Yes, but when?

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid's CNN interview is getting plenty of exposure, especially the 'everything we started, we are going to finish' comment.

I don't doubt it, but the real question for residents suffering from construction fatigue is when.

An example is the Al Sufouh tram line. Nothing's happened for months.




The roads in front of JBR and all the way past Media City, after years of construction, were finished. Then they were dug up. Re-finished. Then dug up again for the tram line.

Then...nothing.

We're left to negotiate several kilometres of abandoned road works.

That's something that clearly hasn't been affected by the meltdown, digging up areas which have, at great expense and to the huge relief of users, been completed.



The same areas are dug up over and over again.

It seems to me that hole digging's one of the very few jobs-for-life these days.


CNN interview.
Projects will be finished.

A question of wasta

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid has extended his recent online Q&A session with journalists by now doing the same with the public at large.

One question caught my eye because of recent conversations about the subject, wasta.

Yaser Abdulla Ahmed Al Tunaiji of Ras Al Khaimah asked:

The phenomenon of wasta [use of connections] has spread noticeably in our country. We see it in action every day. Why is it that we don't see anyone fighting this phenomenon? I have personally suffered from the effects of wasta, and that's the reason I decided to bring the issue up for your kind consideration.

The word crops up regularly in conversation and what amuses me is that the complaints are usually made as though it's a phenomenon unique to the UAE.

I've heard the phrase 'it's not what you know but who you know' in many places around the world, and that's wasta.

The British 'old school tie' is wasta - the disproportionate number of Old Etonians in powerful positions confirms its effectivesess.

It's far from being something unique to this country.

The other thing that amuses me is that the people complaining about it wouldn't hesitate to use it if they had it.

Who wouldn't use wasta to give themselves an advantage for a job, or to get an upgrade on a flight, or tickets to a big sold-out show?

Overall it was an interesting exercise in dialogue between ruler and people, something which isn't the norm around the world by any stretch of the imagination.

They talk to us, or at us, but it's not often a two-way conversation.

The dialogue covered everything from personal questions to foreign affairs, questioning the PM's decisions in recent cabinet reshuffle to the position of stateless citizens.

If you listen to the criticism of the UAE you wouldn't believe that a ruler here would talk with the people, would answer sensitive questions such as those last two.

A long way to go it's true, but it isn't as bad as many claim and great strides are being made in a short time.


You'll find all the questions and answers in the Emirates Business 247 supplement.

No rent increases in 2009...unless...

Once again it's needed The Big Boss to step in to sort out a confusing situation and a problem damaging Dubai's future.

Dubai's future relies on its commercial success but ridiculously high rents have put an increasing burden onto employers, making the cost of doing business here increasingly uncompetitive. High rents are also making employees question whether Dubai is an attrractive place to live and work, which also hits the commercial sector.

For example, rent for a two bedroom apartment in a less-than-luxury Dubai Marina block is at AED180,000pa. Per month that's over US$4,000 or €3,000 or UK£2,750.

We've had the rent cap, which was at 5% last year, and have been waiting for this year's announcement.

A week ago the CEO of RERA, Marwan Bin Galita, said "We don't need a rent cap this year. We need to freeze everything. 2009 is a tough year and we shouldn't interfere with rents too much."

That caused some confusion - What would be frozen, last year's rent cap? Would there be a new rent cap? If so, what would it be? Does 'not interfere' mean leave it to the market?

Now we know the answers. As Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid has issued Decree No 1 for 2009. It applies to residential and non-residential properties, not allowing any increase in rent in 2009 for tenants who renew contracts signed in 2008.

However, it gets a little complicated because if similar properties have an average rent according to RERA's rental price index which is more than 25% higher, then the landlord can increase the rent.

Well that's how I interpret the reports, but you'd better read for yourself if you think it affects you. EmBiz247 has it here.


Let's hope it works because rents were really out of control.

Telling it like it is

The Big Boss really does push the boundaries.

In a culture which doesn't publicly criticise, which takes politeness to the point of being overly polite it's quite remarkable.

For the media to be reporting his comments is even more a sign of changing times.

In April last year he warned government ministers to lift their game, even naming ministries he wasn't satisfied with.

