BAHRAIN: ISOLATING SYRIA AT THE UNGA

S E C R E T MANAMA 001267

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER BA SY
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: ISOLATING SYRIA AT THE UNGA

REF: STATE 159137

Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Pol/Econ chief August 31 delivered reftel demarche
concerning isolating Syria at the UNGA to MFA Director for
Bilateral Relations Dhafer Al Umran and (separately) to MFA
Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan
Shaikho. Al Umran listened carefully to the points and
stated that Bahrain could not deny a Syrian request for a
bilateral meeting at the UNGA. The prime ministers of the
two countries chair a joint committee - "not because we love
each other," but because the two countries have shared trade
and commercial interests. Al Umran said that if Bahrain
meets with Syria at the UNGA, it will bring "these important
points onto the table" and strongly urge Syria to take
action. Bahrain is not seeking a meeting with Syria at the
UNGA.


2. (S) Shaikho pledged to pass the information to the
Foreign Minister. He was unaware of a Syrian request to meet
with Bahrain at the UNGA, but there would be nothing to bar
such a meeting: both were Arab, Muslim countries with
dealings on many levels. Refusing a meeting request could be
viewed as a "hostile" act. Shaikho stressed that Bahrain was
a close friend and ally of the United States, but as a small
country, there were limits on what actions it could take with
its neighbors.


3. (S) If the two sides met, Shaikho said that Bahrain could
raise the points on Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestinians, with
some reservations. On Iraq, Bahrain could focus on the need
for Syria to control its border and emphasize that a flare-up
of terror in Iraq could spread to other countries in the
region, including Bahrain. On Lebanon, Bahrain has not
accused Syria of involvement in the Hariri assassination but
has expressed its great shock and dismay at the unacceptable
nature of the crime. Bahrain supports the Mehlis
investigation and will carefully follow UN Security Council
reactions. Expelling the Palestinian rejectionists is a
"thorny issue" for Bahrain, but perhaps the GOB could deliver
a message to Syria citing USG concerns.


4. (S) Shaikho said that Bahrain would have difficulty
delivering the final point, on Syria's human rights record.
Bahrain opposed other countries interfering in its domestic
affairs, and only became involved in particularly flagrant
cases of human rights violations, like in Burma. When
Bahrain was a member of the UN Human Rights Commission, it
generally avoided singling out countries for investigations,
preferring to support technical assistance to help
governments improve conditions.

MONROE