Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1067
2004-07-06 09:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
LETTER FROM KING HAMAD TO PRESIDENT BUSH
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
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