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