A couple of months later it was announced that a system was being developed to track the performance of all ministries. And a team of 'mystery shoppers' would regularly monitor them and report their findings directly to Sheikh Mohammed.

That was followed by a cabinet reshuffle, with some ministers replaced and others moved.

In the first meeting of the new cabinet he laid it on the line again.

He urged the ministers to find effective solutions to the problems facing them while developing their ministries. "I don't want ministers to bring us their problems only, they should come up with valuable solutions."

"...I demand you do more, exert all possible efforts and come up with creative ideas in the best interests of the nation..."

He noted that he would even effect a new reshuffle should any minister fail to discharge his duties.

The person at the top always sets the tone, which then filters all the way down. This new attitude is badly needed to weed out the complacency, inefficiency and incompetence we struggle with. Long may it continue.



Gulf News story here.

Ministry changes

Last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid put various ministries on notice to lift their game.

Then it was announced that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to
check their performance.

Today there is the annoucement of a cabinet re-shuffle. Some ministers have been moved, some have been replaced, new ministries formed, responsibilities of some departments have been moved...and we now have four female ministers.

WAM quotes Sheikh Mohammed as saying that :

...the overall objective of the cabinet reshuffle was enhancing government's efficiency, transparency and teamwork.

"We want a modern and effective cabinet with a greater consistency and abilities to improve functioning of the government as a whole and to accelerate development processes."

All the details are in the lead story in today's Gulf News, here.

Good news for construction workers

The Emirates news agency WAM reports some good news from the UAE Cabinet meeting held on Sunday.

The Ministry of Labour was told to collaborate with construction companies to prepare, as a matter of urgency, proposals on the issue of the salaries of workers in the construction sector.

They will also, the Ministry said, ' intensify their inspections of workers' accommodation, noting that some of the housing facilities being provided to workers by some companies are sub-standard and do not meet the conditions and specifications laid down by the laws of the state'.

Ain't that the truth.

Later, The Big Boss, who of course presided over the Cabinet meeting, was at Dubai Municipality. He ordered an increase in the number of inspectors to cover all labour accommodation and he instructed the Municipality to double its efforts to preserve the image of Dubai.

Later, Labour Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary, Humaid bin Deemas, was forthcoming in his statements.

He said the Labour Ministry was following with deep concern the protests being made by workers from a number of construction companies which it was dealing with. It was also committed to taking the necessary measures to bring an end to any form of violation of the law.

He said the Ministry strongly insists that all workers must receive full wages without any deductions, for whatever reason. He said the ministry totally rejects the excuses being given by some companies for their practice of withholding wages. The ministry was determined to eradicate this practice which, he said, was considered by the UAE government to be an unacceptable form of exploitation that is in contravention of the law. He warned that the ministry will impose heavy fines and severe punishments on all those who are found by the supervisory committee to have violated the law.

There are two obvious observations to make I suppose.

One, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't need this kind of enforcement because we all treated each other with respect and honesty. Human nature being what it is, though, far too many people take any advantage they can from other people.

Two, why does it need Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and the Cabinet to tell the Ministries they need to do what they should be doing as a matter of course?

Salaries not being paid, deductions from salaries, sub-standard accommodation and conditions, all are illegal. It's been going on for years, yet here we are needing a Cabinet directive because the Ministry of Labour isn't on top of it.

If you'd like to read the original WAM reports they are here and here.

'Mystery shoppers' to check on ministries

The Big Boss meant what he said about ministries lifting their performance levels.

A while ago Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid told them in no uncertain words that they had to lift their game. Now he's announced that they will be secretly monitored.

At the Cabinet meeting held in Fujeirah it was announced that, using the retail 'mystery shopper' model, there will be a team of 'mystery clients' monitoring ministries' achievements and peformance.

It was also announced that an integrated system is being developed to track the performance of all ministries.

Most telling, the team of 'mystery clients' will report directly to Sheikh Mohammed.

With him watching them so closely the odds are good that we'll all benefit from some long-overdue improved efficiency from government departments.

I do wish the RTA was subjected to the same attention.

The story is in Gulf News here.

Petitions work? Gimme a break!

