LETTER FROM KING HAMAD TO PRESIDENT BUSH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001067 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-0, NEA AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2014 TAGS: OPDC AMGT BA SUBJECT: LETTER FROM KING HAMAD TO PRESIDENT BUSH REF: MANAMA 1057 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Molly Williamson. Reason 1.4 (D). (C) On July 5 Charge met with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar (reftel). During the course of the conversation, Dr. Abdul Ghaffar handed a copy of a letter from King Hamad to President Bush. Test of letter follow: Begin Text: Riffa Palace Kingdom of Bahrain Arabian Gulf 4th July, 2004 Dear Mr. Bush, On this 4th of July, the anniversary of American Independence, we want to reaffirm our belief that the strategic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Unites States, developed over one hundred years, cannot be affected by passing clouds of alarm caused by terrorist acts, acts that we have unconditionally denounced since between the attacks of 11 September 2001. We have stood together in the face of terrorism, and worked together hand-in-hand to uproot terrorists and cut off their resources, as a natural part of our historic coalition, and in order to safeguard the values and principles of the free world. Mr. President, We in the Kingdom of Bahrain are confident that our hands will remain joined with the people of the United States and with you personally, Mr. President, despite the planning for the temporary departure from our shores of some American families. Nothing upsets me more than seeing some of our American friends feeling insecure amongst Bahrainis, and my wish is for them to stay, and to always remain part of our Bahraini family. The reality is that Bahrain has always been, and will remain, a place of security and tranquillity, and our national security and law enforcement agencies continue to work to combat terrorism and uproot terrorists, within our laws and Constitution. Experience has proved the value of the cooperative relations between our two friendly countries, since the time that the first American warship visited the Arabian Gulf after the Second world war, and berthed in a Bahraini port. We have also cooperated closely during the two Gulf conflicts, to the extent that you declared Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States. In addition, your administration has also decided to sign a Free trade Agreement with Bahrain. These developments were crowned by your invitation last month to meet with you in Sea Island, Georgia, during the G-8 Summit, to work together towards a more secure and free world. Mr. President, Bahrain will maintain its historic positions, and will not change its stand alongside the United States. During our meeting yesterday with officials of the Bahrain Defence Force, we declared our willingness to support Iraq by dispatching a maritime force from Bahrain to secure and maintain safe navigation in Iraqi territorial waters, if so requested by the new Iraqi government, as part of our joint efforts to build a new united and free Iraq. Our commitment to maintain security and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East will continue in all circumstances, hand-in-hand with our friends and allies. We will never allow the threats of the terrorists to derail us from this historic mission. Finally we take this opportunity, on the occasion of American Independence Day, to express our best wishes and considerations to you and the friendly people of the United States of America. Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa King of Bahrain End Text. WILLIAMSON