Ambassador-Designate Wahba Confirmation Hearing Statement
Washington D.C., September 13, 2001
Mr. Chairman, I am deeply honored to be here. My family immigrated to America 34 years ago and I therefore appear before you today with a special sense of pride and sincere appreciation for being given the opportunity to serve my country. If confirmed as the next Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, I will do my best to uphold the trust placed in me on behalf of the American people by the President, Secretary Powell, and the Congress.
We are here today under tragic circumstances just two days after the horrible attacks in New York and Washington. The highest duty of any Foreign Service Officer is to stand as America’s first line of defense against our enemies. If confirmed, I will make it my top priority to build upon the already excellent cooperation we enjoy with the United Arab Emirates to help us in our global effort to find and bring to justice the perpetrators of these horrible crimes.
During my years in the Foreign Service most of my assignments have been in the Middle East, a region of strategic importance to U.S. national interests. Over the years I have learned first hand of how important the U.S. role is in maintaining peace and stability in a region that includes a wide diversity of cultures, religions and political structures.
I look forward to serving in the United Arab Emirates, a confederation of seven Emirates strategically located on the Arabian Gulf. Beyond fighting terrorism and protecting Americans there, the key American interests in the UAE are in the military, security, and economic/commercial realms.
The United Arab Emirates’ political leadership welcomes the U.S. presence in the region and has recently taken important steps to strengthen the US-UAE strategic partnership. Last year the UAE decided to purchase 80 advanced F16s – a project that will bring our militaries and leaderships closer together over the next 20 years and will sustain 30,000 U.S. jobs. The Jebel Ali Port in the Emirate of Dubai is the Navy’s busiest overseas port-of-call. If confirmed, I will actively engage with the leadership of the UAE to ensure a continuation and expansion of the excellent security and military co-operation we have with the UAE.
Our law enforcement relationship with the UAE has steadily improved over the past several years. We are currently cooperating in several core areas that include counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, border/export control and money laundering. These initiatives are extremely important since the UAE plays host to a large expatriate population, nearly 85% of the total, and the country’s openness and entrepreneurial spirit provide opportunities for illegal activity. Within hours of the attacks, the most senior leaders of the UAE pledged their complete and total co-operation with our efforts to seek justice. If confirmed, I intend to work diligently to promote co-operation on these top priority issues.
Under the visionary leadership of Shaykh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, the federation has developed and prospered over the past thirty years. The citizens of the UAE enjoy an open economy with one of the world’s highest per capita income and a sizeable annual trade surplus. GDP in 2000 was approximately 60 billion USD and the UAE is one of the world’s most important energy producers, possessing the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world.
American firms have made significant investments in the oil sector and many U.S. firms have moved their regional offices to the UAE where they enjoy a hospitable business environment. The UAE is our fourth largest export market in the region after Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Primary U.S. concerns include the absence of effective patent protection and the lack of legislation to criminalize money-laundering. While the UAE is making progress on both fronts, more remains to be done. In the area of copyright protection the UAE receives high marks, which has led a number of U.S. high-tech companies including Microsoft and Oracle to open regional offices in Dubai. If confirmed, I intend to actively promote U.S. business interests in the UAE while working towards improving the areas of continued concern to us.
The UAE has a consultative political system that allows for a consensus building process on important issues across emirates, tribes and families. I hope to be able to open a dialogue with Emiratis from all walks of life, including women, to promote the concepts of civil society and citizen participation.
In closing, if confirmed, I will welcome hearing your insights and views and look forward to welcoming you in the UAE.
Thank you very much for considering my nomination.
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