Demarche in Preparation for the January 16 Arab League

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000062 E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019 TAGS: ECON ETRD KPAL KWBG MOPS PHUM PREL AL AE SUBJECT: Demarche in Preparation for the January 16 Arab League emergency Ministerial and January 19-20 Arab Economic Summit: Delivered to UAE REF: STATE 3120 and previous Classified by Ambassador Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a January 15 meeting with MFA Asst U/S for Political Affairs Tariq al-Haidan, DCM delivered reftel points. With FM Abdullah currently in Washington, MFA Minstate Gargash is already on his way to Kuwait to participate in the January 16 Ministerial, Haidan promised to convey our points to Abdullah and Gargash immediately. 2.(C) Haidan did not respond to our points on economic issues. On Gaza, though, he responded that AL positions will be shaped by the outcome of several meetings over the next few days: the GCC Summit Thursday evening in Riyadh; the AL Emergency Ministerial in Kuwait Friday; a possible AL Summit in Doha Friday; and of course the Arab Economic Summit next week, which is likely to focus more on Gaza than originally intended. The Syrians, Qataris, and others are advocating strong, non-constructive outcomes and AL moderates will do what they can to limit these. What would assist the moderates the most, at this stage, would be a positive statement from Israel Thursday or Friday. To date, the Israelis have not accepted UNSCR 1860, nor have they spoken out publicly in favor of Egyptian proposals. "How can we hope for progress in these meetings in the absence of any positive Israeli statements?" A strong, clear sign by the Israelis of support for 1860 or the Egyptian proposals would help produce more constructive outcomes in the upcoming meetings. 3.(C) We told Haidan that while we would convey that message, the USG hoped for full support from the UAEG in achieving constructive, positive outcomes in the Kuwait meetings, as well as in Riyadh and Doha, if the latter meeting goes forward. OLSON