Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI528
2009-05-27 13:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE REPORTS GERMAN SURPRISE OVER IRENA BID
how-toVZCZCXRO3845 OO RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #0528 1471310 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271310Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2518 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0134 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0160 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0036 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0911
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000528
SIPDIS
FOR S/SECC (STERN, PERSHING, ROCHBERG),NEA/ARP, IO/EDA, OES/EGC
(THOMPSON) AND EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR (MONOSSON, SECOR)
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER (BHALLA)
E.O. 12958: 05/26/2019
TAGS: SENV ECON PREL PGOV GM AE
SUBJECT: UAE REPORTS GERMAN SURPRISE OVER IRENA BID
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD G. OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D
REFS: A) 05-26-09 MASILKO-COOPER EMAIL
B) ABU DHABI 329
C) ABU DHABI 301
D) ABU DHABI 199
E) ABU DHABI 170
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000528
SIPDIS
FOR S/SECC (STERN, PERSHING, ROCHBERG),NEA/ARP, IO/EDA, OES/EGC
(THOMPSON) AND EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR (MONOSSON, SECOR)
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER (BHALLA)
E.O. 12958: 05/26/2019
TAGS: SENV ECON PREL PGOV GM AE
SUBJECT: UAE REPORTS GERMAN SURPRISE OVER IRENA BID
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD G. OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D
REFS: A) 05-26-09 MASILKO-COOPER EMAIL
B) ABU DHABI 329
C) ABU DHABI 301
D) ABU DHABI 199
E) ABU DHABI 170
1. (C) As requested in Ref A, on May 27, EconOff contacted Dr. Sultan
Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, to
discuss the status of Abu Dhabi's bid (Refs B-E) to host the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters. Al Jaber
reported that the UAE submitted its official bid on April 30, and
that the UAE had been informed the bid was accepted and qualified.
(Note: The complete UAE bid package is available at:
www.irenauae.com/home/irena.aspx. End Note.) Al Jaber said that
some European member countries told the UAE that its bid was
"incomparable" to others - apparently a suggestion that other bidders
did not offer nearly the same level of detail and/or support as the
UAE.
2. (C) Al Jaber said that Germany, who the UAE believes is its
strongest competition, was "very surprised" by the quality of the UAE
bid and is now attempting to reopen the bids in order to modify its
submission. The German chair of the IRENA Administrative Committee
was leading this effort, but Al Jaber said the UAE, supported by
Austria and Denmark, was confident that would not happen. Al Jaber
added that Germany had not nominated a Director General, but was also
trying to reopen that process. He suggested that this was evidence
that Germany believed it was unlikely to be selected as the host of
the IRENA headquarters.
3. (C) Al Jaber closed by saying the UAE very much hopes all members
will consider the merits of the individual bids and suggested that
the process is being politicized to the detriment of IRENA. Later on
May 27, Al Jaber sent the executive summary of the UAE bid to the
Ambassador with a supporting letter asking for USG support.
OLSON
SIPDIS
FOR S/SECC (STERN, PERSHING, ROCHBERG),NEA/ARP, IO/EDA, OES/EGC
(THOMPSON) AND EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR (MONOSSON, SECOR)
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER (BHALLA)
E.O. 12958: 05/26/2019
TAGS: SENV ECON PREL PGOV GM AE
SUBJECT: UAE REPORTS GERMAN SURPRISE OVER IRENA BID
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD G. OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D
REFS: A) 05-26-09 MASILKO-COOPER EMAIL
B) ABU DHABI 329
C) ABU DHABI 301
D) ABU DHABI 199
E) ABU DHABI 170
1. (C) As requested in Ref A, on May 27, EconOff contacted Dr. Sultan
Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, to
discuss the status of Abu Dhabi's bid (Refs B-E) to host the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters. Al Jaber
reported that the UAE submitted its official bid on April 30, and
that the UAE had been informed the bid was accepted and qualified.
(Note: The complete UAE bid package is available at:
www.irenauae.com/home/irena.aspx. End Note.) Al Jaber said that
some European member countries told the UAE that its bid was
"incomparable" to others - apparently a suggestion that other bidders
did not offer nearly the same level of detail and/or support as the
UAE.
2. (C) Al Jaber said that Germany, who the UAE believes is its
strongest competition, was "very surprised" by the quality of the UAE
bid and is now attempting to reopen the bids in order to modify its
submission. The German chair of the IRENA Administrative Committee
was leading this effort, but Al Jaber said the UAE, supported by
Austria and Denmark, was confident that would not happen. Al Jaber
added that Germany had not nominated a Director General, but was also
trying to reopen that process. He suggested that this was evidence
that Germany believed it was unlikely to be selected as the host of
the IRENA headquarters.
3. (C) Al Jaber closed by saying the UAE very much hopes all members
will consider the merits of the individual bids and suggested that
the process is being politicized to the detriment of IRENA. Later on
May 27, Al Jaber sent the executive summary of the UAE bid to the
Ambassador with a supporting letter asking for USG support.
OLSON