Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUDHABI91
2010-02-22 04:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

CODEL HASTINGS DISCUSSES TIP, IRAN, MEPP WITH MINSTATE

Tags:  PREL PGOV ETTC KTIP UNSC IR AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #0091/01 0530423
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 220423Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0337
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0018
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)

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