US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI467

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GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG EFFORTS

Identifier: 04ABUDHABI467
Wikileaks: View 04ABUDHABI467 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2004-02-24 13:49:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  03/15/2007 03:22:11 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM                                        February 24, 2004


To:       No Action Addressee                                    

Action:   Unknown                                                

From:     AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 467 - ROUTINE)          

TAGS:     ETRD, ECON, EFIN                                       

Captions: None                                                   

Subject:  GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG EFFORTS    

Ref:      None                                                   
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 00467

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: ECON 
    INFO:   DCM POL P/M AMB 
Laser1:
    INFO:   FCS 

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB: MWAHBA
DRAFTED: ECON:CCRUMPLER
CLEARED: DCM: AALBRIGHT; ECON:OJOHN

VZCZCADI822
RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUCPDOC
DE RUEHAD #0467 0551349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241349Z FEB 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3280
INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000467 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC 
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN 
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA 
TAGS: ETRD, ECON, EFIN, USTR, TC 
SUBJECT:  GCC PROPOSAL FOR FTA TALKS COMPLICATES UAEG 
EFFORTS 
 
REFS: A) RIYADH 728 AND PREVIOUS 
      B) ABU DHABI 136 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 3. 
 
2.  (SBU) The GCC Secretariat's proposal to initiate 
region-wide free trade negotiations with the United States 
(ref A) has put UAE officials in the uncomfortable 
political position of having to support the GCC 'party 
line,' while at the same time, vigorously pursuing a 
bilateral TIFA and FTA agreement with Washington.  In a 
February 17 meeting with Econoff, UAE Director of WTO 
Affairs Saeed Al-Nasibi asked whether Washington had 
responded to the GCC proposal, and noted that a negative 
response from Washington could "put to rest once and for 
all" the possibility of negotiating an FTA with the GCC. 
 
3.  (SBU) Comment and action request:  Although some UAEG 
interlocutors have voiced restrained support for the GCC 
proposal (most probably out of a sense of obligation to 
their Gulf brethren), senior officials have made it very 
clear that the UAE intends to pursue bilateral trade 
agreements with Washington (ref B).  They have said that 
GCC talks, which include Saudi Arabia, would "bog down" 
negotiations.  The UAEG would welcome, however, 
clarification of our preference to pursue bilateral 
agreements with the Gulf states vice a multilateral 
approach to the GCC.  We second Embassy Riyadh's request 
that Washington expeditiously provide a response to the GCC 
Secretariat's proposal, and provide talking points for use 
 
SIPDIS 
in the Gulf capitals, as well.  End comment and action 
request. 
 
Wahba 

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