UAE REQUEST TO ATTEND MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM ON ENERGY AND

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000331

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMMENT FOR NEA/ARP
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR (MONOSSON, SECOR, THOMPSON)
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB (BHALLA)
NSC FOR JOST

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG ECON PREL PGOV AE
SUBJECT: UAE REQUEST TO ATTEND MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM ON ENERGY AND
CLIMATE

REF: ABU DHABI 329 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) This cable contains an action request in para 3.


2. (SBU) In a March 30 letter, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Dr. Anwar Gargash asked the Ambassador for assistance with a matter
"extremely important" to the UAEG: an invitation to the Major
Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Washington April 27-28.
Gargash noted that "renewable energy is of great importance to [the
UAE] and we will be making a profound investment in developing the
technology and know-how for renewables." He added that "a UAE
presence...would be mutually beneficial, and greatly contribute to
the achievement of tangible outcomes."


3. (SBU) Background and Action Request: As outlined in reftel, the
UAE is investing heavily in renewable technologies and related
research in an effort to promote renewables production and
consumption. With significant political will and financial
resources, the UAEG is actively raising its profile in international
energy fora, particularly related to renewables. Post appreciates
Washington guidance at the earliest opportunity.


4. (SBU) The text of the letter is provided below; a copy has been
forwarded to NEA/ARP.

Begin text:

Date: 30/03/2009

HE Mr. Richard Olson
US Ambassador
United Arab Emirates

Your Excellency,

I am writing to request your assistance on a certain matter which is
extremely important to the UAE government.

We have noted with interest the recent announcement by President
Barack Obama, inviting the leaders of 16 major economies to
Washington for a forum on energy and climate next month, as
announced by the White House last Saturday. The forum is scheduled
for April 27-28 and aside from the United States, the 16 other
participating countries are Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the
European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan,
Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Because
of the UAE's strong commitment to renewable energy and climate
change issues through initiatives such as Masdar the UAE Ministry of
Foreign Affairs would like to formally request an invitation to the
forum in Washington.

The matter of renewable energy is one of great importance to this
country and we will be making a profound investment in developing
the technology and know-how for renewables. We would appreciate the
opportunity to contribute to President Obama's impressive initiative
as the UAE is an energy producing country that aims to be at the
heart of the renewable energy future with perhaps the largest
government-funded renewable energy program in the world. As hosts of
the world's largest annual international renewable energy summit we
have valuable insights to contribute, and through the work of Masdar
we will be an important player in the ability for Governments around
the world to meet their renewable energy targets in the future.
Based on these reasons, a UAB presence at President Obama's energy
and climate change forum would be mutually beneficial, and greatly
contribute to the achievement of tangible outcomes at the event.

On a separate but related matter, the UAB will also be formally
submitting a bid for Abu Dhabi to become the interim and eventually
permanent home of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
in Masdar City-the world's first zero-carbon, zerowaste city powered
completely by renewable energy. Many of the coW1tries invited to the
event in Washington are also members of IRENA and will be voting on
the headquarters location. Though several other capitals will be
competing for the honour of hosting IRENA, we believe that Abu Dhabi
is more uniquely suited for this role than any other city in the
world.

For IRENA to succeed, I believe the agency needs to be at the center
of renewable energy revolution. The leadership of the UAB has set
out a long-term plan that will leverage its substantial resources
and experience in global energy markets towards the technologies of
the future. Servicing as the home to IRENA is the next natural
progression in our country's plan to become a global centre of
excellence for renewable energy research, development and

innovation.

I hope to hear a positive response from you in the near future.

Warm regards,

Anwar Gargash
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

End text.
Olson