BAHRAIN: ENDING STATE SPONSORSHIP OF TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001402 SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2014 TAGS: PTER PREL BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: ENDING STATE SPONSORSHIP OF TERRORISM REF: A. STATE 187644 ¶B. MANAMA 1377 (NOTAL) Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief delivered Ref A demarche on ending state sponsorship of terrorism on September 8 to MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and Follow-Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. Shaikh Abdul Aziz listened carefully to the points, particularly those on Iran. He responded that he had just returned from a visit to Iran with Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, where they had attended a joint committee meeting. Abdul Aziz said that the Minister had raised a number of sensitive issues with the Iranians "as a friend," including terrorism (Ref B). ¶2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that he understands the U.S. position and that of the international community. He said that Bahrain would consider raising this issue again with Iran and with other countries and promised to discuss the U.S. demarche with the Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar. MONROE