Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA291
2004-03-04 09:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

KING HAMAD SUPPORTS REFORM IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000291 

SIPDIS

BRUSSELS FOR U/S GROSSMAN
DEPT FOR NEA/FO:PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE, NEA/ARP, AND
NEA/RA
DEPT PASS USTR FOR CNOVELLI AND JBUNTIN
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BA
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD SUPPORTS REFORM IN THE MIDDLE EAST


Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1/4(b)&(d).

SUMMARY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000291

SIPDIS

BRUSSELS FOR U/S GROSSMAN
DEPT FOR NEA/FO:PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE, NEA/ARP, AND
NEA/RA
DEPT PASS USTR FOR CNOVELLI AND JBUNTIN
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BA
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD SUPPORTS REFORM IN THE MIDDLE EAST


Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1/4(b)&(d).

SUMMARY

1.(C) Outgoing Arab League Chairman King Hamad bin Isa
Al-Khalifa told U/S Grossman on March 2 that his Arab League
Summit speech includes a paragraph supporting reform in the
Middle East. Noting that we are all one team, Hamad welcomed
the U/S description of GME as supportive of local reform
efforts, and highlighting the FTA negotiations, thanked the
U.S. for its support of Bahrain's reform program. The U.S.
is right to raise the issue of reform now, he said. Reform
should not be held hostage to resolution of the Palestinian
issue. If we can obtain a public commitment for reform from
regional leaders, the King suggested that they would not be
able to retreat. Successfully embedding democracy in Iraq,
he said, would greatly strengthen stability in the region and
increase prospects for democratization.
END SUMMARY.

BAHRAIN ON BOARD FOR GME

2.(C) King Hamad enthusiastically welcomed the Greater Middle
East Initiative and U/S Grossman's visit to consult on it.
Hamad noted that friends, not enemies, provide advice, and if
the advice is good, it should be embraced. The GME
initiative is timely, he added, especially after the U.N.'s
Arab Human Development Report alarmed many people that the
region is falling behind the rest of the world. Fortunately,
Hamad proudly noted, the report ranks Bahrain number one in
the region. Proudly citing that Bahrain is negotiating an
FTA with the U.S., he stated that we are all on one team and
emphasized that Bahrain is ready to work together in any way.
Hamad thanked U/S Grossman for U.S. public statements
highlighting Bahrain's reform programs, but commented that he
has issued policy guidance to government officials to let
Bahrain's progress speak for itself.

3.(C) Hamad stressed that homegrown reform is a requirement
for the region. He welcomed U/S Grossman's statement that
the purpose of GME is to position the U.S. to support Arab
governments and people that want to change. Hamad suggested
that if we can get leaders to agree publicly to reform, they
would not be able to retreat, especially in this era of
modern media. Hamad commented that many leaders are using
the Palestinian situation as an excuse not to reform. One
day, he said, the Palestinians will find good leaders and
achieve peace and their own state. Then, he commented, those
who have waited will have to scramble to stay ahead of
popular demand for change. People in Bahrain, he emphasized,
are not waiting for the Palestinians to get their act
together. For us, Hamad said, the Palestinian issue is an
indirect concern. We need reform to respond to our direct
need for business, investment, and jobs, he added. The
government's role is security, justice, and regulation;
government should not dominate business.

4.(C) King Hamad cautioned that Arab states are different and
would reform at different speeds and towards different goals.
The key, he said, is that they are going in the right
direction. (COMMENT: He was likely talking about Saudi
Arabia. END COMMENT). Hamad welcomed more democracy in the
Gulf. Successful elections in neighbors like Iran and Iraq
make Bahrain feel more secure.

5.(C) Hamad, who is the outgoing Arab League Chairman,
advised U/S Grossman that he has already included a statement
of support for reform in his speech for the Arab League
Summit. He was pleased with U/S Grossman's description of
our strategy to discuss building support for Middle East
reform at the June G-8, US-EU, and NATO summits. However,
the Crown Prince commented that getting more than a general
statement of support at the Arab League Summit would require
considerable diplomatic effort.

IRAQIS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

6.(C) Paraphrasing a newspaper editorial published last month
by one of his close advisors, King Hamad noted that the U.S.
presence in Iraq provides a terrific opportunity that if
lost, could condemn Iraq to the sewer for ages. He said that
he is personally advising every Iraqi he meets to be patient
and work with the U.S. King Hamad added that stability in
the region can only be achieved if a successful Iraqi
democracy is established. Otherwise, he added, local
countries will always have to be on guard.

7.(U) This cable was cleared by U/S Grossman.
8.(U) Baghdad minimize considered.
FORD