VZCZCXRO0647
OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #3783 2691343
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261343Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7103
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1114
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003783 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B; 
RRU-NEA 
IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR MCKUNE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: IRAN/UAE CAMEL JOCKEYS 
 
¶1.  Summary:  A UAE columnist in "Al-Khaleej" warns of Iran's active 
intervention in Arab issues, especially in Iraq and Lebanon.  An 
editorial in "Al-Ittihad" lauded the way the UAEG handled the issue 
of camel jockeys.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  Under the headline "The Iranian expansion in Arab affairs", UAE 
columnist, Dr. Abdul-Khaliq Abdulla, wrote on 09/26 in Sharjah-based 
pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000): 
 
"Iranian interference in Iraqi internal affairs, such as the 
occupation of Iraq, is an important reason for the deterioration of 
the security situation and living conditions in Iraq.  Iran is today 
an active party to the dismemberment of Iraq.  There is nothing 
worse than the American occupation of Iraq except for the Iranian 
intervention in Iraq.  Both of them equally bear the political and 
moral responsibility for the suffering of the Arab people in Iraq... 
 Iran is playing very shrewdly and subtly the tune of sectarianism 
and at the same time ensures that it imposes itself as the spokesman 
for all Shiites around the world.  The Iranian expansion is 
responsible for fueling sectarian tensions in a volatile region... 
Sunni-Shiite anger has reached alarming levels in Iraq, which is on 
the verge of civil war.  Sectarian tension in Lebanon has also 
increased because of Hezbollah's victory backed by Iran.  Such 
unprecedented sectarian tension can be exploited by enemies to 
divide the Arab nation already suffering from chronic political 
fragmentation.  The Arab nation has no interest in fabricating 
battles with Iran, but the Iranian expansion is harmful and it is 
very important to deal with it.  The best way to deal with the 
Iranian expansion is to play an active Arab role in Iraq, increasing 
the dose of Arab aid to Lebanon and establishing a national, 
political, and Arab dialogue to alleviate secular and religious 
conflict.  With that done, it will be alright to activate a direct 
Arab-Iranian dialogue on all the popular and official levels to talk 
frankly and openly about legitimate Arab fears of the unprecedented 
Iranian expansion into our Arab affairs." 
 
 
¶3.  Under the headline "Necessary steps to address allegations", Abu 
Dhabi-based semi-official Arabic-language daily "Al-Ittihad" 
editorialized on 09/25 (circulation 65,000): 
 
"The issue of Camel Jockeys in the UAE has been resolved through a 
systematic and serious plan sponsored by the senior officials of the 
country.  How this issue was handled reflects the seriousness and 
official concern used in dealing with this thorny issue... which 
previously resulted in a negative impact on the depiction of the UAE 
in international forums and specialized reports.  The fine and 
professional manner with which the UAE dealt with this began with 
the law issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 
the president of the UAE on the regulation of camel races and the 
prohibition of using children under the age of 18 as camel 
jockeys...  Moreover, a national committee was formed to combat 
human trafficking in UAE...  The UAE leaders were keen to tackle 
this problem as it goes against the civilized religious and moral 
values that prevail in the UAE.  This was done through coordination 
between the UAE's Ministry of the Interior and the Organization of 
the United Nations Children's Fund "UNICEF", which recently lauded 
what has been achieved...  The organization's representatives 
expressed their appreciation for the UAE's efforts in solving this 
problem.  The UAE has, indeed, set an example in solving this thorny 
issue.  However, this impressive effort remains to be publicized by 
the foreign mass media because several recent reports, published by 
Western media, talked about the link between camel jockeys in the 
UAE and the traditional sports activities in the UAE...  This 
reflects a lack of awareness by many Western media sources of the 
actions taken by the UAE to address this problem, which has been 
already been resolved in a civilized and humane way." 
 
 
 
SISON