MINSTATE ABDUL GHAFFAR DISCUSSES SECURITY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001357 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ECON ETRD BA SUBJECT: MINSTATE ABDUL GHAFFAR DISCUSSES SECURITY, GUANTANAMO, ARTICLE 98, FREE TRADE IN AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL REF: A. MANAMA 1337 ¶B. MANAMA 1302 ¶C. MANAMA 1283 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador paid an introductory call on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar August 30 to discuss priority issues in the bilateral relationship. Regarding the security situation in Bahrain, the Ambassador, stating that he had learned that the judge had granted a 15-day rather than 45-day extension to the detention of the six terrorism suspects, stressed the importance of continuing to hold them. Otherwise, there would be a strong impact and reaction in Washington. Abdul Ghaffar said that he was under pressure to take action on the Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo and indicated that the GOB would soon forward an official letter to the USG requesting a visit by the Bahraini security team and parents of the detainees to Guantanamo. On Article 98, the GOB was still evaluating its options on dealing with parliament, and he asked for information on the number of GCC and regional countries that had already ratified the agreement. Finally, Abdul Ghaffar reported that the Cabinet had approved the draft text of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement, and the GOB was looking for ways to show that the close bilateral relationship could lead to an improved standard of living for all Bahrainis. End Summary. -------------- Stable Security Situation Promotes Business -------------- ¶2. (C) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar August 30 welcomed the Ambassador to Bahrain and congratulated him on his assignment. Abdul Ghaffar expressed his appreciation for the USG lifting the travel warning and authorized departure for Embassy dependents, and was pleased that the DOD Bahrain School would open for the school year the next day. The Ambassador replied that the school was an important aspect of the United States presence in Bahrain and would play a major role in marketing Bahrain as a destination for foreign investment. The upcoming free trade agreement would highlight Bahrain as an open, transparent economy, but American citizens would want to know that there was a fully accredited school in country for their children. ¶3. (C) In that regard, the Ambassador noted that the GOB must continue to be vigilant on security and counter-terrorism to guarantee that Bahrain was a safe place to do business. The status of the six terrorism suspects is a point of great concern. There was much satisfaction in Washington with their re-arrest and the subsequent legal procedures. This led to the lifting of the travel warning and the authorized departure and the opening of the school. The GOB should interpret these steps as a reflection of our appreciation for the measures taken. ¶4. (C) In that connection, the Ambassador stated that he had learned that the judge had granted a 15-day, not 45-day, extension to the detention of the suspects. He did not know the reasoning behind the limitation of the extension to 15 days. However, he noted that according to Bahraini laws, the GOB can hold suspects while it builds a case against them. It should do so. Otherwise, the impact and reaction in Washington would be strong. ¶5. (C) Abdul Ghaffar said that he hoped there was sufficient evidence to continue to hold the suspects. He said he had spoken with Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa about the issue following the August 29 Cabinet meeting, and he would follow up with the Minister over the coming week. The Ambassador recalled that Crown Prince Salman had reassured the Charge and Codel Miller over the past two weeks that the detainees would remain in custody (Refs A and C),and the Ambassador expected that would be the case. -------------- Request Coming for Fourth Gitmo Visit -------------- ¶6. (C) Abdul Ghaffar noted that he was under pressure from the families of Bahraini prisoners in Guantanamo to take formal action. He said that the GOB would soon forward an official letter to the USG requesting a fourth visit to Gitmo for the Bahraini security team, and this time the GOB would ask permission for parents of the detainees to accompany the team. He indicated that parents of Australian detainees at Gitmo had previously been allowed to visit, and the Bahraini parents were requesting similar access. Abdul Ghaffar said that such a step would ease domestic pressure on the GOB and improve the USG's reputation in country. -------------- Concern About Publicity On Article 98 -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador asked about progress in finalizing the Article 98 agreement. Abdul Ghaffar replied that the GOB was deeply concerned about moving the agreement to ratification through the parliament. He said that many Islamic deputies would vigorously object to the GOB signing the agreement. He noted that the entire GOB, from King Hamad down, firmly supported signing the agreement and pledged not to deliver any American citizen, civilian or military, to a third country for prosecution, regardless of the existence of an agreement. The Ambassador noted that it might be possible to conclude the agreement through an exchange of diplomatic notes that legally bind the two governments. Abdul Ghaffar did not think such a mechanism would work in Bahrain because the government would have to answer questions from the parliament if word of the agreement ever leaked. He asked about the number of GCC and other regional countries that had ratified the agreement already. He wondered how they handled their parliaments, and if the GOB could learn from their experiences. The government would not be reticent about speaking publicly in favor of the agreement if it could point to other countries that had already ratified it. -------------- Demonstrate Benefits of FTA -------------- ¶8. (C) The Minister informed the Ambassador that the Cabinet had approved the draft text of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement at its August 29 meeting (septel). He commented that the GOB had to demonstrate to Bahrainis that they could benefit economically from the bilateral relationship with the United States. Most Bahrainis think of the U.S. only as a military superpower and there had not been enough focus on United States leadership on economic and social issues. Many American companies have invested or established regional offices in Bahrain - Citibank, Merrill Lynch, American Express, ALCOA - and the large majority of their employees are Bahrainis. In contrast with the military relationship, which has little impact on the average man on the street, enhanced trade and investment relations as a result of the FTA had the potential to improve the country's overall standard of living. MONROE