BAHRAIN: BLUE LANTERN PROGRAM ANNUAL UPDATE

UNCLAS MANAMA 001546 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC KSEP BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: BLUE LANTERN PROGRAM ANNUAL UPDATE REF: STATE 205022 ¶1. Blue Lantern designated point of contact is Economic/Commercial Officer Aimee Cutrona. She can be reached through the Embassy switchboard at: (973) 1724-2700, at the office: (973) 1724-2986; via fax: (973) 1727-3011; or email: CutronaA@state.gov. ¶2. To date Embassy Manama has not received a significant number of requests to conduct Blue Lantern Checks. PM/DTCC records indicate that the last request was in 2000. While officers currently at post do not have experience in conducting these checks in Bahrain, there is every reason to believe a check can be completed within thirty days. The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) has provided model cooperation in the DSCA's Golden Sentry Program, and Embassy officers enjoy a close working relationship with the Ministry of the Interior. MONROE