Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUDHABI510
2008-04-24 05:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
BOUCHER DISCUSSES PARIS CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN WITH UAE
VZCZCXRO6427 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #0510/01 1150514 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 240514Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0873 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0424 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1682 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUSFKEI/NCR CENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0074 RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000510
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22018
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID AF AE
SUBJECT: BOUCHER DISCUSSES PARIS CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN WITH UAE
FOREIGN MINISTER, ALSO PAKISTAN
Ref: A) STATE 35860, B) ABU DHABI 407
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000510
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22018
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID AF AE
SUBJECT: BOUCHER DISCUSSES PARIS CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN WITH UAE
FOREIGN MINISTER, ALSO PAKISTAN
Ref: A) STATE 35860, B) ABU DHABI 407
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Ambassador Boucher discussed Afghan development needs and the
June 12 Paris conference with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign
Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi April 15, citing
funding needs of $12 to $15 billion. Abdullah said joint Gulf
Cooperation Council contributions were unlikely, but the UAE had
given almost $150 million (mostly in projects rather than cash) and
would continue to assist. He made no specific funding commitment,
yet discussed highways, agriculture, and university projects.
Abdullah said Karzai needs to fight corruption more vigorously.
2. (C) Abdullah said a March 28 British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) story on UAE troops in Afghanistan was an intentional part of
"slowly but steadily" introducing UAE efforts to the public. He felt
the UAE response (muted in the absence of any local press coverage of
the troops or the breaking story) had been generally positive.
Concluding with a discussion of key Pakistani personalities, Abdullah
had positive things to say about Asif Zardari yet worried that Nawaz
Sharif might take credit if the UAE assisted Pakistan economically.
With a resident Pakistani population rivaling the number of Emirati
citizens, the UAE must watch Pakistan closely. Abdullah thought the
UAE government might be able to offer a geological survey of Pakistan
after a U.S. overture was rebuffed. End summary.
Paris conference
--------------
3. (C) Assistant Secretary Boucher stressed to Abdullah the need for
additional pledges for Afghan development at the Paris conference,
which should focus on clear commitments rather than mere strategy
sessions. The World Bank has articulated a strategy requiring $42
billion for projects over five years; $30 billion has been
identified, leaving $12 to $15 billion as a logical target in Paris.
4. (C) Asked whether the Gulf Cooperation Council might coordinate a
joint pledge in Paris, Abdullah bluntly said coordination had been
dismal in the past and was not advisable this time. He said a joint
relief effort after a quake in Turkey was a "disaster" with no
mechanism to spend the funds. Each country seeks recognition for its
contribution and prefers individual commitments -- the UAE's original
$30 million for Afghanistan (Tokyo conference) had grown to the point
that the UAE was reaching $150 million in contributions (mostly in
discreet projects). UAE efforts will continue he said, without
suggesting any particular pledge for Paris.
Possible aid projects
--------------
5. (C) Boucher noted prime projects, such as the Ring Road, that
still need funding. He asked Abdullah to assess the project as an
opportunity to help increase a "sense of national connectivity" in
Afghanistan, citing Karzai's request for the Arabs to help "pave the
streets of Kabul." The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's International
Affairs Director, Yousef al-Otaiba, said a proposal on funding
highways was currently with Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed. A project to build a university in Herat
(offsetting two colleges sponsored by Iran) was also worthy of UAE
consideration, said Boucher. Al-Otaiba wanted to confirm that the
university would be secular in nature, and added that the UAE had
also sponsored Sheikh Zayed University in Khost.
6. (C) Abdullah said the UAEG was interested in agricultural
projects if appropriate needs could be identified. He cited a German
project on alternative crops but said the UAEG was "not managing to
get good answers" regarding specifics. Boucher explained that a
simple substitution of crops was not often attractive to the farmers,
but that an overall rural development strategy was needed (dealing
with transportation, electricity, cold storage) to shift focus away
from opium. Also on the agricultural front, Abdullah noted that
roses were being imported from Kandahar.
President Karzai needs to combat corruption
--------------
7. (C) Abdullah said President Karzai was seen as weak by his own
people, was not doing enough to combat corruption, and did not face
up to warlords sufficiently. Boucher noted USG efforts to press
Karzai to improve governance, address corruption, and combat the
narcotics trade. Boucher hoped Karzai would take steps before the
ABU DHABI 00000510 002 OF 002
Paris conference to increase donor confidence in Afghan stability,
citing the Afghan election year as an opportunity to take bold steps;
Abdullah noted that pressures "go both ways" in an election year and
may also complicate Karzai's maneuverability.
