US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI508

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000508 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR PATRICK HEFFERNAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 
TAGS: IZ, PTER, TC 
SUBJECT: UAE INTERIOR MINISTER ENGAGED ON REGIONAL CT 
COOPERATION, TRAINING NEEDS 
 
 
Classified By: (U)  Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reaso 
ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1. (C) Summary.  In a February 1 meeting with the 
Ambassador, Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan 
discussed his view of regional security cooperation with 
UAE,s neighbors and suggested ideas for bilateral training 
efforts.  Saif noted that the smaller GCC countries have 
often been frustrated with Saudi Arabia for not sharing the 
results of investigations into extremists in the Kingdom. 
End summary. 
 
Regional Security Cooperation Needs to Expand 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Sheikh Saif stated that he is not comfortable with the 
current level of coordination within the GCC on security 
issues.  Noting that events in the other GCC countries affect 
the security of the UAE, he observed that coordination and 
communication needs to increase in order to ensure regional 
security.  He observed that the cooperation between the UAE, 
Oman, and Bahrain is generally good.  Information-sharing 
between the UAE and the Saudis and Kuwaitis was problematic, 
however. 
 
3.  (C) Sheikh Saif said that when the GCC Interior Ministers 
meet, they engage in detailed discussions of broad issues and 
specific cases, but he said that the security services of the 
different countries also need to meet and coordinate. 
Specifically, Sheikh Saif believes the GCC countries need to 
be more willing to share information with the police and 
intelligence services of the other nations regarding ongoing 
investigations into extremist activities.  He noted that the 
other GCC countries have often been frustrated with Saudi 
Arabia for not sharing the results of investigations into 
extremists in the Kingdom.  However, he observed the Kuwaitis 
have been hesitant to share information from their 
investigation into recent attacks in Kuwait.  He noted that 
it is ironic that the Kuwaitis had been pushing for Saudi 
Arabia to be more open, but that as soon as the January 2005 
attacks happened in their own country, they suddenly became 
more guarded. 
 
4. (C) Sheikh Saif discussed the attitude of the senior 
leaders of the UAE, noting that President Khalifa and Crown 
Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) put pressure on all of the 
ministries to focus on security and to communicate with 
allies.  Sheikh Saif anecdotally said that each day as they 
move around town, Khalifa and MBZ are fully cognizant of the 
UAE,s 85% foreign population, and they do not want what has 
happened in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to occur in the UAE. 
Saif identified the difference between the UAE style of 
leadership and that of Saudi authorities as a 
&generational8 difference.  This generation of UAE leaders, 
he emphasized, believes that sharing as much information as 
possible with partners helps ensure the security of all 
nations involved. 
 
 
MOI Benefits from U.S. Training, Seeks More 
------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Sheikh Saif thanked the Ambassador for the training 
and assistance provided to the Ministry of Interior by the 
United States.  He noted that as a result of recent DHS/ICE 
training and suggestions, the MOI recently established a 
department to examine critical infrastructure protection.  He 
said that the Ministry is eager to explore other areas where 
the UAE could benefit from U.S.-sponsored training.  The 
Ambassador suggested that one possible program would be a 
visit to the U.S. to show UAE officials how we coordinate our 
different local, state, and federal law enforcement elements. 
 
6. (C) Sheikh Saif said they also benefited from our training 
programs because the programs &opened our eyes to 
possibilities8 and helped them be creative with developing 
their own programs.  One such program seeks to enhance 
counterterror finance investigations by providing officers 
with a better understanding of the banking system.  To reach 
that goal, five Abu Dhabi Police officers spent a year 
studying accounting, and now they will spend two years 
working at the UAE,s Central Bank. 
 
Sison 
 
SISON