US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI906

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000906 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ETRD, KMPI, IZ, IR, IS, TC 
SUBJECT: A/S BURNS' MARCH 21 MEETING WITH ABU DHABI 
CROWN PRINCE KHALIFA BIN ZAYED 
 
Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba, reasons 
1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (S) Summary: NEA Assistant Secretary William Burns 
met in Abu Dhabi on March 21 with Abu Dhabi Crown 
Prince Shaykh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  Deputy Abu 
Dhabi Crown Prince and Armed Force Chief Shaykh 
Mohammed bin Zayed and Information and Culture 
Minister Shaykh Abdullah bin Zayed attended the 
meeting.  Burns was accompanied by the Ambassador and 
Polchief (notetaker).  On Iraq, Khalifa denounced 
terrorist attempts at destabilizing the country and 
urged the U.S. to warn Iran not to interfere in Iraq's 
internal affairs.  The CP said he hoped the U.S. would 
make every effort to help resolve the Israeli- 
Palestinian dispute.  Khalifa agreed with Burns on the 
need for reform and that each country needed to define 
its own needs to suit its society and culture.  Burns 
and Khalifa reviewed bilateral progress, the March 15 
TIFA signing in Washington, and expressed satisfaction 
about the successful Strategic Partnership dialogue 
held earlier in the day (to be covered septel).  Burns 
also granted interviews to Abu Dhabi TV and the Arabic 
language daily Al Ittihad.  End Summary. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
 
2. (S) Burns thanked the UAE Government on behalf of 
POTUS for its generous reconstruction assistance in 
Iraq ($215 million pledged in Madrid) and in 
Afghanistan (over $150 million).  He said the U.S. was 
committed to working with the UN to try to ensure 
Iraq's stability, but he acknowledged that it would 
not be easy.  "There will be challenges, but we will 
do our part," he said.  Burns said the U.S. was 
concerned about Iran's ability to destabilize Iraq. 
"We are watching very carefully, and taking it very 
seriously," Burns said, adding that Europeans and 
others should convey similar concerns. 
 
3. (S) The Crown Prince said the UAE has a duty to 
provide assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan.  He said 
some UAE funds allocated for Afghanistan projects have 
not yet been spent because of administrative delays in 
Afghanistan, and he hoped the projects would be soon 
identified and agreed upon by the two sides.  In Iraq, 
he said, the UAE and its allies have helped restore 
water and electricity, and its armed forces have built 
six hospitals.  He said terrorists are attempting to 
destabilize Iraq after the U.S.-led Coalition has 
freed Iraq from years of tyranny.  He urged the U.S. 
to warn Iran not to interfere in Iraq's internal 
affairs.  Khalifa said that the Iranians know that 
Iraq's stability is in Iran's best interest. 
 
------------------------- 
Palestinians and Israelis 
------------------------- 
 
4. (S) President Bush is very concerned about the 
situation between Palestinians and Israelis and 
remains fully committed to a two-state solution, Burns 
said.  The two-state solution brings dignity to both 
sides, and that, in turn, contributes to regional 
stability.  Burns provided a brief outline of the 
Israeli proposal for a withdrawal from Gaza and noted 
U.S. concern that the measures need to be consistent 
with the Roadmap and achieving a two-state solution. 
Burns thanked the UAE for its financial assistance to 
Finance Minister Salam Fayyad to help him better 
manage the PA's finances.  Burns told Khalifa that he 
hoped his meeting with Mubarak in Cairo on March 22 
would create momentum and move the process forward. 
Egypt, he added, has a role to play to rebuild the PA 
security apparatus. 
 
5. (S) Khalifa said the UAE has a duty to provide 
assistance to the Palestinians.  His initial reaction 
to the Israeli suggestion of a withdrawal from Gaza 
was that it would not solve the problem.  He said he 
hoped the U.S. would use its prominent international 
role to "deploy every effort" to solve the dispute. 
Khalifa blamed terrorists for brainwashing Arab youth. 
The UAE believes that terrorism and extremism results 
when people feel their rights have been trampled.  If 
the Palestinian problem is resolved, Khalifa said, 
most of the terrorism problem would come to an end. 
 
------------------------ 
Reform and modernization 
------------------------ 
 
6. (S) Burns clarified U.S. intentions with regard to 
reforms in the Middle East (aka the Greater Middle 
East concept), emphasizing that the U.S. had no 
intention of imposing change on anyone.  Economic, 
social, and political change are very important and 
urgent issues for the region, but change has to come 
from within Arab societies.  He said the U.S. wants to 
help countries that want reforms, for example, 
assisting the UAE in opening up its trade.  He said 
that modernizing the educational system goes hand-in- 
hand with modernizing the economy.  Burns said the 
U.S. also wants to help people participate more fully 
in their political systems.  Burns said it was 
important that the region see the U.S. making progress 
on Iraq, the Palestinian-Israeli problem, the GWOT, 
and reforms.  Khalifa said he was optimistic that that 
would be the case. 
 
7. (S) Khalifa said it was unfortunate that some had 
exploited the "Greater Middle East" concept by 
accusing the U.S. of seeking to impose reforms.  Each 
country can begin to evaluate its circumstances and 
priorities gradually, and added that the UAE welcomes 
any friend who wants to demonstrate how reform will 
benefit UAE society.  He agreed with Burns about the 
need for educational reforms to train people for 
economic opportunities. 
 
------------------------------- 
Progress on the bilateral front 
------------------------------- 
 
8. (S) Burns and Khalifa noted the success of the 
second Strategic Partnership dialogue held earlier in 
the day in Abu Dhabi (reported septel).  Burns, who 
led the U.S. delegation, told Khalifa that the 
Strategic Partnership demonstrated that the bilateral 
relationship is in good shape and he credited the UAEG 
for their accomplishments.  The TIFA signing is an 
example of what the two sides can do to bolster trade. 
Burns said progress on export controls to stop the 
proliferation of WMD materials was in both countries' 
interest.  He said the Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI) was another avenue to strengthen 
cooperation.  The planned May 1-2 JMC and the new Gulf 
Air Warfare Center illustrate the growing military 
cooperation.  "In every area -- commercial, WMD, 
Export Controls -- the pace of our cooperation is 
faster than it is in any other country in the region," 
he said. 
 
9. (S) Khalifa stated that he was pleased with the 
strong ties and he welcomed further initiatives in all 
fields.  He agreed about the importance of non- 
proliferation of WMD.  "We hope to see WMD totally 
removed from the region," Khalifa said. 
 
(U) This cable was cleared by A/S Burns. 
WAHBA