MFA on Status of Export Control Law Amendment

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000574 SIPDIS STATE FOR T, ISN, AND NEA/ARP COMMERCE FOR BIS E.O. 12958: DECL 5/7/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AE SUBJECT: MFA on Status of Export Control Law Amendment Reference: ABU DHABI 326 (U) Classified by Martin Quinn, Charge d'Affaires a.i., for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) On May 8, MFA International Organizations Director Yacub Al-Hosani told Econchief that the UAE Cabinet's Legislative Committee should meet in the next week to review the amended export control law. Al-Hosani did not have many details to share, explaining that the law was with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (AbZ) for review. Al-Hosani reiterated what he had told ISN Acting A/S McNerney on February 25. The UAEG would abolish the two committees called for in the UAE's export control law and wanted to establish an export control office or authority. The current situation where companies applied for licenses from Emirate-level Departments was too complicated. The office would rationalize the process. ¶2. (SBU) With regard to private sector outreach, Al-Hosani said that the UAE had not conducted any formal "seminars or workshops" for the private sector. The UAEG had, however, provided informal guidance explaining, for example, the procedures needed to apply for licenses. Al-Hosani remarked that he had conversations with the USG -- and possibly with the EU -- about arranging industry outreach training. In response to Econchief's question as to whether the UAEG would like assistance; he stated that he wanted to focus on building the new export control authority first. ¶3. (SBU) Al-Hosani welcomed the June training program for prosecutors and judges and reviewed the draft agenda with interest. He told Econchief that he was coordinating with the UAE's Counterproliferation Task Force Chair BG Mohammad Al-Qemzi about the possibility of adding a one day program for investigators, but had not yet received an answer. Econchief urged the UAE to take advantage of the opportunity. Al-Hosani explained that Al-Qemzi would need to coordinate with the law enforcement community to be sure that the training was not duplicative and addressed unmet needs. He promised to provide a response as soon as he could. Quinn