US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1811

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001811 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHITE HOUSE FOR APHSCT TOWNSEND 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ASEC, PARM, PGOV, KISL, BA, AE, CTR, OFFICIALS, REGION 
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT TOWNSEND'S DECEMBER 2 
MEETING WITH UAE MFA UNDERSECRETARY AL NOAIMI 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and 
Counter-Terrorism (APHSCT) Frances Fragos Townsend met with 
United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Undersecretary Abdalla Rashid Al Noaimi December 2 on the 
margins of the IISS Gulf Security Dialogue conference in 
Manama.  APHSCT Townsend encouraged the UAE to continue its 
support of the Iraqi government, including encouraging the 
participation of the Sunni leadership in the December 15 
elections.  Al Noaimi recognized that Iraq needs help and 
recalled that it was the UAE that first recognized the 
initial Iraqi Governing Council, even in the face of Saudi 
and Arab League opposition.  He said that the strength of 
Iraq is of strategic importance for the Gulf; Iran will 
exploit a politically weak Iraq and work to create a closed 
Gulf to the detriment of the current climate of openness. 
 
2.  (C) APHSCT Townsend raised concerns about the flow of 
cash across regional borders in support of terrorism and 
extremists, and encouraged a strong uniform standard on cash 
couriers across the nations of the Gulf.  Al Noaimi pointed 
to the UAE National Committee for Terrorist Financing and the 
Central Bank taskforce as the responsible institutions 
enforcing laws on terrorist financing.  He said that all 
financial transfers over $2,000 are documented, and the 
transferor is required to show identification.  He added that 
the Emirati government is working on a system of documenting 
transfers carried out under the hawala system.  Al Noaimi 
expressed satisfaction with communication between the Central 
Bank taskforce and the U.S. Department of Treasury in 
investigating cases and taking necessary action.  APHSCT 
Townsend encouraged further cooperation on the most difficult 
cases and in sharing understanding of evolving systems of 
money transfer.  Al Noaimi welcomed further cooperation to 
close any existing loopholes. 
 
3.  (C)  APHSCT Townsend praised the agenda of the 
Organization of Islamic Conference meeting to be hosted by 
Saudi Arabia December 7-8 in Mecca, calling it ambitious and 
potentially historic.  She focused on the importance of 
support for the Amman Declaration.  Al Noaimi said that 
Kuwaiti representatives were involved in working toward 
achieving consensus at the Mecca conference, and praised 
Saudi Arabia for taking a leading role.  He stressed that it 
is important for the Islamic world to revisit what it is 
doing in the areas of education and human rights. 
 
4.  (U) APHSCT Townsend cleared this message. 
 
 
MONROE