KING HAMAD VISIT TO WASHINGTON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001689

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DEPT FOR NEA/FO AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2014
TAGS: OVIP PREL BA
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD VISIT TO WASHINGTON

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In a November 8 discussion following Deputy
Secretary Armitage's meeting with King Hamad the night before

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(septel),Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammad
Abdul Ghaffar told the Deputy Secretary the King wanted to
meet with President Bush in Washington in the coming weeks to
discuss ways Bahrain could be helpful as current chair of the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In particular, he noted the
upcoming GCC summit December 20 when the issues of Iraq, the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and counterterrorism were likely
to be discussed. The Deputy Secretary said he would pass the
message.


2. (C) Embassy Manama urges positive consideration of a
visit. It would be a good opportunity to raise with the King
not only GCC issues in preparation for the summit, but also
key bilateral issues on our agenda, most notably
counterterrorism.
MONROE