There's an online petition complaining that salik is not a good idea, at least for the time being. It's not very clear but I assume it's asking the RTA to postpone the July 1st start-date.

What amuses me is that people, many people, are claiming that the earlier on-line petition to 'save our beach' was hugely successful and was the main reason Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid ordered the work to stop. They think the latest one will have the same effect.

What arrogance. What self-importance. What a dream world they live in.

Sheikh Mohammed will do what he believes is the right thing for Dubai, for its future growth and prosperity. You can bet your life he will not be swayed from that by the complaints of a few hundred transient expats, here for a short period then back to their home countries.

If he thought it was in Dubai's best interests to develop the beach it would have gone ahead. He didn't, it didn't.

The petition would have had no influence on the decision.

If he cancells or postpones salik at this late stage it will be because he has the advice of experts such as Brig. Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, who is vocally opposed to the plan.

Once again, a petition by a few expats will not influence government policy. Sign it by all means, blog about it - I do endlessly, write to the papers about it, be vocal about it. But don't think for one moment that if the government thinks it's the right thing to do you will be able to reverse the decision.

And if it is reversed, please don't claim credit for it, like the beach petitioners and their supporters.

The salik petition is here.

Wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.

I can't even begin to imagine what it it means to them.

The Dubai Government Excellence Programme rewarded 25 'unsung heroes' for their dedication doing their behind-the-scenes work.

Two lowly employees in particular have been in the news; Syed Sulaiman, a cleaner from Tamil Nadu, and Mohammad Nazir, a Pakistani gardener.


Mohammed Nazir, left, & Syed Sulaiman, presented with
their awards by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid.
Photos: Devadasan. Gulf News

Part of the award is for each winner to receive AED50,000. Which is US$13,595.

To put that into context, Mohammed's salary is AED1,200 a month and Syed's is AED850 a month. That's US$326 and US$321 respectively. A month.

On those salaries they've not only kept themselves but their families back home. Now they have a sudden and totally unexpected windfall of the sort of money they couldn't even have dreamt about.

Good luck to them.

Gulf News reports on the two are here and here.

Beach development seems not to have stopped...

...but surely they can't be ignoring Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid's order?


If you go here you'll find my earlier postings with the story from the time a construction fence suddenly started being built to close off the beach next to Burj Al Arab, through the press announcement of the development, on to Sheikh Mohammed's order for it to be cancelled, then on the mysterious and continuing offshore work.

You can find some good photographs of the work boats on NZM's blog posting on the story at M&J Adventures.

Yesterday I saw that a small island had appeared where the dredger has been working, today I took my camera and here it is. I'm standing on the wall of Umm Suqeim Fishing Port, which is about 700 metres from Burj Al Arab:





That wasn't there three days ago. The barges and dredger are working non-stop, so I assume much more new land is going to be appearing very soon.

Over at the Skyscrapercity thread on this development there's this render of a development on this site:




I'm not sure whether this is a vague general idea or a serious proposal, because it has not only the offshore marina section but comes in across the beach and back beyond it - and that's getting into the area where there are villas and Umm Suqeim Park.

Back to the offshore work - the question has to be, what is going on?

It can't be the development announced by Zabeel Investments, surely, because Sheikh Mohammed stopped that. There are rumours that it's a development at the fishing port and that would make sense because that's where this first island has appeared.

Wouldn't it be nice to know for sure.

RTA gets it wrong yet again.

It was almost inevitable. A decision to be made by the Roads & Transport Authority and they made the wrong one.

In an endless saga of breathtakingly inept management they've got the new toll system competely wrong.

And it isn't only me saying it.

There are two issues with the toll. One is whether a toll will improve traffic flow, whether it's simply another of our taxes-by-another-name and what percentage it will add to inflation. That it will add something to inflation is not at issue, the argument is how many percent.

But it seems that the toll will go ahead regardless - unless Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid vetoes it - so the real issue now is implementation and management.

They've named it Salik, meaning open or clear in Arabic, but it's far from clear what their rationale is. As usual with the RTA it's all vague, wooly thinking.

Oh, and as usual they're leaving it all to the last minute. We're a mere 60 days from start-up and they're still talking to industry bodies, still gathering information, still 'making final decisions', still not sure of the details.

