BAHRAIN AND NEXT STEPS ON NATO'S ISTANBUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001542

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EUR/RPM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2014
TAGS: MARR PREL BA MEPP NATO
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN AND NEXT STEPS ON NATO'S ISTANBUL
COOPERATION INITIATIVE

REF: STATE 206678

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief met with MFA Under Secretary Shaikh
Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa October 4 to discuss NATO Deputy
Secretary General Alessandro Rizzo's one-day visit to Bahrain

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and NATO's Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI). While
noting that the GOB had not yet developed a detailed position
regarding its participation in the ICI, Al Khalifa said that
Bahrain was looking forward to enhanced cooperation between
Bahrain and NATO under the initiative. He stated that King
Hamad had repeatedly called for closer ties between GCC
countries and NATO, and the GOB would encourage its fellow
GCC members to participate in the ICI.


2. (U) The English-language daily Bahrain Tribune October 3
published a half-page interview with Rizzo in which he
explains the ICI and NATO's history and policies. He is
quoted as saying, "Bahrain's favorable response to the NATO
initiative to promote closer cooperation with countries in
the Broader Middle East denotes its high-level commitment to
international peace, stability and security." The paper also
publishes a long fact sheet taken directly from the NATO
website describing the ICI.


3. (C) Post spoke with an officer at the British Embassy,
per reftel. The British Embassy did not receive instructions
to discuss the issue with the GOB. The contact noted the
positive press reports of the visit and commented that
pinning down the details of GOB participation in the ICI
would likely take some time.

ZIADEH