US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3212

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ODIP, ETTC, PTER, TC 
SUBJECT: UAE DEPUTY PM/MINSTATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON CT, 
EXPORT CONTROLS, REFORM 
 
Classified by:  Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 
(b) and 1.5 (d) 
 
1. (U) Ambassador presented copies of credentials to Deputy 
Prime Minister/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shaikh 
Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (HbZ)  on September 14 in a 
cordial and informal meeting.  HbZ, who had spent much of the 
summer traveling outside of the UAE, was keen to review 
&next steps8 in the bilateral Strategic Partnership 
launched in 2003, focusing on the Trade and Investment 
Framework Agreement, Iran, counter-terror, export controls, 
MEPI, and BMENA. 
 
2. (U) HbZ opened the meeting by showing Ambassador a framed 
photograph of himself with President Bush, noting that the 
photo had pride of place in his Palace office.  He voiced 
sincere appreciation for the strong cooperation and 
partnership between the USG and the UAEG. Ambassador recalled 
our many joint successes and our mutual desire to deepen 
U.S.-UAE ties.  To this end, she noted, the Embassy would be 
hosting three visitors in the coming weeks on counter-terror, 
counter-terror finance, and political-military issues:  S/CT 
Coordinator Black; Treasury A/S Zarate, and PM A/S 
Bloomfield.  The Embassy was fully engaged in moving ahead 
with TIFA Council preparations for the upcoming October 4-6 
session in Washington, Ambassador reported.  The Embassy was 
also working with various UAEG offices to organize an October 
Export Controls Workshop. 
 
3. (C) These visits and meetings would be useful in 
furthering the U.S.-UAE Strategic Partnership, HbZ agreed. 
Security and export controls issues were key, he noted.  The 
discussion then turned to the ongoing IAEA Board of Governors 
meeting and the issue of Iran,s nuclear safeguards 
non-compliance.  HbZ agreed with the need to ensure that Iran 
accept verification of its activities. Ambassador thanked HbZ 
for the UAE,s support for reconstruction and security 
efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 
 
4. (C) Ambassador then informed HbZ that the MEPI Regional 
Office in Abu Dhabi had opened during his travels.  HbZ 
nodded, having seen recent press coverage of this 
development.  Ambassador briefed HbZ on the small grants 
program activities with Zayed University, the University of 
Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, and Dubai Women,s 
Higher Education Technical College.  HbZ was pleased with the 
news that a MEPI-organized Media Strategy Workshop for 30 
regional participants would be held in Abu Dhabi in October. 
The UAE had much to offer in sharing experiences in the field 
of education, he noted, but also had much to learn in other 
areas.  He noted the UAE,s commitment to female higher 
education, and then said that &the new cabinet8 would 
probably boast women members.  (Note:  although Embassy had 
heard discussion of a possible Cabinet change last spring, 
there had been nothing on this for some months.  There has 
never been a female Minister or Minister of State in the UAE. 
 End Note.) 
 
5. (U) After Ambassador reviewed recent BMENA developments, 
HbZ confirmed that Foreign Minister Rashid Abdulla al Noaimi 
would attend the September 24 Forum for the Future session in 
New York, and that Minister of State for Finance Khirbash 
looked forward to the October 1 meeting of Finance Ministers. 
 Ambassador briefed HbZ on the USG,s interest in an IFC 
facility to provide technical advice to support private 
sector development.  The USG was working to provide $15 
million over the next two years, and looked forward to 
discussing with the UAE and other partners how to reach the 
$100 million goal.  HbZ expressed interest in the challenges 
of job creation in the region. 
 
6. (C) HbZ closed the meeting by asking for Ambassador,s 
help in arranging high-level appointments for his brother, 
Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, State Security Department 
Director, at the NSC and Department of State on October 7. 
Hazza had met NSA Rice and S/CT Black on his last visit, and 
had much to discuss with respect to regional and 
counterterror developments.  He was especially keen to 
finalize a White House appointment. 
 
7. (U) Comment:  Although the Sudanese, Finnish, and World 
Food Program incoming Chiefs of Mission also called on HbZ 
9/14 to present copies of their credentials, the Palace news 
release included only the photo of the U.S. Ambassador ) a 
welcome indication of the high esteem the UAEG holds for our 
bilateral relationship.  End Comment. 
SISON