Coverage of "confidential" troop presence
--------------
8. (C) Asked about UAE government intentions with regard to the
March 28 British Broadcasting Corporation story on UAE troops in
Afghanistan (which presence has consistently been classified and
which has yet to be discussed in local media even since the story
broke),Abdullah said the coverage was "on purpose" and done by a
reporter whom the UAE "considers a good friend." The UAE government
has decided to "slowly but steadily" introduce its work in
Afghanistan in hopes of gaining acceptance for the effort in the
international community. He added that it is difficult being the
only Arab force deployed and the UAE would like to see others
participate. Local (UAE national) reaction to the story had been
positive, said Abdullah; he did not feel "any negativity" in the
muted reaction, turning to Al-Otaiba for corroboration. Al-Otaiba
noted that few Emiratis knew of the deployment beforehand; some
expressed surprise, and pride, in the revelation. (Note: Reftel
notes far less positive comments on the Internet, a primary forum for
public discourse in the absence of any local media coverage. The UAE
government has yet to change its posture of requesting that the U.S.
keep the deployment confidential. End note.)
Pakistan
--------------
9. (C) In a brief discussion of key Pakistani political
personalities, Abdullah said Asif Zardari was "down to earth" and a
good listener/interlocutor. Abdullah expressed delight that Zardari
has positive views toward India. Abdullah said the UAE was pleased
that it had invested effort in pressing Musharraf to work with other
political forces. The UAE had not tried seriously to work with Nawaz
Sharif, however, in spite of Sharif's claims; the UAE does not really
trust him and his stance on extremism is "quite odd." The UAE faces
a dilemma, claimed Abdullah, in aiding Pakistan while Sharif has key
portfolios. He sought advice on how to assist Pakistan without
strengthening Sharif's position in future elections. Abdullah said
he was not optimistic that the current Pakistani government would
last a year and said he had told Zardari that he might have won a
better deal if he had applied more pressure on Sharif.
10. (C) The UAE will continue to watch Pakistan carefully, said
Abdullah, because the Emirates face "huge problems" if something goes
wrong in that country. The UAE hosts close to a million Pakistanis
(roughly one Pakistani for each Emirati in the population) and has an
historically close relationship with Pakistan. Boucher noted
Pakistani hesitance to allow the U.S. to conduct a geological survey
to ascertain potential resources in Pakistan; Abdullah suggested the
UAE might be able to offer a survey without the same sense of "U.S.
interference" in Pakistani sovereignty. Such a survey could benefit
the Pakistani economy, said Abdullah.
11. (U) A/S Boucher approved this message.
QUINN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22018
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID AF AE
SUBJECT: BOUCHER DISCUSSES PARIS CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN WITH UAE
FOREIGN MINISTER, ALSO PAKISTAN
Ref: A) STATE 35860, B) ABU DHABI 407
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Ambassador Boucher discussed Afghan development needs and the
June 12 Paris conference with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign
Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi April 15, citing
funding needs of $12 to $15 billion. Abdullah said joint Gulf
Cooperation Council contributions were unlikely, but the UAE had
given almost $150 million (mostly in projects rather than cash) and
would continue to assist. He made no specific funding commitment,
yet discussed highways, agriculture, and university projects.
Abdullah said Karzai needs to fight corruption more vigorously.
2. (C) Abdullah said a March 28 British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) story on UAE troops in Afghanistan was an intentional part of
"slowly but steadily" introducing UAE efforts to the public. He felt
the UAE response (muted in the absence of any local press coverage of
the troops or the breaking story) had been generally positive.
Concluding with a discussion of key Pakistani personalities, Abdullah
had positive things to say about Asif Zardari yet worried that Nawaz
Sharif might take credit if the UAE assisted Pakistan economically.
With a resident Pakistani population rivaling the number of Emirati
citizens, the UAE must watch Pakistan closely. Abdullah thought the
UAE government might be able to offer a geological survey of Pakistan
after a U.S. overture was rebuffed. End summary.
Paris conference
--------------
3. (C) Assistant Secretary Boucher stressed to Abdullah the need for
additional pledges for Afghan development at the Paris conference,
which should focus on clear commitments rather than mere strategy
sessions. The World Bank has articulated a strategy requiring $42
billion for projects over five years; $30 billion has been
identified, leaving $12 to $15 billion as a logical target in Paris.
4. (C) Asked whether the Gulf Cooperation Council might coordinate a
joint pledge in Paris, Abdullah bluntly said coordination had been
dismal in the past and was not advisable this time. He said a joint
relief effort after a quake in Turkey was a "disaster" with no
mechanism to spend the funds. Each country seeks recognition for its
contribution and prefers individual commitments -- the UAE's original
$30 million for Afghanistan (Tokyo conference) had grown to the point
that the UAE was reaching $150 million in contributions (mostly in
discreet projects). UAE efforts will continue he said, without
suggesting any particular pledge for Paris.
