Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI89
2007-01-24 08:35:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

BOUCHER AND FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH COVER IRAQ,

Tags:  PREL IR IZ AF AE 
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VZCZCXRO6533
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0089/01 0240835
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 240835Z JAN 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8077
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1040
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1554
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0343
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000089 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017
TAGS: PREL IR IZ AF AE
SUBJECT: BOUCHER AND FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH COVER IRAQ,
IRAN, AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

ABU DHABI 00000089 001.4 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000089

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017
TAGS: PREL IR IZ AF AE
SUBJECT: BOUCHER AND FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH COVER IRAQ,
IRAN, AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

ABU DHABI 00000089 001.4 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with Assistant Secretary for
South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher and
Ambassador Sison on January 14, United Arab Emirates Foreign
Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan discussed
regional security issues in addition to the Emirates' efforts
in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister shared
concerns that Iran's influence "permeates" into every corner
of Iraq. He questioned the Al-Maliki government's ability to
engage with other governments in the region, and asked that
the U.S. not push his government too forcefully to back the
Sunnis in Iraq, warning that a sectarian civil war may expand
far outside Iraq's borders. The UAE Government is
considering another $30 million in reconstruction aid to
Afghanistan, but wants to focus aid on building clinics and
schools instead of roads. The UAE continues to try and get
the Afghan and Pakistani intelligence services to work
together -- "hopefully very soon" -- and is presently
expecting a delegation to visit from Tehran to explain
Iranian activities in the region. End Summary.

--------------
Iraq/Iran
--------------

2. (S) After pointing out that Boucher doesn't cover Iraq,
Foreign Minister Abdullah clearly had his mind on events
there ) discussing Iraq before moving into South Asian
issues. Although encouraged by recent U.S. actions to
eliminate Iran's influence in Iraq, the Foreign Minister
warned that "their (Iran's) influence does not stop at the
Green Zone. . . It permeates into every corner, through the
Green Zone, the militias, etc." He suggested that either
Iraq is "totally under the control of the Iranians, or they
(the Iraqis) are simply unable to act and implement any
policy decisions." Referring to the Secretary's recent
remarks, he stated that "I understand the politics in
Washington" but that "there is no way that we see that this
government (Prime Minister Maliki's) can engage with the rest
of us."


3. (S) Foreign Minister Abdullah asked that the U.S. "not put
us in a position of forcefully backing the Sunnis in Iraq, or
the Iraq civil war that everyone is concerned about is likely
to become a regional civil war involving many more players."
He complained to Ambassador Sison that "No one was stopping
the Shi'a violence against the Sunnis in Iraq -- not the
Iraqi military or security forces, not the international
forces."

--------------
Afghanistan
--------------

4. (C) Thanking the UAE for its efforts in Afghanistan,
Boucher said the U.S. is preparing to announce billions of
dollars in aid for the training and equipping of the military
and police, building roads and electrical grids, and building
provincial government and justice centers throughout the
country. Foreign Minister Abdullah said that his government
is considering a new $30 million in reconstruction funds for
Afghanistan. He noted that while there are already major
international commitments to build roads, "there are
significant gaps elsewhere," and the UAE is more interested
in "encouraging more clinics and schools -- things that are
not getting the same level of attention from other donors."
Boucher noted an enormous need for roads, especially in the
south, and asked that the UAE not set aside the idea.


5. (C). Speaking about current relations between Pakistan
and Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Abdullah offered that the
UAE is trying to get the two intelligence services to "talk
together -- hopefully very soon." He commented that the
Pakistanis are now the "more cooperative of the two parties,"
adding that this is a reversal from past experiences. He
said that rhetoric between Karzai and Musharraf often "gets
in the way" of meaningful discussion and that "we need to
push forward at the deputy levels" if we want to make
significant progress. Abdullah described Musharraf's call
for elections as legitimate, noting that "he can read the
signs of the times, and recognizes that the time has come."


6. (C) The Foreign Minister inquired if the Iranians were
active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Boucher noted there
are concerns that Iran was trying to expand their influence.
Abdullah said that during his January 9 visit to Tehran,
Foreign Minister Mottaki had proposed sending a delegation to
the UAE to explain Iran's activities in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, and that that visit was expected soon. Abdullah
offered to share what information he could after the visit.

ABU DHABI 00000089 002 OF 002




7. (U) This cable was approved by SCA Senior Advisor Caitlin
Hayden.
SISON