMOUD ABBAS VISITS UAE REF: ABU DHABI 228 ¶1. (U) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan received Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to the UAE on February 27. We will follow up with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed in a meeting scheduled for March 1. According to a press release by the official Emirates News Agency (WAM),Abbas briefed Khalifa on the outcome of his recent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Secretary. Abbas lauded the UAE's continuing support of the Palestinian people and their struggle to establish an independent state. ¶2. (U) President Khalifa publicly reiterated UAE hopes that the Mecca Accord will reinforce the solidarity of the Palestinian people and be implemented in such a way as to guarantee the formation of a national unity government (reftel). Khalifa also renewed the UAEG's support for a Palestinian state--this is at least the third official press release this month that has referred to the Palestinians "right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital." ¶3. (U) President Khalifa met Abbas with seven of his brothers: UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, National Security Advisor Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Presidential Affairs Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Sheikh Hamad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan. SISON