Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI449
2009-05-07 10:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS ABOUT USG REGIONAL MEDIA
how-toVZCZCXRO8470 OO RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #0449 1271032 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 071032Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2444 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000449
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R, NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO AE
SUBJECT: UAE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS ABOUT USG REGIONAL MEDIA
INTERVIEWS WITH UAE BACKDROPS
Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000449
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R, NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO AE
SUBJECT: UAE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS ABOUT USG REGIONAL MEDIA
INTERVIEWS WITH UAE BACKDROPS
Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) At the end of a meeting on other topics, Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash told the Charge May 5 that the
UAEG is unhappy with regional USG media interviews using backdrops
identified with UAE/Dubai locations. He pointed to two recent
examples, both in Dubai, which caused senior UAEG leaders concern
that the USG message might be too closely associated with the UAE
due to the locations from which they were conveyed: 1) an official
in military uniform against the backdrop of Sheikh Zayed Road, and
2) a USG spokeswoman against the backdrop of the Burj al-Arab hotel.
(Note: When we asked, Gargash couldn't provide specifics -- the
information clearly came to him from others in the leadership. End
note.)
2. (SBU) This is a recurring (but infrequent) complaint of the
UAEG, which generally supports USG regional media activity so long
as our commentary is not visually associated with the UAE. The
MinState was clearly relaying the concerns of more senior officials
and gave three easy solutions to the problem: 1) use a featureless
"black" backdrop, 2) conduct interviews in the studio or newsroom of
the media outlet in question (he mentioned al-Arabiya and
al-Jazeera) with no UAE backdrop, or 3) find a clearly neutral
backdrop with no identifiable UAE scenery.
3. (SBU) Comment: We are in touch with the Department's Regional
Media Hub and CENTCOM's Regional Engagement Cell (both based in
Dubai),and are confident both understand the UAE sensitivities and
ground rules, which the UAEG communicated to the Mission before
either office was established. We request that the Department and
CENTCOM provide this guidance in advance to any visitors planning
regional media engagement here. If there are questions, all USG
visitors should consult with the U.S. Mission Public Affairs Officer
at Embassy Abu Dhabi. End comment.
GREENE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R, NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO AE
SUBJECT: UAE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS ABOUT USG REGIONAL MEDIA
INTERVIEWS WITH UAE BACKDROPS
Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) At the end of a meeting on other topics, Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash told the Charge May 5 that the
UAEG is unhappy with regional USG media interviews using backdrops
identified with UAE/Dubai locations. He pointed to two recent
examples, both in Dubai, which caused senior UAEG leaders concern
that the USG message might be too closely associated with the UAE
due to the locations from which they were conveyed: 1) an official
in military uniform against the backdrop of Sheikh Zayed Road, and
2) a USG spokeswoman against the backdrop of the Burj al-Arab hotel.
(Note: When we asked, Gargash couldn't provide specifics -- the
information clearly came to him from others in the leadership. End
note.)
2. (SBU) This is a recurring (but infrequent) complaint of the
UAEG, which generally supports USG regional media activity so long
as our commentary is not visually associated with the UAE. The
MinState was clearly relaying the concerns of more senior officials
and gave three easy solutions to the problem: 1) use a featureless
"black" backdrop, 2) conduct interviews in the studio or newsroom of
the media outlet in question (he mentioned al-Arabiya and
al-Jazeera) with no UAE backdrop, or 3) find a clearly neutral
backdrop with no identifiable UAE scenery.
3. (SBU) Comment: We are in touch with the Department's Regional
Media Hub and CENTCOM's Regional Engagement Cell (both based in
Dubai),and are confident both understand the UAE sensitivities and
ground rules, which the UAEG communicated to the Mission before
either office was established. We request that the Department and
CENTCOM provide this guidance in advance to any visitors planning
regional media engagement here. If there are questions, all USG
visitors should consult with the U.S. Mission Public Affairs Officer
at Embassy Abu Dhabi. End comment.
GREENE