Possible aid projects
--------------
5. (C) Boucher noted prime projects, such as the Ring Road, that
still need funding. He asked Abdullah to assess the project as an
opportunity to help increase a "sense of national connectivity" in
Afghanistan, citing Karzai's request for the Arabs to help "pave the
streets of Kabul." The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's International
Affairs Director, Yousef al-Otaiba, said a proposal on funding
highways was currently with Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed. A project to build a university in Herat
(offsetting two colleges sponsored by Iran) was also worthy of UAE
consideration, said Boucher. Al-Otaiba wanted to confirm that the
university would be secular in nature, and added that the UAE had
also sponsored Sheikh Zayed University in Khost.
6. (C) Abdullah said the UAEG was interested in agricultural
projects if appropriate needs could be identified. He cited a German
project on alternative crops but said the UAEG was "not managing to
get good answers" regarding specifics. Boucher explained that a
simple substitution of crops was not often attractive to the farmers,
but that an overall rural development strategy was needed (dealing
with transportation, electricity, cold storage) to shift focus away
from opium. Also on the agricultural front, Abdullah noted that
roses were being imported from Kandahar.
President Karzai needs to combat corruption
--------------
7. (C) Abdullah said President Karzai was seen as weak by his own
people, was not doing enough to combat corruption, and did not face
up to warlords sufficiently. Boucher noted USG efforts to press
Karzai to improve governance, address corruption, and combat the
narcotics trade. Boucher hoped Karzai would take steps before the
ABU DHABI 00000510 002 OF 002
Paris conference to increase donor confidence in Afghan stability,
citing the Afghan election year as an opportunity to take bold steps;
Abdullah noted that pressures "go both ways" in an election year and
may also complicate Karzai's maneuverability.
Coverage of "confidential" troop presence
--------------
8. (C) Asked about UAE government intentions with regard to the
March 28 British Broadcasting Corporation story on UAE troops in
Afghanistan (which presence has consistently been classified and
which has yet to be discussed in local media even since the story
broke),Abdullah said the coverage was "on purpose" and done by a
reporter whom the UAE "considers a good friend." The UAE government
has decided to "slowly but steadily" introduce its work in
Afghanistan in hopes of gaining acceptance for the effort in the
international community. He added that it is difficult being the
only Arab force deployed and the UAE would like to see others
participate. Local (UAE national) reaction to the story had been
positive, said Abdullah; he did not feel "any negativity" in the
muted reaction, turning to Al-Otaiba for corroboration. Al-Otaiba
noted that few Emiratis knew of the deployment beforehand; some
expressed surprise, and pride, in the revelation. (Note: Reftel
notes far less positive comments on the Internet, a primary forum for
public discourse in the absence of any local media coverage. The UAE
government has yet to change its posture of requesting that the U.S.
keep the deployment confidential. End note.)
Pakistan
--------------
9. (C) In a brief discussion of key Pakistani political
personalities, Abdullah said Asif Zardari was "down to earth" and a
good listener/interlocutor. Abdullah expressed delight that Zardari
has positive views toward India. Abdullah said the UAE was pleased
that it had invested effort in pressing Musharraf to work with other
political forces. The UAE had not tried seriously to work with Nawaz
Sharif, however, in spite of Sharif's claims; the UAE does not really
trust him and his stance on extremism is "quite odd." The UAE faces
a dilemma, claimed Abdullah, in aiding Pakistan while Sharif has key
portfolios. He sought advice on how to assist Pakistan without
strengthening Sharif's position in future elections. Abdullah said
he was not optimistic that the current Pakistani government would
last a year and said he had told Zardari that he might have won a
better deal if he had applied more pressure on Sharif.
10. (C) The UAE will continue to watch Pakistan carefully, said
Abdullah, because the Emirates face "huge problems" if something goes
wrong in that country. The UAE hosts close to a million Pakistanis
(roughly one Pakistani for each Emirati in the population) and has an
historically close relationship with Pakistan. Boucher noted
Pakistani hesitance to allow the U.S. to conduct a geological survey
to ascertain potential resources in Pakistan; Abdullah suggested the
UAE might be able to offer a survey without the same sense of "U.S.
interference" in Pakistani sovereignty. Such a survey could benefit
the Pakistani economy, said Abdullah.
11. (U) A/S Boucher approved this message.
QUINN