Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1912
2004-12-21 14:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

GCC MANAMA SUMMIT CONCLUDES UNDER SHADOW OF

Tags:  PREL ETRD BA GCC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001912 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2114
TAGS: PREL ETRD BA GCC
SUBJECT: GCC MANAMA SUMMIT CONCLUDES UNDER SHADOW OF
BAHRAIN FTA

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001912

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2114
TAGS: PREL ETRD BA GCC
SUBJECT: GCC MANAMA SUMMIT CONCLUDES UNDER SHADOW OF
BAHRAIN FTA

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D)


1. (C) Saudi Arabia's concern about bilateral free trade
agreements with the United States overshadowed the 25th GCC
Summit, which took place in Bahrain December 20-21. The last
minute downgrading of Saudi's representation from Crown
Prince Abdulla to Prince Sultan set the tone at the beginning
of the conclave (presumed to be an expression of displeasure
aimed at Bahrain),and the question of how far the Saudis
would push the free trade issue weighed heavily on the
proceedings. Although we will have to wait a day for an
authoritative briefings, it appears that the Summit leaders
may have sidestepped the FTA issue. The communique said only
that "in reference to the economic relations of the GCC
states with the international community, the Council took
note of developments that took place in 2004 and the
agreements that were signed to establish free trade areas."
Finance Minister Seif and MFA MinState Abdel Ghaffar both
assured the Ambassador that the Summit did nothing to keep
Bahrain from moving forward on the MFA, although Abdel
Ghaffar suggested that discussions on the issue were
"complicated." An official connected with the UAE delegation
told us that it was his understanding that the FTA issue was
referred to a technical subcommittee for further discussion.


2. (U) In his public comments to the press December 20, Abdel
Ghaffar strongly defended Bahrain's position on the FTA,
saying that Bahrain was not breaking GCC ranks.
"Globalization," he said, "leads to a free economy and free
trade agreements. Regulations hinder such steps. The Gulf
region needs a flexible set of regulations." He also said
that suspending the GCC customs union was not in the cards.


3. (U) Other issues discussed in the communique (informal
Embassy translation) included:

-- Iraq: The communique expressed hope that the U.S.
administration would actively work with the UN and the
international community to enable all factions to participate
in the political process through elections that could lead
the Iraqi people to draw its own political and economic
future; condemned terrorist attacks targeting civilians and
humanitarian and religious institutions; and stressed the
importance of halting interference in Iraq's internal affairs.

-- Jeddah consulate: The Council condemned the terrorist
attack on the U.S. consulate in Jeddah.

-- Iran: The Council expressed its support of the UAE's right
of sovereignty over the three islands, and its regret that
talks with Iran have not achieved positive results. (The
Bahrain press had indicated that the communique would also
praise Iran for signing the agreement to freeze all
activities related to uranium enrichment, but that item was
apparently either dropped or not in the text in the first
place.)

-- Middle East peace: The Council hoped that President Bush
would devote attention, during his second term, to the Middle
East cause in a manner that would meet the promises of a
Palestinian state that lives in peace and security side by
side with the state of Israel. It hoped that the Quartet
Commission would continue its efforts to move the peace
process forwarding the Middle East.

-- terrorism: The Council reiterated its condemnation of all
forms of terrorism everywhere, stressing the GCC countries'
commitment to the principle of combating terrorism and
stopping the financial sources that fund terrorism by all
available means. It also stressed the importance of
discriminating between terrorism and peoples' legitimate
right to resist occupation according to international
resolutions.

-- WMD: The Council demanded that the international community
work towards making the Middle East a region free of weapons
of mass destruction, including the Gulf region.

-- Democratic reform: the Council reiterated its commitment
to continue the political, economic and social development
process in the region, and reaffirmed that modernization and
improvement must come from within the countries of the
region.... The Council stressed the importance of gradual
modernization, which will increase the chance of stability
and security in the region.


4. (C) Although banned in Bahrain, Al Jazeera reportedly had
a reporter imbedded into the Qatari delegation at the Summit.
According to one source, the Bahrain government was not at
all pleased but decided not to make an issue of it, figuring
that one bilateral tussle (with Saudi Arabia) was enough to
bear for one Summit.


5. (U) MFA MinState will brief local Ambassadors December 22
on the summit.


6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered
MONROE