US embassy cable - 89ABUDHABI5423

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 05423 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR 
TAGS: PREL, TC, IR 
SUBJECT: LIFE IN TEHRAN 
 
1.  CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
2.  TEHRAN REMAINS ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AND 
DEPRESSING ACCORDING TO UAE MINISTER OF HEALTH 
HAMAD AL-MIDFA.  DURING AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL 
OCTOBER 3 (DCM ACCOMPANYING), MIDFA COMMENTED ON 
HIS RECENT VISIT TO TEHRAN AS PART OF A REGIONAL 
CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC HEALTH.  HE SAID HE FOUND THE 
CITY IN A POOR STATE OF MAINTENANCE.  HE STAYED AT THE 
FORMER HILTON; THE SHEETS WERE YEARS OLD, NO HOT 
WATER WAS AVAILABLE FOR TEA AND THE PLUMBING WORKED 
BADLY.  HE SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME DRIVING AROUND THE 
CITY.  HE FOUND PEOPLE PERSONALLY FRIENDLY BUT 
COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS.  A 
FEW INDICATED REGRET FOR PASSING OF THE SHAH'S REGIME. 
LINES OF WOMEN IN BLACK CHADORS WERE WAITING OUTSIDE 
VARIOUS SHOPS.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NEW 
CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR. 
 
3.  THE MEETING ITSELF, SAID AL-MIDFA, WAS TOTALLY 
DISORGANIZED AND CHAOTIC.  IN WHAT MAY BE A TEA-LEAVES 
GAUGE OF POLITICAL RELATIONS, THE UAE WAS 
ASSIGNED FORTH PLACE IN PROTOCOL ORDER AFTER KUWAIT, 
OMAN AND QATAR.  NO OTHER GCC STATES ATTENDED THE 
MEETING.  AL-MIDFA NOTED THAT BAHRAIN HAD PLANNED TO 
ATTEND BUT HAD BEEN DISSUADED BY SAUDI ARABIA. 
 
 
MACK