BAHRAINI MFA WITH US ON IRAQ RESOLUTION AT UNCHR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000227

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2029
TAGS: BA IZ PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI MFA WITH US ON IRAQ RESOLUTION AT UNCHR

REF: A. MANAMA 217


B. STATE 32070

Classified By: CDA Robert Ford, reason 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) BAHRAINI MFA DIRECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
AFFAIRS TOLD POL/ECON CHIEF ON FEBRUARY 17 THAT BAHRAIN AND
SEVERAL OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING
THE ALGERIAN RESOLUTION ABOUT IRAQ BEFORE THE UNCHR. (HE
CITED KUWAIT AS ANOTHER ARAB COUNTRY TAKING THIS STANCE.)
ACCORDING TO OUR MFA SOURCE, THE BAHRAINI PERMREP IN GENEVA
IS UNSURE WHETHER THE ALGERIAN IS ACTING UNDER DIRECT
INSTRUCTIONS FROM ALGIERS OR IS INSTEAD ACTING ON HIS OWN IN
PUTTING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION. OUR MFA SOURCE SUGGESTED
THAT ARAB COUNTRIES WILL LET THE RESOLUTION DIE ITS OWN QUIET
DEATH, AND IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE U.S. NOT TO RAISE ITS
PROFILE DURING THAT PROCESS. THE MFA OFFICIAL SPECULATED THAT
THE ALGERIAN PERMREP MIGHT HAVE CONFERRED WITH EUROPEAN
REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE PUTTING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD, BUT
THE BAHRAINI MFA HAS NO INFORMATION.


2. (C) THE MFA SOURCE REPORTED THAT THE BAHRAINI PERMREP
ALSO HAS TOLD MANAMA THAT THE IRAQI DELEGATION IN GENEVA HAS
REMAINED AMBIGUOUS ABOUT THE ALGERIAN RESOLUTION. ACCORDING
TO THE BAHRAINIS, THE IRAQIS ARE TELLING THE ARAB DELEGATIONS
IN GENEVA THAT THE IRAQIS DO NOT OBJECT TO RENEWING THE
MANDATE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR TO COVER THE SADDAM REGIME
AND THE POST-APRIL 9 GOVERNMENT. THE BAHRAINI MFA SOURCE
ADDED THAT THE BAHRAINI PERMREP IS REPORTING TO MANAMA THAT
THE IRAQI DELEGATION IN GENEVA SEES NO NEED FOR A SPECIAL
RAPPORTEUR TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES FROM THE SADDAM ERA BECAUSE
THE SADDAM REGIME IS GONE AND THE NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT CAN
HANDLE THE INVESTIGATIONS ON ITS OWN.


FORD