FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) SPEAKER DISCUSSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000620

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ETTC AE
SUBJECT: FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL (FNC) SPEAKER DISCUSSES
FNC AGENDA, GOALS

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: On April 12 Ambassador and PolOff called on
the Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC),Abdul Aziz
Al-Ghurair, who is also the CEO of the largest private bank
in the UAE, at his offices in Dubai. The Speaker described
the UAE's path to democracy and full elections of the FNC,
saying that the process is too important to be rushed but
that the rulers would be ready "as soon as the people are."
He described the UAE's legislative process and said that this
partially-elected FNC is already acting "more independently"
than any FNC in the past, and members are looking to become
"opinion makers" in the UAE. Speaking about upcoming agenda
items, Al-Ghurair said that the FNC had been asked to
expedite discussion on the export control law and that the
draft law had already cleared committee and was scheduled to
be debated at the next FNC meeting April 24. End Summary.

Path to Democracy
--------------
2.(C) Al-Ghurair stated that although it has been announced
that the FNC will progress to full elections in approximately
five years, it may take considerably longer. He said that
the UAE needs to "raise a generation prepared to participate
in a democracy" and that this could take some time. Pointing
to the open majlis system in which citizens have had direct
access to their rulers for hundreds of years, he said that
Emiratis have a long tradition of government participation
but that as the country grows and problems become more
complex and sophisticated "we need to develop a more
sophisticated democratic system," and this may take some time
to get right. "You have to be very careful," he said.
"Democracy is not like a building facade or carpet that can
be changed if you don't like it -- it has to be done right
the first time." Explaining that the limited or "guided"
election of one-half of the FNC last year was only a first
step, Al-Ghurair said that the democratic reforms being
discussed are merely attempts to "create a new culture of
democracy" -- not actually a strong movement towards
democracy. He went on to say that the FNC's focus is on
social and economic issues, not reform, and that the UAE's
rulers are ready to implement more direct democracy once the
society is ready and the institutions are in place.

New FNC Asserts Itself
--------------

3. (C) Al-Ghurair described the UAE legislative process,
noting differences from past practices. Although at this
time the FNC is still a consultative body and cannot initiate
legislation, Al-Ghurair stated that the FNC can, and has
already this year, suggested legislation to the Cabinet. He
explained that all legislation begins in the Cabinet where it
is assigned to a specific ministry to be drafted prior to
being approved by a technical committee. The Cabinet then
forwards the proposed legislation to the FNC where it is
assigned to another committee. The FNC committee may redraft
the legislation and send it back to the Cabinet for
consideration or may send it to the floor for debate before
the entire FNC. Al-Ghurair stated that the FNC may solicit
public opinion at any time, and may suggest changes and send
the proposal back to the Cabinet or can forward it to the
Supreme Council for final approval. Minister of State for
FNC Affairs Anwar Ghargash confirmed to Ambassador on April
15 that all FNC floor debates are open to the public.


4. (C) Al-Ghurair said that despite its inability to initiate
legislation the FNC has considerable autonomy and dictates
its own budget, a practice he said they plan to put to the
test. He further stated that the State Auditor reports to
the FNC and provides a financial audit of all the ministries,
and that the FNC can call on any Minister to appear before
the Council during any policy debate -- a right that the FNC
has already exercised this session. He said that the FNC is
currently pursuing a plan to build a communications/PR center
where information can be disseminated to the press and the
public alike. "We want to become opinion makers," he stated.
Ambassador inquired about the status of the draft export
control law. Al-Ghurair replied that it had already come out
of committee and is scheduled for floor debate at the FNC's
next meeting April 24. FNC Affairs MinState Ghargash told
Ambassador that the draft legislation had been purposefully
expedited in order to get it to the floor as quickly as
possible.


5. (C) Comment: We will continue to watch for signs of
increased FNC independence. However, MinState Ghargash told
Ambassador April 15 that the UAE leadership's goal was
"greater public participation" not "democracy." Still, the
UAE media's extensive coverage of the new FNC session's first
two meetings is going to spur increased public interest in

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moves to open the UAE's political space. End Comment.


6. (C) Bio Note: Al-Ghurair graduated with honors in
Industrial Engineering from California State Polytechnic
University (approximately 1976). He became Executive
Director of Mashreq Bank in 1989 and CEO in 1991. His son is
currently a sophomore at San Diego State University and is
studying business.
SISON