US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI240

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000240 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/P, INR 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: SPE JAMES BAKER'S VISIT TO THE 
UAE 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY: THE 01/20 VISIT OF SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY JAMES 
BAKER TO THE UAE TO DISCUSS IRAQI DEBT RECEIVED PROMINENT 
COVERAGE IN THE LOCAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. REPORTS AND 
PHOTOS WERE ON FIRST PAGE OF MOST PAPERS; THERE WAS NO EDITORIAL 
COMMENT. END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  UAE ARABIC AND ENGLISH DAILIES REPORTED PROMINENTLY THE VISIT 
OF FORMER SECRETARY BAKER TO THE UAE AND HIS MEETING WITH HIS 
HIGHNESS SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHAYAN, ABU DHABI CROWN 
PRINCE AND DEPUTY SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE UAE ARMED FORCE. 
SHEIKH HAMDAN BIN ZAYED, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF 
STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALSO ATTENDED THIS MEETING. 
 
3.  ARTICLES WRITTEN BASED ON THE FIRST REPORT FILED BY THE 
EMIRATI NEWS AGNECY (WAM) REPORTED THAT DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD ON 
THE SITUATION IN IRAQ, EFFORTS TO REBUILD IRAQ, AND IRAQI DEBTS. 
BOTH SIDES AFFIRMED THAT POLITICAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC 
PROSPERITY IN IRAQ ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE REGION'S STABILITY AND 
PEACE.  ARTICLES WRITTEN AFTER THE SECOND OFFICIAL REPORT BY WAM 
STATED THAT SHEIKH KHALIFA ASSURED SPE BAKER THAT THE UAE IS 
COMMITTED TO HELP THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO REBUILD IRAQ AND THAT IT 
WILL CANCEL MOST OF THE IRAQI DEBTS AND IS WILLING TO START 
NEGOTIATING THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  (NOTE: MOST ARABIC 
SPEAKERS TRANSLATE THIS IDEA AS "MOST OF IRAQ'S DEBTS", HOWEVER 
SUBSEQUENT ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY WAM SAID "MAJOR PART OF ITS 
OUTSTANDING LOANS".) 
 
4.  HEADLINES IN THE ENGLISH DAILIES READ: 
- DUBAI-BASED ENGLISH DAILY "GULF NEWS": "UAE READY TO LAUNCH 
TALKS ON IRAQ'S DEBTS." 
- DUBAI-BASED ENGLISH DAILY "KHALEEJ TIMES": "KHALIFA, BAKER 
DISCUSS REGIONAL ISSUES." 
- SHARJAH-BASED ENGLISH DAILY "GULF TODAY": "UAE IS READY TO 
WAIVE MOST OF IRAQ'S DEBTS, KHALIFA TELLS BAKER." 
 
HEADLINES IN ARABIC DAILIES READ: 
- ABU DHABI-BASED SEMI-OFFICIAL ARABIC DAILY "AL-ITTIHAD": 
"KHALIFA: UAE IS COMMITTED TO CANCELLING MOST OF THE IRAQI 
DEBTS." 
- DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-ORIENTED ARABIC DAILY "AL-BAYAN": 
"KHALIFA: THE UAE WILL CANCEL MOST OF THE IRAQI DEBTS." 
- SHARJAH-BASED PAN-ARAB DAILY "AL-KHALEEJ": "THE UAE WILL CANCEL 
MOST OF THE IRAQI DEBTS." 
- ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AKHBAR AL-ARAB": "KHALIFA 
DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS AND IRAQI DEBTS WITH BAKER." 
- ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL WAHDA": "KHLAIFA AFFIRMS THAT 
THE UAE IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT SECURITY AND STABILITY OF IRAQI 
PEOPLE." 
 
WAHBA