US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3983

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003983 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR D, NEA/FO, AND INR/B 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, OVIP, TC 
SUBJECT: U.S. delegation pays condolences to UAE rulers 
 
 
1. (U) On November 5, an official USG delegation led by 
Deputy Secretary Armitage paid condolences to UAE President 
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his 
father Sheikh Zayed.  Most of Sheikh Zayed's other 18 sons, 
including Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sultan, Abu Dhabi 
Crown Prince and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Sheikh 
Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for 
Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan, and Minister of Information 
and Culture Sheikh Abdullah were gathered in the large 
reception hall at Khalifa's palace.  They, senior members 
of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family, and other members of 
the ruling families of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, greeted 
the USG delegation, which also included NEA A/S Burns, PM 
DAS Bue, the Ambassador, DCM, Polchief, and D staffer Ryu. 
The reception hall was teeming with large numbers of 
Emiratis, from prominent business people to elderly 
Bedouins, as well as a large number of foreign delegations. 
 
2. (U) After the initial greeting, President Khalifa 
indicated his desire to exchange thoughts with the Deputy 
Secretary and invited him to sit in the place of honor for 
 
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more than 20 minutes.  The discussion was punctuated by 
Khalifa's need to greet Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat 
Aziz, Bosnian Prime Minister Adnan Terzi, former Iraqi 
Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi, and dozens of other 
foreign dignitaries, but Khalifa pulled himself away from 
his other callers to sit and speak with the Deputy 
Secretary at some length.  Khalifa and the Deputy Secretary 
 
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focused their discussion on the achievements of Sheikh 
Zayed over his five decades of public life, and each 
expressed a strong commitment to the bilateral 
relationship.  Khalifa voiced his strong commitment to 
working with the USG in the war on terror.  The Deputy 
Secretary thanked Khalifa for the UAE's steadfast 
 
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friendship and for the late Sheikh Zayed's generosity and 
visionary leadership.  He invited Khalifa's advice on 
regional issues, noting the UAE's important role.  Khalifa 
also passed his congratulations to President Bush for his 
re-election, and noted that he had hoped for this victory. 
Khalifa was warm, genuine, and sincere in expressing his 
deep appreciation for the USG delegation's visit, as was 
Defense Minister/Dubai Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al 
Maktoum. 
 
3. (SBU) On November 6, UAE media featured the USG 
condolence call, as well as the November 4 call to Sheikh 
Khalifa by President Bush, and the November 5 signing of 
the condolence book at the UAE Embassy in Washington. 
POTUS had telephoned Khalifa on November 4 to offer his 
condolences on behalf of the United States and his father, 
and to congratulate him on his new position as president. 
On November 5, the Secretary signed the condolence book at 
the UAE Embassy in Washington. 
 
Condolence call on former First Lady Sheikha Fatima 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
4. (SBU) Following the Deputy Secretary's meeting with 
President Khalifa, part of the USG delegation consisting of 
Ambassador, DAS Bue, and PAO visited former UAE First Lady 
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's Sea Palace.  The First Lady, 
speaking through her interpreter, congratulated President 
Bush on his victory.  She also spoke of Sheikh Zayed and 
how he believed in women, children and the environment. 
She highlighted Zayed's last official act, the appointment 
of a new Cabinet, including Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi as 
Minister of Economy and Planning - the first woman 
appointed to the UAE Cabinet. 
 
5. (U) This message was cleared by the Deputy Secretary. 
 
6. (U) Embassy Baghdad -- minimize considered. 
SISON