MFA ACTING UNDER SECRETARY ON MAY 13-14

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000813

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2022
TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNP IR AE
SUBJECT: MFA ACTING UNDER SECRETARY ON MAY 13-14
AHMADINEJAD VISIT TO UAE

REF: A. ABU DHABI 780


B. DUBAI 0035

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES MARTIN R. QUINN FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D.


1. (C) During May 17 meeting with CDA, MFA Acting U/S Tariq
Al Haidan reflected on this week's visit by Iranian President
Ahmadinejad. Although Al Haidan is a senior UAE diplomat who
spent 10 years in Tehran, he readily acknowledged that he did
not attend any of the meetings with the Iranian leader.


2. (S) Al Haidan said that the UAE invitation to Ahmadinejad
was longstanding and had been extended to previous Iranian
President Khatami. Al Haidan claimed that Foreign Minister
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (AbZ) had re-extended the
invitation during his January 9 visit to Tehran and that
Ahmadinejad's "acceptance" was confirmed during the May 2
visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki. Noting that the
UAE and Oman were the only two Gulf countries that
Ahmadinejad had not visited, Al Haidan added that the
proximity to Vice President Cheney's May 10-12 visit was
"100% coincidental" and was -- despite speculation -- not by
design.


3. (S) Al Haidan indicated that the UAEG decided not to raise
any contentious subjects during the Iranian president's visit
(such as the islands dispute or the nuclear issue),but also
decided not to issue a joint statement or to appear with
Ahmadinejad on any public platforms )- although the UAE
seemed powerless to exercise control over their guest's
predictably anti-Western, anti-U.S. statements. Al Haidan
dismissed the Iranian president's rhetoric as "just his way"
and shrugged, "He was talking to his people and pressing his
theory that all the security problems in the Gulf are the
result of foreign interference, and will only be resolved
when the foreigners leave." Al Haidan affirmed that the UAE
had a far different view of the Gulf security situation.


4. (S) Comment: The UAEG was aware of and planning for Vice
President Cheney's visit prior to Mottaki's May 2 visit.
While the UAEG may not actively have sought for the visits to
occur back-to-back, neither did it act resolutely to
de-conflict them )- perhaps acquiescing due to fear of
offending Iran. Prior to and during the Vice President's
visit, some UAEG officials privately showed mild humor --
with a smile and knowing glance -- at the proximity of the
two visits. Local Iranian academics, according to IRPO, have
expressed skepticism at the "coincidence" of the visits
stating that they see the UAE attempting to play the role as
mediator )- but that Iran "would not accept it." End
Comment.
QUINN