US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI2090

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, CJAN, KNNP, PK, GZ, IZ, WEU, TC 
SUBJECT: TOUR D'HORIZON WITH DEPUTY PM SHEIKH HAMDAN 
 
REF: A. (A) STATE 79107 
 
     B. (B) STATE 84867 
     C. (C) STATE 76244 
     D. (D) ABU DHABI 1680 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1. (C) Summary: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State 
for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed (HbZ) and 
Ambassador met May 8 to review developments in Iraq and 
U.S.-UAE relations.  At our urging, the UAE issued a 
statement May 9 welcoming the newly formed Iraqi government. 
HbZ agreed that it was important to keep U.S.-UAE judicial 
cooperation on track and said he would speak to the concerned 
Ministries about setting dates for the next round of Mutual 
Legal Assistance Treaty negotiations in Abu Dhabi.  He 
listened to Ambassador's pitch on Proliferation Security 
Initiative endorsement but offered no commitments.  HbZ 
expressed his government's full commitment to eliminating the 
underage camel jockey problem.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) Attending the meeting were HbZ's office director 
Ambassador Sultan Al Romeithi; Pol Chief; and G/TIP Reports 
Officer Feleke Assefa. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
3. (C) Ambassador delivered Ref. A points encouraging the 
UAEG to make an official statement welcoming the formation of 
the Iraqi Transitional Government and underscoring support 
for Iraq's reconstruction and political transition.  HbZ said 
the UAEG had been waiting for the Iraqi Cabinet to be 
completed before issuing a public statement.  He and 
Ambassador briefly discussed that afternoon's breaking news 
of the appointment of Defense Minister Al Duleimi and three 
other Sunni cabinet members, noting that Al Shibli had turned 
down the nomination.  Recalling HbZ's visit in April with 
Senior Iraq Coordinator Ambassador Dick Jones (Ref. D),  the 
Ambassador told HbZ that the USG appreciated the UAEG,s 
perspective on Iraq and looked forward to further 
consultations on Iraq's political process.  HbZ said that he 
discussed his meeting with Ambassador Dick Jones with Iyad 
Allawi when Allawi visited Abu Dhabi in April.  HbZ said he 
expected to speak with Allawi again May 8 on the cabinet 
nominations.  (Note: On May 9, the UAE Cabinet hailed the 
final formation of the new Iraqi government -- septel.  We 
understand from those who met with Allawi during his recent 
Abu Dhabi stop that the Abu Dhabi leadership continues to 
support Allawi, including providing assistance in setting up 
a television station in Iraq with an associated office in 
Dubai.) 
 
Proliferation Security Initiative 
--------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Drawing from points in Ref. B, the Ambassador urged 
the UAEG to endorse the Proliferation Security Initiative 
(PSI) prior to the May 31 second anniversary of the 
initiative.  The Ambassador noted that Under Secretary John 
Bolton and other U.S. officials had discussed PSI with UAE 
officials during recent visits, and that it was important for 
countries to endorse PSI as a way to control the spread of 
WMD and to deepen operational cooperation in this area.  HbZ 
instructed his office director to follow up with the UAE 
Armed Forces. 
 
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty 
------------------------------ 
 
5. (C) The Ambassador then raised the need to get stalled 
U.S.-UAE judicial cooperation back on track.  The UAE had 
declined in recent months to execute USG requests for 
evidence on the return of fugitives without clarification on 
the USG's position on reciprocity.  She informed HbZ that the 
Embassy had delivered a diplomatic note clarifying the 
reciprocity issue, and a second diplomatic note on the Kanaan 
case, to both the MFA and to the Ministry of Justice on May 1 
(Ref. C).  The U.S. was interested in a follow-up round of 
negotiations on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with 
the goal of concluding the MLAT.  The USG was also open to 
further exchanging ideas on key extradition issues, such as 
the extradition of nationals.  Ambassador emphasized that the 
U.S. wished to proceed with MLAT negotiations and conclude 
the MLAT separately from extradition treaty discussions.  The 
two were distinct instruments serving distinct purposes.  HbZ 
replied that he would speak with the concerned Ministries, 
and agreed that bilateral agreements would institutionalize 
our judicial cooperation.  (Note:  The Ambassador has also 
requested a meeting with the Minister of Justice to discuss 
the points in Ref. C.) 
 
