US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI4905

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 004905 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/PPD, AND NEA/ARPI 
STATE ALSO FOR PA, R, IIP, AND DRL 
LONDON FOR ELIZABETH MCKUNE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2010 
TAGS: KDEM, PGOV, PREL, KPAL, PTER, IZ, AE 
SUBJECT: UAE ANNOUNCES INDIRECT ELECTIONS 
 
REF: A. ABU DHABI 1002 
     B. ABU DHABI 2173 
     C. ABU DHABI 3043 
 
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al 
Nahyan announced December 1 that indirect elections will be 
held for half of the Federal National Council (FNC), with the 
other half being appointed.  This move had been anticipated, 
and in fact promised by UAE Deputy Prime Minister and 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed 
during his visit with the Secretary in August.  The timetable 
for the elections is not yet known, although unnamed UAE 
officials have told the press that the process of choosing 
the new council would start early next year.  The Supreme 
Ruling Council, comprising the seven rulers of the seven 
semi-autonomous emirates, is expected to convene on December 
3, presumably about this and other internal developments. 
 
2. (C) Summary continued:  The UAE has lagged behind other 
countries in the region that have adopted political reforms, 
including elections.  President Khalifa made no mention of 
whether women would be allowed to participate in the election 
process, although it is widely expected that this will be the 
case.  The press reported unanimous official and public 
approval of the announcement, which comes on the 34th 
anniversary of the UAE's independence.  Although not as 
dramatic a move as general elections, one newspaper editor 
called this "half election" a gradual step toward broadening 
the political participation of the citizenry.  In addition to 
announcing the FNC elections, President Khalifa used his 
National Day remarks to reiterate the UAE's support for Iraq 
and the Palestinians, and its condemnation of terrorism.  End 
Summary. 
 
3. (U) On December 1, President Khalifa announced that the 
country's principal consultative body )- the FNC )- would 
be partly elected for the first time in its history.  These 
would not be general elections.  Instead, each of the rulers 
will appoint local council members who will in turn elect 
half of the FNC membership for their respective emirates.  No 
announcement has been made yet on the timeline for the 
elections, although unnamed UAE officials quoted in the press 
say that the process would get under way in a few months. 
The "Gulf News" reported that the Presidential Court will 
issue a by-law later regarding the election process.  The 
term of the FNC is two years.  No announcement has been made 
about the start of the next two-year session. 
 
4. (U) The FNC is a consultative body and all federal draft 
laws and decrees must go through it before they are 
officially adopted by the Supreme Ruling Council.  (Draft 
legislation is prepared by the relevant UAEG ministry.) 
While the FNC does not have the power to reject legislation, 
it can send it back to the cabinet for amendment.  The FNC 
also has the authority to question any government minister. 
 
Election Announcement No Surprise 
--------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) This development had been anticipated for some time. 
During his visit to Washington in August 2005, Deputy Prime 
Minister/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan 
bin Zayed had told the Secretary to expect an announcement 
about greater political participation before the end of the 
year.  In mid-November, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh 
Mohammed bin Zayed had stated that a plan for broadening 
political participation was forthcoming.  Discussions of 
political reform in the UAE began to percolate in earnest 
earlier this year after the Ruler of the emirate of Sharjah 
appointed municipal councils and announced that these 
councils could one day be elected (ref A). 
 
Selection of FNC Membership 
--------------------------- 
 
6. (U) At present, the 40 FNC members are appointed by the 
rulers of the seven semi-autonomous emirates.  The emirates 
of Abu Dhabi and Dubai each have eight seats, Sharjah and Ras 
Al Khaimah six, and the smaller Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, and 
Fujairah four.  The Constitution leaves it up to the 
individual emirates to select its FNC members.  Under the new 
plan, further details of which are expected to emerge on 
December 3, half of the FNC membership will now be chosen by 
local councils in each emirate.  Membership to the local 
councils will be on appointment by the local ruler of each 
emirate.  The number of members on each of the emirate's 
councils will correspond to the number of representatives on 
the FNC multiplied by 50.  For example, Abu Dhabi's local 
council will consist of 400 members.  All told, there will be 
2,000 members of local councils across the UAE.  These 
"super-electors," who will include dignitaries, tribal chiefs 
and other influential figures in society, will then elect 
from either within or outside their ranks half of the FNC. 
It appears that each local council will be responsible for 
electing members from its emirate.  The remaining 20 FNC 
members will be appointed by the rulers as before. 
 
