TFUS01: GOB REACTS TO KATRINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001281 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015 TAGS: PREL EFIN AEMR EAID KPAO BA US SUBJECT: TFUS01: GOB REACTS TO KATRINA REF: A. MANAMA 1271 (NOTAL) ¶B. MANAMA 1270 (NOTAL) ¶C. MANAMA 1269 (NOTAL) ¶D. STATE 163366 ¶E. MANAMA 1259 (NOTAL) Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a September 4 meeting covering several subjects, Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa extended his condolences to the Ambassador for the catastrophe brought on by hurricane Katrina. He reiterated the GOB pledge made by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar the previous day to donate $5 million to the relief effort (Ref A) and noted that Crown Prince Salman had sent condolence messages to President Bush and Vice President Cheney (Refs B and C). (Note: Shaikh Mohammed had previously sent a letter to the Secretary, Ref E). ¶2. (U) The Bahraini cabinet issued a statement September 4 announcing the $5 million donation. The cabinet affirmed Bahrain's unity with and sympathy towards the people and government of the United States in the wake of the disaster. Bahraini papers also widely covered the story of Dr. Mohammed Mirza, a University of Bahrain physics professor who was in New Orleans on a Fulbright scholarship to study at Tulane University. At the instruction of local authorities, Dr. Mirza departed the city ahead of the storm and took refuge with his brother-in-law in Chicago. He plans to return to Bahrain soon, having lost the possessions he left behind in his "sunken" apartment. In his comments, Dr. Mirza expressed his appreciation for the assistance of the Department, Embassy Manama, and the Fulbright Commission during his ordeal. ¶3. (U) The Embassy passed routing information for transfer of the $5 million donation to Finance Ministry Assistant Under Secretary Mahmood Al Kooheji. We are awaiting confirmation that the transfer is complete. MONROE