Payment model

They have hundreds of toll systems around the world to research and evaluate in terms of Dubai's needs. You'd have to assume they did that.

They had many different payment models to choose from - and as we've come to expect from the RTA they chose the wrong one.

Hire car companies, fleet operators, car dealers are all saying the same thing, as will all we drivers - the payment model is wrong.

Motorists will buy a stick-on tag which is to be fixed to the car's windscreen, behind the rear-view mirror is being recommended. Salik starter kits at Dh100 will be on sale for the toll which is due to begin on July 1. Dh50 is for 'an initial cost for the account' (sounds like a tax to me) and Dh50 is credit against toll trips. Overhead devices will automatically deduct Dh4 per pass-through.

The problem with the system they've chosen is that the tag belongs to the vehicle, not the person. Their website says "With no battery or moving parts, it should last the life of your windshield...Your Salik tag must be affixed to your windshield to operate properly and cannot be removed without damaging the tag. You should have a Salik tag for each of your vehicles."

So if you have to change your windshield - buy another tag.Own two cars - you have to buy two tags. Sell your car - the tag goes with it. (Think about that for car hire fleets selling hundreds of cars a year). All you can do is deactivate the tag.

It goes without saying that the tag should belong to the person, not the vehicle. As they have in Singapore we should have a little plastic holder that's fixed to the windshield, the payment card slots into it, the overhead device reads the card. Use your second car, you put the card into its holder. Sell the car, you still have your card. Replace the windshield, you still have your card.

Improved traffic flow?

Then there's the toll road itself. It's actually only a small section of Sheikh Zayed Road, the most congested section to be fair. There will be two overhead devices, one at Garhoud Bridge the other by Mall of the Emirates at Interchange 4.

Only if the vehicle passes under the reader will a toll be charged. Join the same section of road a little further down and there's no charge. It's not hard to visualise vehicles blasting in from Jebel Ali, off at interchange 4.5 (or whatever it's going to be called) or onto a service road, skip round the overhead gantry and back onto SZR the other side. That hardly eases traffic flow does it!

Join the toll section of SZR anywhere but under one of the two overhead readers and it's free.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid has already warned the RTA about their performance, as I posted here. They've made and continue to make such a mess of what they're doing that it's long overdue for a large clean-out of management and designers who urgently need to be replaced by competent people with the ability to actually do the job properly.

I originally posted about the stupidity of the toll system they've come up with all the way back in November, here.

Bad zoo news

I'm told Dubai zoo's move has been canned yet again.

This really is unacceptable - the zoo is an embarrassment, a blot on Dubai's name, an absolute disgrace in this day and age. It's particularly appalling given the billions of dollars being invested in the emirate.

Can you imagine horses or camels being imprisoned in the way the animals at the zoo are cramped into tiny, unsuitable space? Of course not.

I don't understand how the municipality can let this continue. It's not only damaging Dubai's reputation, it's a missed commercial opportunity - not something of which the authorities are often guilty. A good, modern zoological garden is a tourist attraction, a money-making enterprise.

It's another problem that's being mishandled and needs Sheikh Mohammed's urgent attention.

Finger on the pulse

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid not only has his finger on the pulse of what goes on, he tells it like it is, he pulls no punches.

And he talks an awful lot of sense - what a shame others in positions of power and authority don't have his talents. And, as I've said on several occasions before, what a pity that things don't happen as they should until Sheikh Mohammed becomes personally involved.

In his capacity as Prime Minister of the UAE he announced a new three year development strategy at a major meeting of more than 1,000 high-level government and business leaders. And he really laid into the performance of some of the ministries.


Photo: WAM

He made the point that huge sums have been invested in various areas with very little result, something that many of us have talked about for some time. The vision is there, the money is there, the talent and the will to make it happen to the required standard are all too often lacking.
The problem, said Sheikh Mohammed, was not a lack of funding, but rather a lack of implementation.

Picking out the Education Ministry in particular he said: "...despite the huge spending, the outcome has remained far below our aspirations...It is a culture that is content with identifying problems, finding solutions and announcing them in the media without any sort of implementation"

That would be true of other ministries and departments too. A lot of money, a lot of talk, very little actually done or done properly.

