VZCZCXRO4620
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #2695/01 1801157
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 291157Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5923
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0788
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1520
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0303
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 002695 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, S/CT, INR/NESA 
NSC FOR FRAN TOWNSEND, MMALVESTI, MTAYLOR, NSHAMPAINE 
COMMERCE FOR U/S DMCCORMICK, WWYSONG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016 
TAGS: PTER PINS EPET ETTC SY IR IQ AE
SUBJECT: APHSCT TOWNSEND DISCUSSES IRAN, REGIONAL CT ISSUES 
WITH UAE STATE SECURITY DIRECTOR 
 
REF: A. ABU DHABI 2358 
     ¶B. ABU DHABI 2422 
     ¶C. ABU DHABI 2633 
     ¶D. ABU DHABI 2245 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
 ¶1. (S/NF) Summary. On June 19, Assistant to the President 
for Homeland Security and Counter Terrorism (APHSCT) Frances 
Fragos Townsend met with the Director of the UAE's State 
Security Department (SSD) Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed al-Nahyan to 
discuss the growing Iranian threat in the region and ongoing 
U.S./UAE counterterrorism cooperation.  Hazza reported that 
Iranian intelligence units are actively gathering information 
in the UAE.  Describing the relationship between UAE and 
Syrian intelligence services as "not fully successful yet," 
Hazza said the Syrians do not cooperate at all on issues 
relating to Iran.  Hazza expressed concern over any security 
incentives that the P-5 plus 1 may have offered Iran.  The 
UAE continues to work with Iyad Allawi in Iraq to encourage 
greater Sunni and moderate Shi'a participation.  Hazza 
stressed securing the country should be the new Iraqi 
government's top priority.  During a discussion about the 
Palestinian Territories, Hazza stated that with additional 
financial support, Fatah might effectively be a counter to 
Hamas.  Recognizing that communication between Pakistan and 
Afghanistan is essential to Afghanistan's stability, the UAE 
continues to mediate between the two countries.  Townsend and 
Hazza discussed the problem of Yemeni tribal relationships 
influencing the government's willingness to cooperate with 
international efforts to counter extremism.  The UAE is in 
the process of forming its newly-announced National Security 
Council  End summary. 
 
¶2. (S/NF) Hazza was accompanied by SSD Director of External 
Relations Colonel Hamad al-Shamsi, SSD Director for 
Counterterrorism Major Saif Majed al-Mehairi, and SSD Chief, 
European and American External Relations Department, Major 
Sultan Saeed Mohammed Saleh al-Shamisi.  APHSCT Townsend was 
accompanied by Ambassador, NSC Senior Director for Combating 
Terrorism Dr. Michelle Malvesti, Aide to APHSCT Michael 
Taylor, PolMil Chief, and Econoff (notetaker). 
 
Iran - A Continuing Concern 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3. (S/NF) APHSCT Townsend began the meeting by thanking Hazza 
for the UAE's cooperation with the U.S. on counter- 
terrorism, counter-proliferation, and Iran.  Agreeing that 
cooperation with "friends" is essential, Hazza told Townsend 
that the U.S. and the UAE have the same objective of 
countering both terrorism and the growing Iranian threat, and 
he noted that the UAE's cooperation with the U.S. has no 
limits.  "We will work with you until we feel we are in a 
risky position (on matters relating to Iran)." 
 
¶4. (S/NF) Hazza reported that he is growing more concerned 
about Iranian activity in the UAE.  The Iranians have 
recently stepped up their intelligence collection efforts in 
the UAE, with a particular emphasis on UAE and U.S. military 
sites, he said.  Additionally, Hazza stated that the Iranian 
intelligence service tries to "use" Iranian citizens and 
Shi'a living in UAE.  Hazza noted that the SSD is in the 
process of forming a special unit to counter Iranian and 
Shi'a influence in the country. 
 
¶5. (S/NF) Hazza told Townsend that the SSD had no formal 
relationship with Iranian intelligence units, but that the 
SSD established a relationship with Syrian intelligence 5-6 
years ago.  Hazza said that cooperation with the Syrians is 
"hit or miss" and that they are "not cooperative at all" on 
issues relating to Iran.  Although the SSD is trying to 
improve the relationship between the two services, Hazza 
stated that he is aware Iranian intelligence is working 
through Syrian intelligence to gather information in the UAE 
and the region. 
 
¶6. (S/NF) Turning to a discussion about potential dialogue 
with Iran, Hazza probed for more detail on the P-5 plus 1 
 
ABU DHABI 00002695  002 OF 003 
 
 
package.  In particular he wanted more information on any 
security incentives for Iran that might have been included. 
APHSCT Townsend responded that the USG agreed to not share 
details until Iran has a chance to review the package, but 
she did note that President Bush had approved the proposal. 
(Note: Hazza's brother, ForMin Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, 
had also asked Ambassador for the same information, refs 
A-B).  Townsend told Hazza that the decision to dialogue 
rests with Iran.  She asked for the UAE's assistance in 
measuring Iranian commitment to any future dialogue. 
 
