VZCZCXRO2744
RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0526 1461309
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261309Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2516
INFO RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 8286
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0910

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000526 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND ISN/RA (STUKALIN) 
AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG KTIA KPAO PARM PHUM SENV PGOV AE
SUBJECT:  UAE MEDIA REACTION TO 123 SIGNING 
 
REFS:  A) ABU DHABI 491 
      B) ABU DHABI 157 
      C) 08 ABU DHABI 1432 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Obama's May 19 signature of the US-UAE 
123 Agreement, and its subsequent movement to Congress, generated 
broad UAE media coverage.  The signing coincided with a commercially 
organized "GCC Nuclear Summit" of key international and regional 
officials, including US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Executive 
Director for Operations Bill Borchardt, which added third party 
validation to the official spin.  The agreement signature and 
Congressional notification is a key milestone in the fast-track UAE 
program (reftels). END SUMMARY. 
 
ENGLISH MEDIA SPLASH 
-------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Media coverage of the President's approval of the 123 
Agreement varied.  Arabic pressqxN.mq Q4\)v8Qz 
semi-official Arabic daily, placed the approval prominently on the 
headlines, but generally did not extend beyond reprinting the 
official Emirates News Agency (ENA/WAM) release.  Headlines quoted 
Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed's comments in the ENA/WAM 
statement.  Most English-language press (e.g., Gulf News and Khaleej 
Times) similarly drew from ENA/WAM copy or U.S. information released 
with the announcement of the approval. 
 
¶3. (U) The Friday, May 22 edition of Abu Dhabi's semi-official 
English daily "The National" (aimed largely at expatriates and 
overseas foreign policy elites), however, published three pages of 
reporting and extensive analyses of the benefits of nuclear 
cooperation and nuclear power to the UAE and the region.  A long 
editorial vigorously declared the rightness of the decision.  Four 
paragraphs all starting with "There are those who..." methodically 
rebutted various arguments against nuclear power in the UAE, 
including concerns about transshipment to Iran, arguments that 
oil-rich nations do not need it, and worries that such plants will 
herald a regional arms race.  Addressing recent allegations that 
human rights abuses demonstrate the UAE cannot be trusted with 
sensitive nuclear technology, The National writes: "this argument is 
becoming tiresome", noting that the UAE welcomes rigorous 
independent assessment of its human rights record and is determined 
to comply with international standards.  With reference to the 
upcoming congressional notification process, The National's 
editorial stated: "Given the decisive backing of the Obama 
administration, the sophisticated UAE communication process with key 
US constituencies and (not least) the intrinsic merits of the deal 
itself, any objections should be overcome. And in any case, the 
arguments of those few who oppose the agreement are either 
overblown, or simply disingenuous." 
 
¶4. (U) The National and Khaleej Times ran separate articles on 
nuclear regulation, featuring quotes from NRC Executive Director for 
Operations Bill Borchardt.  Selected quotes featured US-UAE 
cooperation in the field of nuclear power regulation and highlighted 
the need for an independent nuclear regulator.  Articles also 
highlighted the fact that the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear 
Regulation (FANR) will be led by former NRC official Dr. William 
Travers. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment: Before the media splash had ended, key UAE nuclear 
officials were already back to work.  The 123 agreement was another 
important milestone in their efforts to establish an international 
nuclear "gold standard."  Many more, such as the 123's approval on 
the Hill, remain to be tackled.  End Comment. 
OLSON