Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA430
2004-03-29 13:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAINIS ALSO SURPRISED BY ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT

Tags:  BA PREL 
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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 MANAMA 000430 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014
TAGS: BA PREL
SUBJECT: BAHRAINIS ALSO SURPRISED BY ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT
DELAY, WONDER ABOUT G-8 INVITE

REF: A. MANAMA 291


B. AMMAN 2360

C. CAIRO 2433

Classified By: DCM Robert Ford, reason 1.5 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000430

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014
TAGS: BA PREL
SUBJECT: BAHRAINIS ALSO SURPRISED BY ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT
DELAY, WONDER ABOUT G-8 INVITE

REF: A. MANAMA 291


B. AMMAN 2360

C. CAIRO 2433

Classified By: DCM Robert Ford, reason 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is an action request, see para 5.


2. (C) Bahrain's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin
Mubarak told the Ambassador on March 29 that the sudden
postponement of the Arab League summit was a surprise to him
and the other ministers meeting in Tunisia. Describing
details very much along the lines of refs b and c, the
Bahraini noted that the Tunisian decision was especially
surprising because the Arab ministers had not reached a quote
deadlock unquote. Rather, the Bahraini minister said, the
assembled Arab ministers thought they were making progress
which made the Tunisian decision all the harder to understand.


3. (S) Bahrain's King Hamad expressed puzzlement to the
Ambassador on March 28 about the Arab League summit
postponement. He commented that the Tunisians had made the
decision without consulting, leaving the Bahrainis and other
Arabs mystified. Tunisian President ben Ali's refusal to see
the Arab foreign ministers who already were in Tunisia was
impolite, he noted, and not in keeping with the tradition of
Arab hospitality. (Comment: the King, in very good spirits,
also noted that he personally finds the Tunisian President
quiet to the point of off-putting. He remarked that ben Ali
never greets Hamad when the two sit next to each other at
summits. End Comment.)


4. (C) The Bahraini Foreign Minister also regretted that
the manner in which the Tunisians announced the postponement
had needlessly caused a public image of Arab disarray.
Earlier in March several Arab government including the
Egyptians, Saudis and Bahrainis had recommended delaying the
summit, especially after the Sheikh Yassin assassination.
The Tunisians held firm to the date only to cancel now at the
last moment. Sheikh Mohammed noted that the Tunisian
decision itself need not be crippling. The Arab League
charter states that summits can be held in a host nation or
at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The Bahraini King
is going to see Mubarak in Egypt on March 29 and the
Bahrainis presume the summit will be held relatively soon in
Cairo.


5. (C) Comment and Action Request: The King remains
anxious to help the U.S. Middle East reform initiative, per
ref a. He and the Foreign Minister both asked whether some
Arab states would be invited to the G-8 summit in June.
Ambassador said he had heard nothing specific and promised to
seek guidance from Washington which he could pass to the King.

NEUMANN