INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN --BAHRAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000331 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2014 TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN --BAHRAIN REPLY REF: STATE 047946 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Robert Ford. Reason: 1.4 (B) and (D ). ¶1. (C) Charge delivered ref demarche to MFA Minister of State on Monday, March 8. Charge emphasized Afghanistan's major reconstruction needs. The Minister of State was not aware of the conference but understood our request and said he would study it. ¶2. (C) Comment: Bahrain does not see itself as a wealthy Gulf state and is not likely to provide a large contribution to Afghanistan. Notably, Bahrain has not contributed large amounts of money in Iraq either, even though the GOB perceives more immediate national interests at stake there. End comment. FORD