ARTICLE 98: BAHRAIN CONCERNED ABOUT PRESENTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001738 SIPDIS STATE FOR T, PM, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2014 TAGS: KJUS MARR PREL BA KICC SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98: BAHRAIN CONCERNED ABOUT PRESENTING AGREEMENT TO PARLIAMENT FOR RATIFICATION REF: STATE 237141 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action message; please see para 6. ¶2. (C) Ambassador, noting that he had been called personally by Under Secretary Bolton on the subject, delivered reftel points on completing Article 98 agreements November 20 to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar. Abdul Ghaffar responded that, agreement or not, Bahrain would never deliver an American citizen, whether civilian or military, to a third country. He said that ratification of the agreement signed by the U.S. and Bahrain in February 2003 would have to go through the Council of Representatives (COR),which is controlled by Islamists. Abdul Ghaffar stated that he could not guarantee the COR would pass the agreement, and even presenting it to parliament could "open a Pandora's Box." He thought that if the regional scene was calmer, and there was progress on the Roadmap and in Iraq, there would be a better chance of the COR approving the agreement. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador expressed his disappointment with Abdul Ghaffar's response and urged him to reconsider. The Ambassador noted that the Kuwaiti government intended to present the Article 98 agreement to its parliament for ratification, and perhaps Bahrain could learn from this experience. Abdul Ghaffar agreed, but said that the situation in Kuwait was different from that in Bahrain. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador suggested that the GOB consider ratifying the agreement through an exchange of diplomatic notes with the USG rather than through parliament. Abdul Ghaffar said he would task the legal office to research whether this option is consistent with Bahrain's constitution. He asked if we could pass him sample text for an exchange of diplomatic notes on Article 98. ¶5. (C) Abdul Ghaffar stated he would arrive in Washington on Tuesday, November 23 in advance of King Hamad's November 29 visit. He offered to meet with Under Secretary Bolton to discuss this issue, if so desired. ¶6. (C) Action Request: Please forward a draft diplomatic note that would be passed to Abdul Ghaffar for possible Article 98 ratification. E-mail to Pol/Econ chief Steve Bondy at bondysc@state.gov. MONROE