CROWN PRINCE OFFERS DHS U/S BEERS COOPERATION, SUPPORT

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000845 NOFORN STATE FOR SRAP AND NEA/ARP DHS FOR NPPD AND PLCY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2019 TAGS: PTER PREL EFIN AF PK YE AE SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE OFFERS DHS U/S BEERS COOPERATION, SUPPORT CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE DOUGLAS C. GREENE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: During an August 7, 2009 meeting with visiting DHS Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) Rand Beers, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) discussed UAE efforts to combat illicit financial flows to Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly through cash couriers, Passenger Name Record/Advanced Passenger Information (PNR/API) cooperation and DHS support for Abu Dhabi’s Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA). MbZ expressed UAE commitment to disrupting illicit financial flows, stressing improved information sharing is essential. MbZ also discussed his views on global terrorism, UAE security and the situation in Yemen. End Summary. ILLICIT FINANCIAL FLOWS -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Under Secretary Beers thanked MbZ for the UAE’s continued cooperation on a broad range of issues, noting that such efforts have contributed to regional stability and encourage other countries in the region to follow the UAE’s leadership. He encouraged MbZ to take additional steps to combat illicit financial flows to Afghanistan and Pakistan. MbZ stressed that the UAEG is committed to doing more, but needed USG information and details about how these funds are moving through the UAE in order to take appropriate action. MbZ assured U/S Beers of his personal interest in disrupting the flow of funds to "bad guys." To exemplify his point, Mohammed Bin Zayed even stated he would arrest his own son if proof was provided that he was involved in funding terrorists, as explained by him that both countries’ children were fighting together in Afghanistan. ¶3. (S/NF) MbZ cautioned that steps be taken to identify legitimate financial flows, e.g., legal remittances or charitable donations, from illicit funds. He noted that of USD 7 billion transferred annually, if 10 percent is illicit, that is a large sum that must be identified. U/S Beers outlined the need for increased implementation of UAE cash declaration requirements and explained that it should be accomplished with a systemic approach. Beers emphasized identifying mutually agreeable systems of investigation to identify suspicious transactions, investigate them and weed out non suspects and work together to identify the real facilitators of the Taliban’s and Al-Qa’ida’s financing. MbZ stressed we need better coordination and communication to combat our shared enemy. SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Mohammad bin Zayed noted UAE concern about Afghan stability and economic development, stressing the related effect on UAE investment in Pakistan. MbZ told U/S Beers, "We need to invest in these countries for the next 50 years, put a system together and work it from within." MbZ said the UAE is investing more money in the region and are currently planning a USD 400 million dollar investment in Afghanistan (nfi). He said that he had been unable to convince other Arab countries to join in this effort; "I tried, but I couldn’t bring any other countries together." MbZ said the UAE wants to build villages, 25,000 homes, and include electric, dams, roads, schools, health care, etc. He said the UAE is working with France and Germany to invest $300 million in Swat and Waziristan as well. TERRORISM - HERE, THERE AND YEMEN -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) MbZ then commented on the future of radicalism. He stated if he lives another thirty years he does not believe anything will change as long as the ideology of terrorists does not change. Extremism will continue as long as schools and books are still feeding the children this ideology. It will take more than one generation to change, and that chQQB&jMD.W"m$RQbZ said that after 9/11 the UAE took a hard look at hardliners in the Emirates. They identified a total of 6,000 hardliners, who could be broken down into four categories: 1) Fighters supporting Afghan jihad against the Russians, 2) Taliban fighters (non-Al Qaeda),3) Members of the army of Osama Bin Laden, 4) Those who want to kill themselves. Noting that only 700 of the 6000 were Emirati citizens, MbZ opined that the UAE is going to be secure. ¶7. (S/NF) MbZ then turned to Yemen, noting that he believes the country is becoming a failed state. He commented that the UAE was strongly opposed to allowing Yemen into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). MbZ recalled a recent GCC meeting where "my boss" (UAE President Sheikh Khalifa) joined his Kuwaiti counterpart in warning Saudi King Abdullah that "If you let Yemen into the GCC, then we are leaving the GCC." MbZ said, as GCC nationals can travel to other GCC countries without visas, Yemeni citizens would come to the UAE by the thousands - if not millions. He explained, "I would have to install ten checkpoints between my house and the school so my wife could drive my children to school. If you are an American here or you are from any country it is my duty to make you safe... this country is going to be secure." ¶8. (S/NF) U/S Beers asked if MbZ had read a recent speech by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan that noted the U.S. will stop calling our efforts a "war on Terror" and using the phrase Jihadists. MbZ had not, but agreed to take a look at it and offer his comments after review. DHS COOPERATION -------------- ¶9. (S/NF) Turning to his meeting with Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA) Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoon (septel),U/S Beers told MbZ that he would be taking CNIA’s requests back to Washington for further discussion and consideration. MbZ mentioned that he heard from State Security Advisor Sheikh Hazaa bin Zayed about USG interest in cooperation on Passenger Name Record/Advanced Passenger Information (PNR/API). MbZ promised U/S Beers that "we will work it out." ¶10. (C) Participants: MbZ. The Charge, DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counter Terrorism Policy Thomas Warrick, and DHS/ICE Attache David Thompson accompanied U/S Beers. ¶11. (SBU) U/S Beers has cleared this cable. OLSON