UAE AMBASSADOR: OUR PRESENCE BOOSTS IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003530

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EINV IZ AE
SUBJECT: UAE AMBASSADOR: OUR PRESENCE BOOSTS IRAQI
CONFIDENCE

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The growing presence of Arab Ambassadors
in Baghdad is boosting Iraqi confidence that improved
security will last and that Iraq's neighbors are committed to
its future, according to the UAE Ambassador to Iraq. UAE
engagement on the economic front is also expanding, with
large Emirati business interests discussing a number of
opportunities with Iraqi officials. On the Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),Ambassador Abdullah Al-Shehhi agreed that
Iraq should approve the agreement in order to ensure the
continued presence of U.S. forces. He was, however,
non-committal on whether the UAE itself would weigh in with
key Iraqi interlocutors to encourage them to do so. End
Summary.

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We're Here -- Others Should Be As Well
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2. (C) In a cordial November 7 meeting with Ambassador
Crocker, recently arrived UAE Ambassador to Iraq Al-Shehhi
said "our presence here makes sense and others should be here
as well." Strengthening UAE-Iraqi ties, he said, benefits
the Iraqi people, UAE business interests, and stability in
the region. Importantly, he noted, "we have to be here to
counteract efforts by countries and groups that are hurting
the Iraqi political system and the Iraqi people."


3. (C) Ambassador Crocker underlined that UAE leadership at
the highest levels over the past several months has been
instrumental in encouraging other Arab countries to step
forward and engage. In that context, he noted that the U.S.
supports Iraq having normal relations with Iran but that that
relationship is out of balance. The return of Iraq's Arab
neighbors is a critical element for restoring balance in
Iraq's regional relations and for securing overall, long-term
stability. While Iraq is a multi-ethnic state, he added, it
is -- in its essence -- an Arab state. Iraqis -- both Sunni
and Shia -- bristle at Iranian pressure. He agreed with
Ambassador Al-Shehhi's observation that for Iraqis to see
Arab Ambassadors here provides them important reassurance.
Specific to the UAE, Ambassador Al-Shehhi noted that one of
his immediate tasks is to help make arrangements for a
meeting of the Iraq-UAE Joint Committee that, he said, will
meet in the UAE later this month at the Foreign Minister
level. (Note: The Iraqi Foreign Ministry confirmed that a
meeting of the joint committee is planned but no date has yet
been set. End Note.)

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Economic Opportunities
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4. (C) Turning to economic issues, Ambassador Crocker said
that Iraq offers tremendous opportunities for UAE companies.
One area where Iraq could especially benefit from the UAE's
expertise is in the construction and housing sector. Entire
communities need to be built or rebuilt and the UAE has vast
experience in this field. Ambassador Al-Shehhi agreed that
this is an area with great potential: "We want to help Iraqis
with housing, ports, airports. We have very experienced
companies." He added that the UAEG is encouraging companies
from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah but many remained concerned
about the security situation in Iraq. That said, he noted
that several important UAE investors are already engaging.
For example, representatives of Dubai World have visited the
port of Umm Qasr and are close to signing a contract. Also,
during his most recent time in Abu Dhabi, he met a surprising
number of business people who said they had recently visited
Baghdad without any assistance from the government.


5. (C) On a separate note, Ambassador Al-Shehhi said the
UAE is waiting for a decision from the GOI to reopen the
Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad, which ceased operations
about a year ago. Ambassador Crocker said initiatives such
as these are hugely important and the U.S. Embassy would be
happy to convey our support to the Ministry of Health and
other relevant GOI bodies, if that would be helpful.
Ambassador Al-Shehhi noted that as UAE engagement deepens,
Embassy assistance in sharing security information would be
particularly appreciated.

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SOFA
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6. (C) Turning more broadly to the issue of security,
Ambassador Crocker said the U.S.-Iraq bilateral security
agreement (SOFA) is close to conclusion and underlined that
any encouragement Ambassador Al-Shehhi and his government can
give to key Iraqis to convince them to approve it would be

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extremely helpful. Without responding directly to this
request, Al-Shehhi agreed that it is in Iraqi interests to
sign the SOFA, as the Iraqis are still not at the stage where
they can take care of all security requirements themselves.
This is particularly the case in Baghdad, he added.

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UAE Embassy -- Old and New
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7. (C) Regarding his own situation and that of the UAE
Embassy, Al-Shehhi said that, in general, he feels secure and
that he is not in a dangerous situation. He noted that he
benefits from having a military background and also from his
most recent posting as UAE Ambassador to India -- a country
that, as recent events have shown, is not immune to violence.
Al-Shehhi said he expected that in the coming six months, as
the UAE and other embassies set up more permanent residence
at their new embassy sites, other Arab countries will send
Ambassadors. In an interesting aside, Al-Shehhi noted that
the UAE still maintains its old embassy site in the Mansour
district and continues to run its generators there, providing
electricity to 200 households in the immediate vicinity.
This has engendered good will from people in the neighborhood
who, he said, have protected the property since its closure.

CROCKER