Cablegate: Tfle01: Uae Pm Speaks Out On Lebanon

VZCZCXRO8284
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #3163 2141332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021332Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6453
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0504

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003163

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KMDR LE AE
SUBJECT: TFLE01: UAE PM SPEAKS OUT ON LEBANON

REF: ABU DHABI 3102

Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

1. (U) UAE headlines August 2 cited Vice President and Prime
Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MbR, also
ruler of Dubai) expressing solidarity with Prime Minister
Siniora in a telephone call the previous evening. UAE media
also highlighted MbR's statements early on August 1, in which
he praised the Lebanese people for their bravery against
"barbaric Israeli aggressors" who indiscriminately attacked
civilian and military targets in Lebanon. He also "held
Israel fully responsible for crossing the red line in this
war" and stated that Israeli targeting clearly showed that it
was not only hitting Hezbollah, but "the whole of Lebanon,
including its civilization, history, resources, achievements,
and various sects, especially innocent children who have been
brutally killed."

2. (SBU) The Prime Minister's strong words come amidst
ongoing humanitarian outreach to the Lebanese people.
Official UAE web sites note Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nayhan visiting Lebanese patients who have been
transported (by the UAEG) to a military hospital in Abu Dhabi
for treatment. Reports of four more planeloads of UAE aid
arriving in Beirut also feature on August 2.

3. (SBU) Comment: UAE residents of all nationalities
continue to be energized by the crisis in Lebanon. Angry
headlines and editorials reflect a deep concern, as do the
strong statements of senior government officials -- two of
the strongest of which have been by the Foreign Minister (ref
A) and now by the Prime Minister. End comment.
QUINN

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