UAE PROPOSING EXPERT LEVEL CONSULTATIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000121 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, ISN/RA AND ISN/NEES ENERGY FOR SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/28/2017 TAGS: KNNP ENRG PARM PREL AE SUBJECT: UAE PROPOSING EXPERT LEVEL CONSULTATIONS ON NUCLEAR ENERGY FEBRUARY 6-8 REF: A. STATE 8175 ¶B. ABU DHABI 103 ¶C. ABU DHABI 45 Classified By: Martin Quinn, Charge d'affaires a.i., for reasons 1.4 (b & d). ¶1. (SBU) On January 29, Econchief discussed the UAE's proposed expert-level visit to the US to discuss peaceful nuclear cooperation with Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority Director of Economic Affairs David Scott (refs b and c). Scott proposed sending a UAE delegation to the U.S. in the February 6-8 timeframe for meetings with appropriate officials from ISN, the Department of Energy, and the NSC, along with any other appropriate interlocutors. Scott said that the delegation would likely consist of Yousef Al-Otaiba, International Affairs Director for Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan; Hamad Al-Kaabi, the MFA lead for international nuclear cooperation (and the UAE's first and only nuclear scientist); Ali Al-Frayhat, the General Counsel for the Executive Affairs Authority (who is taking the lead for drafting the UAE's nuclear regulatory law); and Mohammed Al-Hamadi, the GM of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority. ¶2. (C) Econchief conveyed to Scott that the UAE's draft white paper was well received and that comments would be forthcoming. In response to Econchief's question, Scott noted that the UAE's draft white paper was still not public, but that the UAE had publicly stated that it was seeking international consultations on the potential development of peaceful nuclear energy. ¶3. (SBU) Action Request: Please advise whether dates and proposed meetings are workable from the USG point of view. QUINN