BAHRAINI GOVERNMENT MULL STATEMENT ON IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000486 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2014 TAGS: BA IZ MOPS PREL SUBJECT: BAHRAINI GOVERNMENT MULL STATEMENT ON IRAQ, WONDERS ABOUT IGC STATEMENT REF: MANAMA 476 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Ford, reason 1.4 (a) and (d) ¶1. (C) Charge followed up with a top political advisor to Bahrain's King Hamed bin Isa on April 6 to brief on Iraq developments and urge a statement of public support for U.S. efforts in Iraq. The King's advisor said that the King and his kitchen cabinet had discussed Iraq events and our request of April 5 for a public statement. The Bahrainis are strongly supportive, the aide underlined, saying quote you are doing what you must do unquote. The GoB, however, is reluctant to issue any kind of public statement before the Iraq Governing Council (IGC) itself comments on the latest violence, he cautioned. Charge promised to check on IGC statements and be back in touch. ¶2. (C) Separately, the MFA's Minister of State also affirmed to Charge on April 6 that the GoB is entirely understanding and supportive of U.S. operations in Iraq; the Sadr threat, he commented, must not be allowed to continue. On the issue of a Bahraini public statement, however, he said the GoB does not want to get ahead of other governments. He asked we provide texts of any other government's statements on the latest developments in Iraq. ¶3. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. FORD