Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI603
2007-04-12 12:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE INVITES CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS TO ABU DHABI

Tags:  PREL PHUM OFDP OPRC OREP AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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Diana T Fritz 04/12/2007 04:28:11 PM From DB/Inbox: Diana T Fritz

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00603

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: AMB
 INFO: POL CONS FCS PAO ECON DCM DAO P/M

DISSEMINATION: AMB
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: DCM:MQUINN
CLEARED: ECON:OJOHN POL:BTHOMSON CONS:RDOLCE

VZCZCADI645
RR RUEHC RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #0603 1021223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121223Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8747
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 6986
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000603 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM OFDP OPRC OREP AE
SUBJECT: UAE INVITES CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS TO ABU DHABI
AND DUBAI, APRIL 1-7, 2007

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000603

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM OFDP OPRC OREP AE
SUBJECT: UAE INVITES CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS TO ABU DHABI
AND DUBAI, APRIL 1-7, 2007


1. In a first-of-its-kind effort to win friends on Capitol
Hill, the UAE Embassy in Washington funded the travel of
eight Congressional staffers, most of them Chiefs of Staff,
four Republicans and four Democrats, to Abu Dhabi and Dubai,
April 1-7. The visit was low-key but offered staffers the
UAE's own perspective on issues facing this Gulf state. By
all indications the UAE hosts extended typical hospitality,
even providing new tailored suits for the staffers' first
meetings when their luggage failed to arrive.


2. This UAE-funded Congressional "NODEL" arrived in Abu
Dhabi on the morning of April 1, receiving an hour and a half
brief the same afternoon from Ambassador and members of
Country Team. Later that day the group was received by Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed. Other meetings
included visits to the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of
Labor, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi Police, UAE Archives,
and Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research.


3. On April 2 the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs received
the group for a briefing by senior MFA officials followed by
a wide-ranging discussion and lunch. UAE MFA officials
included Acting U/S Tariq Al Haidan, Assistant U/S for
International Cooperation Mohamed Abdul Rahim Abdul Jalil,
and Director of European, American and Oceanic Affairs Ali
Mohamed Al Zarouni. WashDC UAE Emboff Ahmed Al Hamili and
MFA Desk Officer Rowda Al Otaiba escorted the group
throughout their visit.


4. Subjects touched upon in the MFA's presentation and in
response to Q&A from the Congressional staffers included:
the centrality of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute to the
region's conflicts, U.S.-UAE bilateral cooperation on several
fronts, U.S. credibility issue in the Arab world, the Arab
image problem in the U.S. media, the UAE,s image in the
U.S., UAE sensitivity about reporting on Human Rights and
expatriate labor issues, UAE sensitivity about the Iranian
Presence Office in Dubai, UAE humanitarian assistance to
Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. "visa problem" since 9/11, the
decline in numbers of UAE students studying in the U.S., and
the importance of cultural programs and exchanges.


5. Members included: Jim B. Clark (Rep. Diane Watson, D-CA
33rd),Bill R. McBride (Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-MI 3rd),Matt
McGinley (Rep. Tom Price (R-GA 6th),Glen Downs (Rep. Walter
Jones, Jr., R-NC 3rd),Christopher James Mansour (Rep. Dale

E. Kildee, D-MI 5th),Robert J. McCreary (Rep. Doug Lamborn,
R-CO 5th),and Kapp Johnson (Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-MN
8th).


6. Other UAE officials who met the group included:
Assistant Deputy Minister of Labor Obaid Al Zahmi and Deputy
Minister of Economy for Planning Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Aziz Al
Shehi. Group meetings in Dubai, April 5-7, were with: the
Dubai Executive Office, Mohammed Al Gergawi; DP World,
Mohammed Sharaf and Michael Moore; the Dubai Chamber of
Commerce; and members of The Federal National Council. A
consulate briefing was offered, but MFA handlers could not
find time in the schedule.


7. Media coverage of the group included five inside page
articles in UAE Arabic and English newspapers, April 3, 4, 5,
and 8, in semi-official Arabic daily Al Ittihad, Arabic
daily Al Khaleej, and the Khaleej Times.


8. Comment: Indications are that this may be the first of
what may be other future efforts by the UAEG to interact with
Members of the U.S. Congress and staff. In some respects it
proved a learning experience for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
SISON