BAHRAIN: POLIO ERADICATION

UNCLAS MANAMA 001472 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KSCA BA ISCON WHO UNICEF SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: POLIO ERADICATION REF: STATE 201674 Sensitive but unclassified (Deliberative Process); please protect accordingly. Not for Internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Econ chief September 21 delivered reftel talking points, non-paper, and OIC resolutions regarding the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) to MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al-Umran. Al-Umran understood the connection between the PEI and the Organization of Islamic Conferences, but said that Bahrain, unlike many of the other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, had limited financial resources and was unable to provide funding for the WHO/UNICEF polio eradication initiative. He noted, however, that Rotary International had taken on polio eradication as a global community service project. As a member of the Rotary in Bahrain, he said he would raise the issue at the next meeting to see if the Rotary in Bahrain might be able to assist in some way. MONROE