US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI4982

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 004982 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, EB/ESC 
NSC FOR ZARATE 
TREASURY FOR LEVEY, GLASER, MURDEN, HEFFERNAN, LENBENSON 
MANAMA FOR BEAL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 
TAGS: KTFN, PTER, EFIN, AE 
SUBJECT: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR REACTION TO PROPOSED 
U.S.-UAE JOINT TERRORIST FINANCE COORDINATING COMMITTEE 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 208617 
 
     B. ABU DHABI 4828 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) Please see para 5 for an action request. 
 
2. (S) On December 10th, Ambassador and econoff met with the 
UAE Central Bank Governor, Sultan Nasser al-Suwaidi, to 
discuss the proposed U.S.-UAE Joint Terrorist Finance 
Coordinating Committee (JTFCC).  This meeting was a follow-up 
to the November 26th meeting, during which Ambassador 
delivered Ref A proposal to al-Suwaidi (ref B); the purpose 
was to seek the Governor's feedback before disseminating the 
proposal to other UAEG entities. 
 
3. (S) Governor al-Suwaidi provided a cautious, measured 
response to the proposal, and he highlighted three key 
concerns: 
 
- Iran and Syria Policy.  Expressing his concern that the 
U.S. might use the JTFCC to "force its political agenda on 
the UAE," al-Suwaidi stated that he is worried the U.S. will 
ask the UAE to take actions against Iran and Syria that could 
damage the UAE's relationship to its neighbors.  Noting, 
"Right now, the U.S. does not have good relationships with 
these countries, but in ten years that could change, and the 
UAE would be left holding the bag."  Ambassador assured the 
Governor that the committee would enjoy a two-way dialogue 
and that its purpose would be to coordinate activities.  The 
UAE would have input into what actions the committee 
ultimately took. 
 
- Public Leaks.  Reiterating the UAE's desire to keep the 
extent of its CT cooperation with the U.S. below the radar 
screen, the Governor was concerned that U.S. officials might 
leak content of the meetings to the media.  Ambassador 
underscored that the JTFCC proposal explicitly states that 
the substance of the meetings are classified. 
 
- UAE Benefit.  Governor al-Suwaidi requested a more precise 
picture of what the UAE had to gain by the establishment of a 
JTFCC.  He wanted to know if the UAE would have the 
opportunity to comment on decisions before they were taken. 
Complaining that their FIU often receives requests for 
information based on "incomplete" names, al-Suwaidi also 
indicated he hoped the JTFCC would provide a mechanism for 
vetting these requests.  Ambassador emphasized that 
consultation and advanced coordination are among the explicit 
purposes of the JTFCC.  Al-Suwaidi was appreciative of this 
assurance. 
 
4. (S) Governor al-Suwaidi noted that "others" in the 
Government would determine whether it is implemented or not. 
Ambassador noted that Treasury U/S Levey desired to travel to 
the UAE in late January to hold the inaugural JTFCC meeting. 
The Governor requested a proposed agenda for the first 
meeting, which could then be shared with other UAEG 
authorities, including Dubai officials, to obtain their 
buy-in to the JTFCC. 
 
5. (S) Action request: Please forward a proposed agenda for 
the first JTFCC to Embassy for passage to the Central Bank 
Governor and other UAE counterparts, including officials in 
the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Justice, the 
federal State Security Directorate, and Dubai's State 
Security Organization. 
 
SISON