UAE MEDIA REACTION TO 123 SIGNING

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000526

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND ISN/RA (STUKALIN)
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KTIA KPAO PARM PHUM SENV PGOV AE
SUBJECT: UAE MEDIA REACTION TO 123 SIGNING

REFS: A) ABU DHABI 491
B) ABU DHABI 157
C) 08 ABU DHABI 1432


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Obama's May 19 signature of the US-UAE
123 Agreement, and its subsequent movement to Congress, generated
broad UAE media coverage. The signing coincided with a commercially
organized "GCC Nuclear Summit" of key international and regional
officials, including US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Executive
Director for Operations Bill Borchardt, which added third party
validation to the official spin. The agreement signature and
Congressional notification is a key milestone in the fast-track UAE
program (reftels). END SUMMARY.

ENGLISH MEDIA SPLASH
--------------


2. (U) Media coverage of the President's approval of the 123
Agreement varied. Arabic pressqxN.mq Q4\)v8Qz
semi-official Arabic daily, placed the approval prominently on the
headlines, but generally did not extend beyond reprinting the
official Emirates News Agency (ENA/WAM) release. Headlines quoted
Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed's comments in the ENA/WAM
statement. Most English-language press (e.g., Gulf News and Khaleej
Times) similarly drew from ENA/WAM copy or U.S. information released
with the announcement of the approval.


3. (U) The Friday, May 22 edition of Abu Dhabi's semi-official
English daily "The National" (aimed largely at expatriates and
overseas foreign policy elites),however, published three pages of
reporting and extensive analyses of the benefits of nuclear
cooperation and nuclear power to the UAE and the region. A long
editorial vigorously declared the rightness of the decision. Four
paragraphs all starting with "There are those who..." methodically
rebutted various arguments against nuclear power in the UAE,
including concerns about transshipment to Iran, arguments that
oil-rich nations do not need it, and worries that such plants will
herald a regional arms race. Addressing recent allegations that
human rights abuses demonstrate the UAE cannot be trusted with
sensitive nuclear technology, The National writes: "this argument is
becoming tiresome", noting that the UAE welcomes rigorous
independent assessment of its human rights record and is determined
to comply with international standards. With reference to the
upcoming congressional notification process, The National's
editorial stated: "Given the decisive backing of the Obama
administration, the sophisticated UAE communication process with key
US constituencies and (not least) the intrinsic merits of the deal
itself, any objections should be overcome. And in any case, the
arguments of those few who oppose the agreement are either
overblown, or simply disingenuous."


4. (U) The National and Khaleej Times ran separate articles on
nuclear regulation, featuring quotes from NRC Executive Director for
Operations Bill Borchardt. Selected quotes featured US-UAE
cooperation in the field of nuclear power regulation and highlighted
the need for an independent nuclear regulator. Articles also
highlighted the fact that the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear
Regulation (FANR) will be led by former NRC official Dr. William
Travers.


5. (SBU) Comment: Before the media splash had ended, key UAE nuclear
officials were already back to work. The 123 agreement was another
important milestone in their efforts to establish an international
nuclear "gold standard." Many more, such as the 123's approval on
the Hill, remain to be tackled. End Comment.
OLSON