Securing Iraq - Continued UAE Role 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (S) SSD Director of External Relations Colonel Hamad 
al-Shamsi briefed APHSCT Townsend on Iyad Allawi and U.S. 
Ambassador to Iraq Khalilzad's June 15 meeting with Deputy 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed (HbZ) (which 
Ambassador Sison and al-Shamsi had also attended, ref C). 
Al-Shamsi said that Allawi is forming a "national unity 
front" that will be "more effective than before."  Among 
other things, Allawi wants to reach out to moderate Shi'a, 
and the UAE is encouraging and facilitating this effort.  A 
month ago, al-Shamsi reported, anti-Iranian senior Shia'a 
tribal leaders from southern Iraq visited the UAE to discuss 
ways to get out from under Iranian influence, and al-Shamsi 
said that the UAE and other regional players in the &Group 
of Six8 were helping them to coordinate with other moderates 
like Allawi. 
 
¶8. (C) Noting that Iraq is "in the middle of a thunderstorm," 
Hazza said that the death of Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi was a very 
positive development.  However, the most important job of the 
new Iraqi government remains the issue of securing the 
country, he said.  The new Ministry of Interior has an 
important role to play, but the government must carefully 
monitor it to ensure that it is not corrupt.  Additionally, 
al-Shamsi said that the government must find a way to 
eliminate the "militias" that are continuing the insurgency. 
Al-Shamsi said that once the government secures the country, 
only then will it be able to work to attract foreign direct 
investment.  He indicated, however, that the UAE is favorably 
considering the idea of hosting a regional conference to 
encourage economic development in Iraq (particularly in the 
oil and gas sector), which was discussed during Khalilzad's 
meeting with HbZ. 
 
Supporting Fatah to Counter Hamas 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (S) Townsend began a discussion of the Palestinian 
territories and Hamas by telling Hazza that the USG 
understands and supports the UAEG's desire to provide aid to 
Mahmud Dahlan.  Hazza told Townsend that the UAE agrees with 
the U.S. policy of not supporting the Hamas-led Palestinian 
government.  He reiterated his belief that if Hamas 
successfully governs, it could encourage other extremist 
organizations.  "As Muslims and Arabs, we worry that their 
efforts will destroy us...I believe that the only people who 
can be successful in the West Bank and Gaza are the PLO and 
Fatah."  Al-Shamsi elaborated and said that the UAE believes 
it is important to support Fatah and the PLO's efforts and to 
try to erode support for Hamas.  Hazza said that the UAE has 
encouraged Fatah to remove corrupt officials, and al-Shamsi 
said that Fatah is trying to reform itself by bringing 
competent technocrats into the organization to do such things 
as control NGO activity in the West Bank and Gaza.  Al-Shamsi 
noted, however, that Fatah needs more financing to support 
its efforts.  "If Fatah had the same funds as Hamas, then 
they could more effectively challenge Hamas," he said.  In 
particular, he said that if Fatah's security forces had more 
financial support, they could more effectively counter Hamas. 
 If Hamas feels enough international pressure, it might 
accept the PLO position regarding Israel, al-Shamsi said. 
 
Mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶10. (S) Hazza told Townsend that UAE ForMin Sheikh Abdullah 
 
ABU DHABI 00002695  003 OF 003 
 
 
bin Zayed al-Nahyan intends to host Afghanistan and Pakistan 
in a security meeting to try to resolve outstanding issues 
between the two countries.  Hazza said that successful 
mediation is essential because Pakistan will play an 
important role in ensuring Afghanistan has the "good future 
it deserves."  Hazza also added that building trust between 
the two countries security services will be a critical part 
of the process, noting that the chiefs of the two services 
would meet shortly in Abu Dhabi. 
 
Regional Stability - Problems in Yemen 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (S) In a discussion about ensuring terrorists do not use 
the UAE as a base and/or transit point, Hazza assured APHSCT 
Townsend that the UAE had implemented security procedures 
that make it difficult for individuals to smuggle explosives 
or dangerous items into or through the country.  Noting that 
Yemeni cooperation with the USG has deteriorated in the past 
year, Townsend voiced concern about the risk of explosives 
coming into the UAE and other neighboring countries from 
Yemen.  Hazza agreed that the situation in Yemen is 
difficult, particularly given the fact that the Yemeni 
Government does not exercise control over all of the various 
tribes.  The UAE's approach is to dialogue with Yemen and 
encourage them to take action against extremist tribal 
elements, he said.  Townsend noted that one of the most 
problematic figures, Abdelmajid Zindani, exploits Yemeni 
President Saleh's inability to exercise control as a tool 
against the U.S. and the international community.  Agreeing, 
Hazza noted that the problem is twofold.  First, Zindani is 
the holy leader of a tribe with close ties to President 
Saleh.  Second, the Muslim Brotherhood has "penetrated" the 
Yemeni Government, and is pressuring it to not take action 
against Zindani and other extremists. 
 
UAE's National Security Council 
------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (C) APHSCT Townsend congratulated Hazza on the recent 
formation of the UAE's National Security Council (ref D). 
Hazza said that he believes the committee will be an 
important mechanism to enhancing the UAE's own security. 
Hazza reported that the council members are in the process of 
appointing the individuals who will serve on the secretariat 
to run the day-to-day operations of the council and that a 
National Security Advisor would soon be named. 
SISON