CODEL HASTINGS DISCUSSES TIP, IRAN, MEPP WITH MINSTATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000091 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IR AND G/TIP E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/22 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETTC KTIP UNSC IR AE SUBJECT: CODEL HASTINGS DISCUSSES TIP, IRAN, MEPP WITH MINSTATE GARGASH CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Olson, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary. In a February 16 meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash discussed human trafficking, Iran, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL). Gargash outlined the UAE's efforts to meet USG expectations on trafficking in persons (TIP) and showed frustration with the State Department rankings; he criticized Iran for interfering in the political affairs of its neighbors; and considered the prospects for a breakthrough in the Middle East Peace Process to be bleak under the current Israeli government. End Summary. NEARING THE TIPPING POINT -------------- ¶2. (C) Hastings requested the meeting to discuss TIP, and Gargash was more than willing to oblige with a summary of the UAEG's anti-trafficking programs and a criticism of the annual TIP report that is familiar to USG interlocutors. Gargash told Hastings the USG "moved the goalposts" in the 2009 TIP report, which downgraded the UAE from Tier 2 to Tier 2 Watchlist, by shifting its focus from commercial sexual exploitation to labor trafficking. (Comment: Although an oversimplification, the criticism is not entirely off-base. In 2006, the UAE became the first Gulf country to pass a comprehensive anti-trafficking law and directed its enforcement efforts primarily toward combating sex trafficking, which had been a priority for the previous US administration. Nevertheless, the past three annual TIP reports noted the need for the UAEG to fight all forms of trafficking. End Comment.) ¶3. (C) Gargash is Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and explained to Hastings the UAE's approach to eliminating the crime. The first step was for the UAE to admit it had a TIP problem. Gargash said there is no shame in acknowledging a problem that afflicts more than 100 countries, the shame lies with states that refuse to act to fight human trafficking. He said the UAE consults with experts from the International Organization for Migration (IOM),the International Labor Organization (ILO), other international groups, non-governmental organizations, and foreign governments. ¶4. (C) According to Gargash, the UAE's internal focus is to identify and protect victims by changing the perspective of law enforcement and immigration officials, as well as prosecutors and judges. In the past, these officials viewed prostitutes or immigration violators as criminals. Gargash said the entire UAE criminal justice system is being trained to "look deeper" into these cases for signs of coercion or misrepresentation that could signal human trafficking. The UAE is also engaging externally by negotiating bilateral agreements with labor source countries. Gargash said international cooperation is not limited to governments, noting that UAE shelters were reaching victim protection and follow-up agreements with shelters in other countries. ¶5. (C) Gargash concluded his TIP remarks with more criticism of the State Department's report and ranking system. He lamented the fact that more than 40 TIP prosecutions in 2009 would be ignored by the USG because the victims were exploited for the commercial sex trade rather than forced manual labor. Gargash said the UAEG will "plod on" with its anti-trafficking action plan despite negative reinforcement from the US. IRAN IS NO TURKEY -------------- ¶6. (C) Gargash told Hastings that Iran is a major player in the Arab world for the first time in recent memory. He said Iran is increasingly interfering in regional affairs and compared "this very difficult neighbor of ours" to Turkey. Gargash viewed Turkey's regional engagement as welcome because it is "the neighbor who knocks on the door and waits to be invited in" whereas Iran "jumps through your window or sneaks in the AC vent." Gargash said Iranian influence is evident throughout the Middle East and a nuclear Iran will enjoy much greater ability to shape regional events. Gargash assessed that Iran's external meddling masks internal weakness. He believes the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is running the country and the government's willingness to use force on its own people shows a lapse of moral authority. ¶7. (C) Hastings asked Gargash if sanctions could blunt Iran's regional influence, and if the UAE could help secure China's support for sanctions. Gargash said the legitimacy attached to UN Security Council decisions was key for galvanizing global opinion. He noted the US angered China with Taiwan arms sales and a POTUS-Dalai Lama meeting and questioned if this buildup of irritants in the relationship was part of a USG strategy from which it could "climb down" in order to offer China some sort of concession. ¶8. (C) Gargash said President Obama's attempt to engage the Iranians put them on the defensive. The UAE expected this attempt to fail and assumed its aim was to energize US allies. Gargash stressed that the US should continue to keep its friends informed. He said Iran's neighbors used to worry that "the Europeans would cut a deal without telling us" and hoped the US would maintain communication and consultation among Gulf allies. Military action is the least desirable option because "radicalism grows from conflict." ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS MATTER -------------- ¶9. (C) On the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Gargash said the deleterious effect of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank can never be underestimated. Calling the settlements a land-grab, Gargash said future negotiations will take into account the facts on the ground and for that reason "the only thing that matters is land." ¶10. (C) Gargash said despite his weakness, the UAE will continue to support Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. (Note: The UAE has given more than $242 million to the PA in the past year. End Note.) Gargash called Senator Mitchell a skilled negotiator but did not expect any progress with the existing Israeli administration. He called the current standstill unfortunate because there is a window of opportunity with a US administration and core Arab constituency that want movement. Gargash said the PA's internal divisions will keep Abbas in a weakened position until the Israelis give him something to show for his moderation. OLSON