AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-TERRORISM, IRAQ,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001698

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2014
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM BA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-TERRORISM, IRAQ,
HUMAN RIGHTS WITH PRIME MINISTER

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

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Summary
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1. (S) The Ambassador met with Prime Minister Khalifa bin
Salman Al Khalifa November 8 for a discussion that included
counter-terrorism, Iraq, and human rights. He expressed the
USG's deep concern about the judge's release of the four
terrorism suspects on November 1 and urged the GOB to use all
legal means available to prosecute them. The PM replied that
he would not allow anything to harm U.S. interests in the
Kingdom and noted that the suspects are under surveillance.
He said that Iraqi President Yawar was staying in Bahrain for
an extended period in order to spend time with his family,
which is visiting from Saudi Arabia, and this provided a good
opportunity for the Bahrain leadership to get to know him.
The Ambassador raised the closure of the Bahrain Center for
Human Rights and suggested that allowing the Center to
re-open would send a strong signal on openness in Bahrain.
The PM replied that while Bahrain is an open society, some
people try to abuse this to cause divisions. He said that
Bahrain is committed to the rule of law and a free society
and there is no going back. End Summary.

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U.S. Concern About Release of Terror Suspects
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2. (S) The Ambassador called on Prime Minister Khalifa
November 8 and discussed a range of issues, including
counter-terrorism, Iraq, and human rights. Noting that the
Deputy Secretary had met with King Hamad the evening before,
the Ambassador stated that the United States is deeply
concerned about the outcome of the court case for the four
terrorism suspects. We regard them as being very dangerous.
The Ambassador urged the GOB to use all legal means available
to prosecute them energetically and to keep them off the
street as long as possible. Their November 1 release by the
judge sends the wrong signal about Bahrain's commitment to
fighting terrorism.


3. (S) The Prime Minister replied that Bahrain will work
very hard to ensure that nothing harms U.S. interests in the
Kingdom. The four suspects are under surveillance and can be
brought in and questioned at any time. He would not let the
suspects move without being monitored. The PM said, "your
security is our security," and he would not let anything
endanger Bahrain's security and stability.

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Getting To Know Yawar
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4. (C) The PM stated that Iraqi President Yawar was staying
in Bahrain for an extended period, visiting with his family
which lives in Saudi Arabia and is now also here. Yawar
planned to return to Iraq before the Eid Al Fitr holiday,
expected to begin on November 14. The PM said Bahrain
appreciated Yawar's visit as it allowed the country's
leadership to get to know him better. He said that Bahrain
was ready to support Iraq in any way it could, noting the
current program to train up to 4,000 Iraqi firefighters.

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Re-open Human Rights Center?
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5. (C) The Ambassador explained that while the United States
was appreciative of Bahrain's progress on reform, many people
had noticed certain recent moves such as the GOB's decision
to close and dissolve the Bahrain Center for Human Rights
(BCHR),and wondered what it meant. Did the move signal a
change in direction for Bahrain? We understand that the
issue is complex, but we are looking for confirmation that
Bahrain will continue to move in a positive direction. The
BCHR may have done some things that the GOB considers
mistakes, but permitting the Center to re-open would send a
strong signal about Bahrain's openness.


6. (C) The PM stated that Bahrain is an example of openness
and reform in the Gulf. However, some people try to abuse
this openness. Democracy is not the freedom to divide people
and disregard laws. When citizens follow the law and respect
order, there are no problems. The Ambassador pointed out
that there are those in any society who push the envelope and
may even go too far. But this should not bring about an
overreaction.

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Bahrainis United Under Constitution and Law
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7. (C) The Prime Minister said that anyone could see that
the human rights situation in Bahrain was good. Bahrain is
the deputy chair of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva
and there are human rights organizations in Bahrain other
than the BCHR. However, there are those who use human rights
as cover for other activities, and the GOB must show that it
is not fooled by them. Bahrain is committed to rule of law
and a free society, and there is no going back. Bahrain's
citizens are united under the constitution and the law.
There will be municipal elections in 2005, and the government
wants the people to participate in the elections and it looks
forward to working with the election winners.

MONROE