BAHRAINI FOREIGN MINISTER'S PARTICIPATION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000714

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP - CLAIRE KANESHIRO, NEA/PI AND
EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2014
TAGS: MARR PARM PREL BA MEPP NAVO
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI FOREIGN MINISTER'S PARTICIPATION IN
COOPERATIVE SECURITY ACTIVITIES MEETINGS WITH NATO DEPUTY
SECRETARY-GENERAL RIZZO, MAY 17-18, 2004

SIPDIS

REF: STATE 103166

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CDA ROBERT S. FOR FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and
(D)


1. (C) The Government of Bahrain's (GOB) Foreign Minister
Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa informed us on
05/15/04 that the ideas in reftel about NATO cooperation with
Arab countries offer some real opportunities for Bahrain. He
would welcome the opportunity to discuss security cooperation
issues with NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alessandro Minuto
Rizzo when he travels to Brussels May 17-18 on EU-GCC
business.


2. (C) Sheikh Mohammed would be accompanied by the Bahrain
Defense Force Chief of Staff, Major General Sheikh Rashid bin
Abdullah Al-Khalifa, if there is a meeting with Deputy
Secretary-General Rizzo. Embassy Manama requests

SIPDIS
confirmation that a meeting between the GOB and Deputy
Secretary-General will occur and any scheduling details as

SIPDIS
may be available at this juncture. Sheikh Mohammed said the
meeting needs to be coordinated with the GCC office in
Brussels.


3. (C) The GOB Foreign Minister plans to travel to Belgium
for the EU-GCC conference on May 16. Consequently, Post would
appreciate confirmation of a GOB-NATO meeting as soon as
possible.
FORD