MINISTER OF INFORMATION DISCUSSES AL JAZEERA AND IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001387 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2014 TAGS: PREL KPAO OIIP KMPI BA SUBJECT: MINISTER OF INFORMATION DISCUSSES AL JAZEERA AND IRAQ Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Al Jazeera Satellite Channel and Iraq dominated the conversation during the Ambassador's Sept. 6 introductory call on Minister of Information Nabeel bin Yaqoob Al Hamer. The Minister said that he had directed Bahrain Satellite Television to stop airing the videotapes on abductions and kidnappings in Iraq during news broadcasts because airing them serves no good purpose. He mentioned that the GOB had also spoken to Al Jazeera Satellite Channel and Al Arabiyya about not airing the hostage videotapes. ¶2. (C) When asked if Al Jazeera had ever had a correspondent based in Bahrain, Al Hamer replied no, adding that he continued to receive requests from Al Jazeera on this. According to Al Hamar, even though Bahrain's relationship with Qatar had improved following the ICJ decision about the Hawar Islands, Al Jazeera continued to focus only on negative stories about Bahrain. ¶3. (C) The Minister opined that Al Jazeera was losing credibility in the region and that most Bahraini viewers watched Al Arabiyya, which he believes is more balanced (Al Arabiyya does have a correspondent in Bahrain). He added that Bahrain's majority Shia population was displeased with Al Jazeera's coverage of the recent events in Najaf, which they felt portrayed Shia in a negative light. He concluded by noting that Al Jazeera's stature as a regional media outlet took a blow when it was asked to leave Iraq. MONROE