RECEIPT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING VISIT TO

UNCLAS MANAMA 001360 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI ALSO FOR S/WCI - AMB PROSPER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR ASEC PREL PTER BA SUBJECT: RECEIPT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING VISIT TO BAHRAINI DETAINEES IN GUANTANAMO Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not for Internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) As mentioned during the Ambassador's August 30 meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar (septel),the Embassy received the following diplomatic note August 30. ¶2. (SBU) Begin Text of Diplomatic Note MOS-140 Dated August 30, 2004: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to refer to the ongoing discussions between the two governments concerning the status of six Bahraini detainees held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In this regard, the Ministry requests that a team from Bahrain's Ministry of the Interior and National Security Agency be permitted to undertake a further visit to the six Bahraini detainees to determine their continued health and welfare, and that parents and/or nominated close family members be permitted to accompany the delegation and to visit their relatives. The Ministry understands that certain detainees of other nationalities have met with family members and requests that, on humanitarian grounds, the Bahraini detainees be afforded the same opportunity. Finally, and in light of recent decisions of, and proceedings in, the United States Courts, the Ministry requests that the United States Government take expeditious steps towards releasing the detainees, and assures the Embassy that the Government of Bahrain stands ready to make the necessary arrangements for the release and repatriation of the detainees. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. End Text of Diplomatic Note. ¶3. (SBU) Abdul Ghaffar stated that Bahrain's Ambassador in Washington Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa would follow up on the diplomatic note at State and DOD. MONROE