7. (U) In his National Day remarks, President Khalifa said: 
"Considering the developments in our region, which is now 
witnessing transformation and reforms, the years ahead in our 
blessed march require a bigger role for the Federal National 
Council by empowering it to be an authority that would 
provide great support and guidance for the executive arm of 
the government.  We shall work to make the Council more 
capable, more effective and more sensitive to the issues 
affecting the nation and the people. ... And through a more 
gradual, organized course, we have decided to start 
activating the role of the FNC through electing half of its 
members through councils for each emirate and appointing the 
other half.  By doing this, we will embark on a march that 
culminates in more participation and interaction from all the 
citizens of the country." 
 
Participation of Women 
---------------------- 
 
8. (C) Information Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed had 
told the Ambassador earlier in the year that that there would 
likely be no restrictions on the participation of women in 
the FNC.  Economy and Planning Minister Sheikha Lubna Al 
Qassimi, the only woman ever to serve in the Federal Cabinet, 
told the "Gulf News" December 2 that the constitution 
envisaged a move toward democracy and the rulers had been 
preparing the people for it.  "Now the time has come for this 
natural transition," she said, adding that she wished to see 
more women participating in the FNC.  In the past, women have 
received training from the FNC and the General Women's Union 
to prepare them to play an eventual role in the council. 
Their training has included observation of the FNC's 
proceedings.  Also, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the wife of 
the late UAE President Sheikh Zayed, has long been at the 
forefront of those calling for greater participation in the 
political process and for the empowerment of women in the 
society.  Academic Ebtisam Al Kitbi, a regular Embassy 
contact, has told the press that she intends to present her 
candidacy for the FNC.  She and General Women's Union 
Secretary General Noura Al Suwaidi have told us in the past 
 
SIPDIS 
of their intentions to serve on the FNC, although both have 
also said that they believe it was more important to empower 
the FNC than it was to open its membership to women for the 
first time. 
 
Press Coverage: Unanimous Approval for "Half Election" 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
9. (U) The press published interviews with government 
officials, business executives, and ordinary citizens hailing 
the coming of democracy to the UAE.  In a front-page 
editorial, "Gulf News" Editor-in-Chief Abdul Hamid Ahmad 
hailed the UAE leadership's decision.  "They have always 
proved how close they are to their people and their deep 
understanding of the positive changes taking place in the 
region and the world."  He said the "half election is half 
the way to fully open the political process."  Arabic dailies 
"Al Khaleej", "Al Bayan", and "Al Ittihad" all warmly 
welcomed the announcement, describing it as an "important, 
historical turning point."  "Al Khaleej" editorial notes that 
the decision "has placed a huge burden on the shoulders of 
local organizations to activate new steps and pump new blood 
into the Federal establishment." 
 
Support for Iraq, Palestinians; Condemnation of Terror 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
10. (U) President Khalifa's national day address also noted 
the UAE's support for the unity of Iraq and its people, as 
well as for Palestinian statehood.  He said of Iraq, "We are 
deeply pained and concerned by the deterioration of the 
security situation and the continual bombings, violence, 
terrorism, kidnappings, and killings of innocent civilians." 
On the Palestinian issue, he said, "We hope that Israel's 
withdrawal from Gaza Strip will be followed by similar 
withdrawals from the occupied Arab territories so that the 
Palestinian people will have the opportunity to establish 
their own independent state."  On the issue of terrorism, 
President Khalifa said, "we have strongly condemned the 
vicious terrorism bombings that hit the sisterly and friendly 
countries of Egypt, Jordan, and the United Kingdom." 
 
Comment: 
------- 
 
11. (C) The pace of political reform in the UAE has been 
admittedly slow until this landmark decision to open up the 
political process.  While the move is welcome, in the absence 
of legislative authorities )- FNC members do not have the 
power to draft or reject laws )- the significance of 
President Khalifa's announcement may be less than meets the 
eye. Although it is still only a "half election," we should 
welcome this gradual step toward broadening the political 
participation of the citizenry.  Embassy programs are already 
committed to advance the reform process and MEPI political 
reform goals through civil society support, NGO 
strengthening, legislative staff training, equipping women 
with skills and techniques to use in advocacy and electoral 
campaigns, developing an independent media, and now, election 
assistance (refs. B, C). 
SISON