Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI370
2009-04-14 07:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE CONTINUES TO BEAT IRENA DRUM

Tags:  PREL SENV ECON PGOV AE 
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VZCZCXRO8945
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0370 1040729
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140729Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2354
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0132
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0906
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000370 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR S/SECC TODD STERN AND DSECC JONATHAN PERSHING
ALSO FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR, AND OES
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER (BHALLA)

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV ECON PGOV AE
SUBJECT: UAE CONTINUES TO BEAT IRENA DRUM

REF: ABU DHABI 329 AND PREVIOUS

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000370

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR S/SECC TODD STERN AND DSECC JONATHAN PERSHING
ALSO FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR, AND OES
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER (BHALLA)

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV ECON PGOV AE
SUBJECT: UAE CONTINUES TO BEAT IRENA DRUM

REF: ABU DHABI 329 AND PREVIOUS

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) Keeping a top UAEG priority front and center, Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash stressed for the
Ambassador April 13 how much effort the UAEG continues to put into
its campaign to host the International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA). He said most of his time during Istanbul meetings
associated with the Dialogue of Civilizations was dedicated to
bilateral lobbying for IRENA. Foreign Minister Abdullah is planning
a series of trips to Africa to lobby; the initial trip may cover six
or seven countries between April 18-22 (a "50/50" chance the trip
would happen),followed by subsequent visits to reach out to the
"large voting block" of African states.


2. (SBU) Gargash highlighted the arguments he said were resonating
internationally in favor of the UAE hosting IRENA: 1) it is time to
have an international agency hosted in the region, 2) the UAEG's
commitment to renewable energy -- and getting beyond a hydrocarbon
society -- is clear with the Masdar initiative, etc., and 3) UAEG
hosting of IRENA would give the Israeli delegation, as IRENA members,
access to visas and constitute a step forward in normalizing of
relations.
OLSON