6. (C) The Ambassador then raised the case of Iranian Mahmoud 
Seif, who is in Ministry of Interior custody based on an 
Interpol notice provided by DHS/ICE for violating the Arms 
Export Control Act with regard to a shipment of night vision 
goggles.  Ambassador noted that the Embassy had submitted a 
request through the MFA asking that Seif be rendered to U.S. 
custody, that she had raised the case a day earlier with the 
Minister of Interior, and that she anticipated a favorable 
resolution of the matter.  Sheikh Hamdan undertook to raise 
the matter with the Minister of Justice at the following 
day's Cabinet meeting. 
 
Amcits 
------ 
 
7. (C) The Ambassador also raised the matter of Amcits Coles 
and Rakowski, who were charged March 23 for alleged 
possession and use of sensitive telecommunications equipment 
without a UAE license and their alleged recording of 
photographs/satellite images of sensitive UAEG sites. 
Ambassador informed HbZ that the case was receiving U.S. 
media attention and that both Colorado senators were 
following the case closely.  HbZ said that he would request 
information on the case from Interior Minister Sheikh Saif 
and from Justice Minister Al Dhaheri during the May 9 Cabinet 
meeting. 
Trafficking in Persons 
---------------------- 
 
8. (C) Raising the issue of trafficking of children to the 
UAE to be used as camel jockeys, the Ambassador introduced 
G/TIP Reports Officer Feleke Assefa and noted that he was 
visiting the UAE May 7-10 to meet with representatives from 
the Ministry of Interior, UNICEF, International Organization 
for Migration, Dubai Police and Immigration, and source 
country embassies to appraise the latest efforts to address 
the underage camel jockey problem.  The Ambassador thanked 
the UAEG for facilitating the meetings on such short notice. 
HbZ said that no hurdle would keep the UAEG from attaining 
its objective of eliminating the camel jockey problem. 
Assefa briefly summarized his impressions of recent positive 
developments, including the Ministry of Interior and UNICEF 
signing a project agreement for the care and repatriation of 
the young boys; the opening of a new Social Support Center in 
Abu Dhabi that will provide services to the boys; and the 
fact that the UAEG is going to prosecute four individuals for 
their role in trafficking children to the UAE.  Assefa said 
the USG would expect to see a significant number of boys 
rescued after the May 31 grace period for camel jockey owners 
to register underage camel jockeys expires. 
 
Mission to Pakistan 
------------------- 
 
9. (C) HbZ informed the Ambassador that he and his brother, 
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed, would be traveling to 
Pakistan on May 9 to meet with President Musharraf and to 
show their solidarity with what he is trying to accomplish in 
the fields of counter-terrorism and security. 
 
Palestinians 
------------ 
 
10. (C) Before the meeting, the Ambassador and MFA Protocol 
Director Obaid Al Zaabi discussed Information Minister Sheikh 
Abdullah's May 7 visit to Gaza, where he helped inaugurate 
Zayed City, a new neighborhood comprising 736 apartments 
built with $61 million in UAE assistance.  During the visit, 
Abu Dhabi Development Fund Director General Saeed Khalfan Al 
Rumeithy announced that a similar housing project financed by 
the UAE had been completed in Jenin, and that another housing 
project would be completed soon in Rafah.  Sheikh Abdullah 
met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and reiterated 
the UAE's support for the Palestinian people.  Abbas said 
that the UAE was at the forefront in supporting the 
Palestinians, and that other countries were beginning to 
emulate the UAE's work in the area of housing, health and 
infrastructure. 
SISON