This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 000016 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARPI, AND NEA/PI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016 
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV KPAO KMPI AE
SUBJECT: UAE REFORM STRATEGY: THIRD QUARTERLY UPDATE 
 
REF: A. ABU DHABI 4113 
 
     ¶B. ABU DHABI 2173 
     ¶C. ABU DHABI 4905 
     ¶D. ABU DHABI 4909 
     ¶E. DUBAI 6399 
     ¶F. STATE 230430 
     ¶G. ABU DHABI 3043 
 
Classified By: CDA MARTIN R. QUINN, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Since the September 30 submission of the 
quarterly UAE Democratic Reform Strategy update (ref A), 
there have been several positive developments in our reform 
strategy (ref B).  Most notably, on December 1, President 
Khalifa announced that a form of limited elections will be 
held for half of the Federal National Council (FNC), with the 
other half being appointed by the rulers of the individual 
emirates as is current practice.  President Khalifa described 
the initiative as a first step in a broader democratization 
strategy, and said that amendments giving the FNC greater 
powers and allowing direct elections would follow.  The 
Ministry of Education subsequently announced that democracy 
will become a required part of both the elementary and 
secondary curricula beginning with the 2006-07 school year. 
There has been no tangible progress on the adoption of either 
an NGO or labor law, and no decision taken on whether to 
allow a human rights NGO to operate.  In the area of media 
reform, the Journalists Association is close to submitting to 
the UAEG its recommended revisions to the UAE's Publications 
and Publishing Law so that it more closely reflects western 
standards of press freedom. 
 
¶2. (C) Summary (continued): In the area of improving public 
sector transparency, Abu Dhabi's National Consultative 
Council (NCC), which advises the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's 
Executive Council, launched a web site in October that allows 
citizens to follow debates and submit suggestions.  On a 
national scale, there are still no formal, transparent 
mechanisms for the public to comment on draft federal 
legislation or proposed regulations.  In the judicial reform 
arena, some lawyers and civil activists expressed concern 
with some of the Government's Federal Penal Code amendments, 
which they fear could target any political opposition 
movement.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Representative Government 
------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) On December 1, President Khalifa announced a form of 
limited elections for the Federal National Council (FNC), 
which received the full endorsement of the Supreme Council on 
December 3 (ref C and D).  Although precise details of the 
election have not yet been publicized, the concept would be 
to have half of the FNC elected by an appointed body of 
approximately 2000 electors, and the other half appointed by 
the rulers of the individual emirates.  President Khalifa did 
not give a timetable for the limited elections.  Separately, 
he announced that he would submit a proposal to the FNC 
during its next session recommending amendments to the UAE 
constitution.  These amendments would give greater power to 
the FNC, increase the FNC's membership to match the 
population increase, and lengthen legislative terms. 
President Khalifa said that the amendments were intended to 
prepare for direct elections with universal suffrage for UAE 
nationals.  He also stressed that women would participate in 
the political process, and that he was looking forward to 
more reforms on various levels of power. 
 
¶4. (U) As President Khalifa was announcing his reform agenda, 
the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) was 
gearing up for its first-ever elections for board members. 
Mohammed Omar Abdullah, director-general of the ADCCI, 
described the Chamber of Commerce's election as an important 
step toward building an "electoral culture" in the UAE.  In 
the lead-up to the December 5 election, campaigning by 
candidates included posters and billboards along Abu Dhabi 
thoroughfares.  Of the board's 21 directors, 15 were elected, 
including two expatriates, and six (including two women) were 
appointed by the Abu Dhabi Emirate government.  Several 
hundred Emiratis, both men and women, along with expatriate 
members of the Chamber of Commerce, voted. 
 
------------------------- 
Civil Society Development 
------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Following the announcement of FNC elections, on 
December 5, Dr. Obaid al Muhairi, Director of Education and 
Curriculum Development at the Ministry Of Education, 
announced that beginning with the 2006-07 school year, 
democracy would become part of the UAE national curriculum. 
Starting in first grade, the definition and principles of 
democracy would be taught each year, and then in sixth grade, 
schools would introduce practical skills related to 
democracy.  Dr. Muhairi stated that the Ministry has a 
curriculum already prepared that includes exercises such as a 
model parliament and debate skills for secondary school 
students. 
 
¶6. (C) There has been no tangible progress on the adoption of 
either an NGO or labor law, although UAEG officials continue 
to tell us that the process is moving forward.  Similarly, 
the UAEG has yet to take a decision on whether to allow the 
establishment of one or more human rights NGOs, although an 
announcement was imminent, according to a December 11 news 
article.  It is noteworthy, however, that the Dubai Police 
gave a humanitarian award in December to an activist who runs 
a women's shelter in Dubai, despite the fact that her 
organization does not have official recognition (ref E). 
 
¶7. (U) From November 16-17, the Dubai-based Gulf Research 
Center and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 
co-hosted a workshop on political reforms in Gulf Cooperation 
Council countries.  The participants discussed domestic 
factors driving the reform process, progress made in 
different countries, and how the transformation is likely to 
unfold.  Regional and international scholars and experts 
attended the event, whose overall aim was to propose ideas on 
how to strengthen civil society organizations in a manner to 
reinforce the political reform process. 
 
