UAE TO DISCUSS PA SUPPORT WITH MODERATE ARABS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000115 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/FO, AND NEA/IPA/ALENTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG EFIN AE SUBJECT: UAE TO DISCUSS PA SUPPORT WITH MODERATE ARABS REFS: A) STATE 8722, B) ABU DHABI 0021 Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ) told the Ambassador February 1, in the context of discussing reftel points on the urgent need for budget support to the Palestinian Authority (PA), that a group of Arab Foreign Ministers would meet in Abu Dhabi February 2 to discuss support for the Palestinians. AbZ was confident of a useful outcome. ¶2. (C) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash further clarified that a working dinner on the 2nd would include foreign ministers and ministers of information from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the PA (with Egypt to be represented at the deputy FM level). A subsequent meeting February 3 will include the same group plus Egypt (this time at the FM level),Tunisia, and Bahrain. Gargash characterized these talks as the moderate camp convening to discuss Palestinian support. ¶3. (C) Gargash also divulged that UN SecGen Ban Ki-Moon is scheduled to overnight in the UAE February 3, dining that evening with AbZ and his older brother, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. He gave no indication of topics to be discussed. OLSON