Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1357
2004-08-31 11:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

MINSTATE ABDUL GHAFFAR DISCUSSES SECURITY,

Tags:  PREL PGOV ASEC ECON ETRD BA 
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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
-------

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