He picked out for criticism education, health and justice. And he also criticised the Ministry of Labour on Emiratisation.

As you would expect, it's got all of them jumping, just as his blitz on the roads and police had them suddenly getting on with the job a few weeks ago. This morning, Emirates Today has the story "Ministers pledge to achieve the Government Strategy objectives."

Some more notable quotes from Sheikh Mohammed's speech:

"The budget for education has increased annually for the past 20 years and has been accompanied with several plans, projects, suggestions, policies and promises. Yet, the outcome has constantly been weakening. Even when education officials decided to restrict public schools to UAE national students, the education budget remained on the rise, expenditure per student increased yet the outcome did not improve."

On Emiratisation:

"It is very easy to impose Emiratisation. We can do this any time, but what would we gain if we did not provide our youth with the best knowledge, skill and expertise to commensurate with these jobs?"

He criticised the Minister of Labour, who has issued a number of decrees to Emiratise certain jobs - such as secretarial positions and public relation officers - within two years. "I appreciate his dedication and enthusiasm, but his decisions were not successful because they ignored reality as well as the nation's priorities."

And he also covered something that many of us talked about at the time it was announced:

Shaikh Mohammad said the same applies to the decree on Emiratising the positions of human resource managers within 18 months. "However, if we decide to place UAE nationals in such positions, we have to make sure we provide them with the required knowledge and expertise. Our success in achieving this goal is tied to the extent we develop UAE skills and talents."

Then he focused on the Ministry of Justice:

"I have read the reports of the justice and safety ministerial team and did field trips to the courts and the ministry of justice. I was surprised and expressed my utmost dissatisfaction with what I read and saw. It was living 20 years behind [other ministries]." Shaikh Mohammad warned: "We will not allow this to continue. We will not accept that people's cases and rights get stuck in courts, in a long sequence of useless procedures."

Gulf News yesterday covered the announcement over three full pages and it makes fascinating reading. You can go to the full articles at these sites:

Investing more money not always the answer.

Development plan unveiled.

A balanced diet for sustainable growth.

Ministry of Justice is 20 years behind .

Call for cautious Emiratisation.

Legislative framework weak.

Ministries will be run like corporations.

The Emirates Today story is here: Ministers pledge to achieve the Government Strategy objectives.

The Big Boss saves the beach.

Excellent news for beachlovers and for Dubai's future tourism targets.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid has instructed Dubai Municipality to stop the construction work on Umm Suqeim beach immediately and remove the construction fence which cordons off the beach for the planned project. The beach should be left open for the public, the municipality was told.

This is the beach that would have been lost:



What may be surprising to many is that the project has been stopped in spite of the development company having as a co-director and major shareholder Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid.

Wasta has not stood in the way of a sensible decision. And, not for the first time, Sheikh Mohammed has demonstrated that Dubai is fortunate to have him as Ruler.

Irresponsible reporting - again.

I have to say, yet again, that Emirates Today has stayed at the bottom of the barrel with its mis-reporting of the story.

I complained earlier that they reported this development incorrectly, didn't bother to check their 'facts' and mislead their readers. They continue to do it with this new report.

They repeat: "Instructions to tear down the fencing work on the popular beach, extending from Burj Al Arab to Port Rashid..." It does NOT extend to Port Rashid, that's 20 kilometres away in the heart of Dubai city! It extends to Umm Suqeim Fishing Port, a length of about 600 metres.

The development was announced as being 4.5 million square feet, including new offshore areas. If it extended to Port Rashid it would be a thin strip development 20 kilometres long and 20 metres (65 feet) wide! Hardly likely is it.

Why don't they check their facts rather than mislead their readers? It's not difficult to do.


Gulf News has a report here.

Emirates Today story, complete with mis-reporting, is here.

Scroll down for my earlier postings on the two subjects.

The Big Boss is at them again!

A few days ago I posted about Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid losing patience and taking a strong line with the traffic authorities about the continuing traffic chaos in Dubai. We saw evidence of changes the very next day.

Now he's turned his attention to the Labour Law, the changes needed and the ways it's violated. "Unjust treatment will not be tolerated", he said. He's obviously studied the problem and come up with a whole raft of instructions to the ministers involved.

