BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS

UNCLAS MANAMA 001692 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS REF: A. STATE 237932 ¶B. STATE 236869 Sensitive but unclassified (deliberative process); please protect accordingly. (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel points to Ghassan Shaikho, MFA Director of International Organizations, on November 9. Shaikho indicated that Bahrain had not yet formulated its final position on any of the six resolutions before the Third Committee (as outlined in Ref. B). He did say that he expected Bahrain would not support the Belarus sponsored resolution criticizing the U.S. electoral process (Ref. A) and that Bahrain will likely abstain on the U.S./EU sponsored resolution on Belarus. Citing reasons of "regional solidarity," Shaikho added that he expects Bahrain will vote against the resolution on Iran (as it has done in the past) and against the resolution on Sudan. Shaikho said Bahrain's position on the Turkmenistan and Zimbabwe resolutions is still open for discussion, although he indicated that he expects Bahrain will follow the Africa Group's lead on Zimbabwe. MONROE