BAHRAIN: PRESSURING SYRIA TO NORMALIZE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001193

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2015
TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL PGOV BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: PRESSURING SYRIA TO NORMALIZE
SYRIAN-LEBANESE BORDER

REF: STATE 151378

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) The Charge August 20 delivered reftel demarche
concerning pressuring Syria to normalize the Syrian-Lebanese
border to MFA Under Secretary Yousif Mahmood. Mahmood
acknowledged that Syrian disruption of Lebanese trade impacts
Bahrain, which imports a wide range of Lebanese products.
MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran, who
participated in the meeting, added that international trade
routes should be open for all.


2. (C) Mahmood agreed to take the matter up with the
Syrians. He continued, however, that Bahrain would like to
hear from Lebanon on the issue, either publicly or privately.
He said he had met with the Lebanese Charge several times
recently, and she had not raised it. Lebanon should publicly
request that Arab and international governments assist in
resolving problems at the border, Mahmood recommended.

ZIADEH