Sheikh Mohammed said the rights of expatriate workers must be protected, their living and working conditions - standards of health, safety and quality of life - are to be significantly improved. He instructed that an effective mechanism to ensure unpaid workers receive their dues and to enable legal job-changing is to be implemented. He said a medical insurance scheme is to be set up, covering all grades of labourers to provide them with the same level of healthcare as the rest of the community.

He instructed the Ministry to implement special contracts between maids & servants and their employers that limit working hours and give full rights. He ordered the setting up of a special court to deal with labour disputes and mistreatment cases. And he ordered the establishment of a 2,000 strong inspection unit to monitor workplaces and labour accommodation.

As if all that wasn't enough he also ordered an urgent investigation into the roles and capabilities of labour supply companies, with special focus on abuses of rights in lieu of providing job opportunities.

These things have been discussed here on blogs, and in some of the more adventurous newspapers, for some time. Changes to the law, and implementation of the law, were obviously overdue.

But as with the traffic problem I have to ask why necessary actions don't happen until Sheikh Mohammed becomes personally involved. It seems nothing happens until he identifies the problems, comes up with solutions and issues orders to the authorities and ministers.

Only when The Big Boss gets involved...

It's hardly breaking news that Dubai has problems with moron divers. That jumping red lights, dangerous speeding, erratic lane changing, hard-shoulder driving, aggressive queue-jumping, road-blocking by illegal parking is commonplace. That far too many accidents, and deaths, are caused by the cretins.

It's been that way for a long time, with the occassional hand-wringing and tut-tutting from those in a position to do something about it.

But action? No, no action.

Now Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is on the case, and suddenly people are running around doing what they should have done long ago.

Why is it that things get done only when he becomes personally involved?

I would hazard a guess that he's is a very busy man. The UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Also a very successful businessman with a huge business empire. Not to mention finding time for his interests such as being one of the world's leading racehorse owners, taking part in equestrian events and all the rest of it.

He surely can't be personally involved in every routine decision that needs to be taken. Yet it needs his personal involvement in things that other people are highly paid to do before they actually do them.

Yesterday Gulf News told us Dubai to crack down on reckless drivers. The story was that Sheikh Mohammed had ordered road traffic officials to come down hard on reckless drivers, to find immediate solutions to the city's traffic problems and to implement them as a priority. He also ordered the police to increase traffic patrols and radar devices.

Sheikh Mohammed warned them that "any delay or slackness in implementing the directives would be considered negligence and will not be tolerated." He also warned them that he would be personally watching the traffic situation until it is resolved.

Today Gulf News follows-up with reports of action being taken already. Errant motorists face full force of the law.

The Acting Chief of Dubai Police said: "the directions of Sheikh Mohammed are being implemented immediately."

You bet your life they are, he obviously terrified them.

But it's an unacceptable situation that people in highly-paid positions of responsibility need to be told how to do their jobs by Sheikh Mohammed.



For those of you who don't live here, here's a sample of the problem:


Seabee
In a 60kph zone!


Vazhisojan/Gulf News
A policeman issues parking fine to a driving
school instructor who parked his car in the
middle of a busy road in Bur Dubai.


Gulf News
This motorist committed a blatant traffic
violation in Dubai yesterday which resulted
in the car being impounded.

The Big Boss is on the case!

Gulf News reports the good, no make that excellent, news that The Big Boss has decided enough is enough with the road situation.

HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum...(insert positions here)...has issued orders to the departments concerned to adopt measures to improve traffic safety standards on roads, especially on the Al Khail Road and Jumeirah Road.

He has ordered officials to take strict action against drivers, particularly truck drivers, who violate traffic laws and safety rules, putting the lives of other drivers and pedestrians at risk.

Following these orders, Mattar Mohammad Al Tayer, CEO of the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority and Brig. Eisa Aman Obaid, Dep. Dir. Dubai Traffic Police held an urgent meeting to discuss measures to implement the Ruler's directives.

I wonder whether he used the diplomatic language the paper reported? I suspect it would have been a little more direct - I'd love to know exactly what he said. It certainly got them hustling to hold an urgent meeting.

I know he's a busy man, but let's hope he follows up.