------------ 
Media Reform 
------------ 
 
¶8. (C) The UAE Journalists Association's committee 
responsible for suggesting revisions to the UAE's 
Publications and Publishing Law to more closely reflect 
western standards of press freedom, announced in October that 
it had completed its study of various proposals and would 
prepare recommendations for the UAEG in early 2006.  A 
MEPI-funded project brought a U.S. media law expert to Abu 
Dhabi in November to meet with the Journalists Association. 
The consultant has since been compiling feedback on the 
Journalists Association's draft law, which will be provided 
to the Association (along with other information and 
recommendations) in a comprehensive report expected next 
month. 
 
¶9. (C) On October 9, a Sharjah court finally acquitted two 
journalists in a 1999 libel case brought against them by 
Sharjah Municipality.  This libel case has long been 
identified by journalists as a cause for self-censorship 
since the Publications and Publishing Law of 1980 treats 
libel and defamation as criminal cases and not civil.  The 
press hailed the ruling as a reinforcement of "freedom of the 
local media."  Self-censorship by foreign journalists fearing 
loss of work permits and deportation continues. 
 
------------ 
Transparency 
------------ 
 
¶10. (U) UAEG officials involved in the U.S./UAE FTA 
negotiations continue to issue high-profile press items 
informing the local populace about progress in the FTA 
negotiations and assuring the public that the UAEG is taking 
their concerns into consideration.  Prior to the third round 
of negotiations in November, UAE co-lead negotiator Dr. 
Mohammad Khalfan bin Khirbash was quoted in all of the Arabic 
dailies as saying, "we are pro-actively engaged with our 
Chambers of Commerce, business, professional, and industrial 
associations and other private sector representative bodies 
to find a common position on which we base our negotiations." 
 
¶11. (U) The Emirate of Abu Dhabi's National Consultative 
Council, which advises the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, 
launched a web site October 1 that allows anyone to follow 
Council debates and to submit complaints, suggestions, and 
petitions directly to the NCC members.  Each NCC member has 
an e-mail address published on the site, and the web site 
offers a bulletin board and live chat room where visitors can 
view NCC debates live.  Rashid Salem al Nuaimi, the NCC's 
Deputy Secretary General, billed the web site an "educational 
instrument" for students and citizens to learn about Abu 
Dhabi government. 
 
¶12. (U) In his National Day speech, President Khalifa stated 
that one of his priorities in 2006 would be to improve 
government accountability and transparency, but he did not 
provide specifics. 
 
-------------- 
Justice Reform 
-------------- 
 
¶13. (C) The issuance of Federal Law No. 34 for 2005 amending 
a range of articles in the Federal Penal Code caused some 
concern among some lawyers and social activists.  In 
particular, they focused on amendments to Article 180, which 
provides for imprisonment of any person who sets up a 
society, organization or group with the intention of 
overthrowing the government, obstructing the constitution or 
laws, undermining the pillars of government, or jeopardizing 
national unity or social peace.  While the intention may be 
to close loopholes regarding terrorists and extremist 
organizations, some lawyers and social activists found the 
language "overly broad," with one Embassy contact suggesting 
that the new law could be used to silence any group, civil 
association, or organization that criticizes the government 
or which calls for social change.  The new law did not go 
through the normal ratification process beginning with 
consultation with the FNC, but was issued by President 
Khalifa and ratified by the Supreme Council in the FNC's 
absence. 
 
------------------------- 
Other Reform Developments 
------------------------- 
 
¶14. (U) The following are some of the other reform-related 
developments that occurred during the last quarter of 2005: 
 
-- On November 14, the UAE Federal Cabinet ratified the UN 
Anti-Corruption Convention.  The measure went into effect on 
December 15, 2005. 
 
-- On December 13 the United Nations Development Program 
(UNDP) country office in the UAE hosted a training workshop 
for 25 local journalists to discuss the Millennium 
Development Goals (MDG).  Participants at the workshop 
discussed the media,s role in raising awareness among 
decision makers, the private sector, and civil society and in 
advocating for developing national plans and committing 
necessary resources towards achieving the MDGs.  Among the 
speakers was a representative from the UAE Ministry of 
Economy and Planning. 
 
-- In December, the UAE Ministry of Labor announced that it 
will form a Supreme Labor Committee that will provide a venue 
for the private sector to discuss labor market problems with 
appropriate UAEG and emirate-level officials.  The Ministry 
of Labor is expected to consult with the group on upcoming 
decisions and policies -- possibly including anticipated 
revisions to the UAE labor law. 
 
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MEPI Programming Ideas 
---------------------- 
 
¶15. (C) Post endorses Department suggestions to pursue UAE 
components of the Arab Civitas, ICNL, and Rule of Law 
programs (ref F).  We will identify and contact appropriate 
interlocutors to seek the UAE's inclusion in these projects, 
and will respond septel to programs gaps noted. 
QUINN