Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUDHABI393
2008-03-28 03:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAEG ASKED TO ASSIST IRAQI REFUGEES

Tags:  PREL PREF PHUM EAID IZ AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6886
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0393/01 0880337
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 280337Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0657
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0838
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0418
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1364
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0892
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0641
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0194
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0621
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000393 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM EAID IZ AE
SUBJECT: UAEG ASKED TO ASSIST IRAQI REFUGEES

REF: STATE 30028

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000393

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM EAID IZ AE
SUBJECT: UAEG ASKED TO ASSIST IRAQI REFUGEES

REF: STATE 30028

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Senior Coordinator for Iraqi Refugee Issues
Ambassador James Foley met in Abu Dhabi March 26 with MFA
Assistant Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tariq
al-Haidan and Secretary General of the UAE Red Crescent
Society Dr. Saleh al-Taee to press the case for more robust
support to Iraqi refugees in the region, with an emphasis on
outstanding international appeals from the UN, World Food
Program (WFP),and International Committee for the Red Cross
(ICRC). Both UAE interlocutors emphasized their willingness
to assist while putting the primary responsibility for
assisting Iraqis on the Iraqi government in Baghdad. End
summary.

MFA stresses GoI responsibility
--------------


2. (C) The MFA's senior career diplomat, Assistant Under
Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Tariq al-Haidan,

SIPDIS
wasted no time in framing a conversation on Iraqi refugees in
terms of GoI misuse of power when it should be assisting its
own people. Iraq's suffering under Saddam had further
deteriorated into sectarian strife, he lamented, and a lack
of a broad-based GoI is the root cause of the Iraqi refugee
crisis. In contrast to 40,000 Iraqis in the UAE (economic
migrants relatively educated and comfortable),refugees
generated by militia activity in Iraq are political
casualties. Citing excessive Iranian influence, al-Haidan
said GoI officials talk a good talk but are only reliable up
to a point -- beyond which Iran's influence takes precedence.


3. (C) Ambassador Foley focused on the key obligations of
the international community in the context of refugees: 1)
restoring peace to Iraq to improve conditions for their
return, 2) resettling those who likely cannot return, and 3)
meeting the needs of over 2 million Iraqi refugees in the
region. While the number of refugees may be stable, he
noted, the cost of their upkeep is increasing. UNHCR feeds
150 thousand Iraqis in Syria and seeks resources to double
that number. He emphasized the urgency of funding

international appeals from the UN, WFP, and ICRC, citing the
dangers of forcing Iraqis back home prematurely and also the
risk of al-Qaeda exploitation if a generation of refugees
grows up without education. It is in the interest of Arab
nations, he continued, to counter Iran's influence by
building stronger ties with the GOI.


4. (C) Al-Haidan said the UAE "completely supports" the U.S.
position on assisting Iraqis, although the enormous demand
calls for significant funding and the crisis is, at its core,
a GoI responsibility. Returning to his discourse on a
dysfunctional GoI, al-Haidan lamented that even Shia leaders
like al-Sistani were silent at a time when their voice was
needed most to quell sectarian tension. The UAE was willing
to support PM al-Maliki, he said, if he could control the
militia; unfortunately, the militia are "in the hands of
al-Hakim" and al-Maliki relies on al-Hakim for support. The
UAE seeks a unified Iraq, not sectarian division. Political
progress is too slow in Baghdad, he reiterated, questioning
what role a UAE Ambassador might play in Iraq in the current
environment. ("I can call Iraqi officials" from Abu Dhabi
easier than an Ambassador could access the GoI in Baghdad, he
suggested.)


5. (C) "We will help the Iraqi refugees," concluded
al-Haidan, but the UAEG hopes Iraq will also fulfill its
responsibilities. A meaningful solution relies on the GoI.
Ambassador Foley assured that the U.S. would continue to
press the GOI to meet its responsibility to Iraqi refugees
but reiterated the role of the international community and
called again for a robust response to current appeals for
assistance. He mentioned "matching pledges" as a possible
incentive for the GoI to take a first step in conjunction
with the international community.

Red Crescent gives much but willing to consider more
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) Secretary General Dr. Saleh al-Taee of the UAE Red
Crescent Society recounted for Ambassador Foley the UAE's
active contributions to Iraq "before, during, and after the

ABU DHABI 00000393 002 OF 002


war." Clean water supplies, medical clinics, and a large
hospital were among direct contributions in Iraq, valued at
over USD 41 million (according to a printed tally shared at
the meeting). The Society has donated similar facilities for
Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Syria. Ambassador Foley
commended the UAE effort, and the UAEG's donation of $10
million to the UN to assist Iraqi refugees in Syria, yet
emphasized the urgency of stepping up donations in light of
what some estimate to be a USD 900 million requirement this
year alone. He cited specific appeals from the UN, WFP, and
ICRC. At stake is survival of an at-risk population;
consequences of the failure to meet basic needs include
increased prostitution, child labor, trafficking-in-persons,
and an under-educated generation vulnerable to extremist
persuasion. Desperation breeds despair.


7. (SBU) Ambassador Foley cited large U.S. contributions to
displaced Iraqis and characterized the need as growing each
year even if the number of refugees remains steady (as the
displaced deplete their financial reserves). Al-Taee stated
the UAE leadership's desire to assist those in need generally
(having authorized donations in 130 countries) and
acknowledged the desperate needs of Iraq. He recalled that
Baghdad was once a "Paris" of sorts for Emiratis seeking a
better education and the UAE was keen to assist. He noted
over 300 cases of Iraqi children brought to the UAE for
medical care, 40 planeloads of humanitarian supplies
(including a recent flight to Mosul),the pre-war vaccination
of 250 thousand Iraqi children in cooperation with UNICEF,
and annual food donations during Ramadan.


8. (SBU) Without making a particular commitment, al-Taee
thanked Ambassador Foley for his visit and said the UAE would
continue to assist where it could. The UAE Red Crescent
would like to partner with the American Red Cross, he added,
in delivering humanitarian relief in Iraq. He said the U.S.
is often seen as a military force without compassion --
closer cooperation between his organization and its American
counterpart could put U.S. humanitarian efforts into the
public eye. "Our name is known in Iraq" and the Society's
experience could improve the American image through joint
projects. He said the UAE donation to the U.S. in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (USD 100 million) was not
because the U.S. needed the funds but to show that we are all
in the "same boat."


9. (SBU) Al-Taee said assistance to Iraq (and Gaza) was
discussed at a meeting of 21 Arab charitable organizations in
Tunis, from which he had just returned. Much of the Iraq
discussion had focused on the GoI's responsibility to use
Iraq's national (oil) wealth to assist Iraqis. He felt the
paltry sum of USD 25 million from the GoI to assist 2 million
refugees showed little leadership of the issue. He also
concluded that Syria's reference to Iraqis as "guests" rather
than refugees made humanitarian appeals less forceful than in
Jordan where definitions and records are somewhat more
straightforward.

Will the UAE give more?
--------------


10. (C) Comment: The UAE is genuinely predisposed to assist
needy populations in the region, as it has shown in Iraq,
Lebanon, Afghanistan, and the Palestinian Territories. That
said, the UAEG prefers projects to simple cash donations, and
views the GoI with particular skepticism. As we reinforce
Ambassador Foley's message of support for UNHCR and other
international appeals in future meetings, it will be
important for the senior royals in the UAEG to hear directly
from USG interlocutors where aid to Iraqi refugees fits on
our priority scale. End summary.


11. (U) This message was cleared by Ambassador Foley.
QUINN