BAHRAIN REQUESTS USG SUPPORT FOR 2006-07 UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001284

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015
TAGS: PREL BA UNGA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN REQUESTS USG SUPPORT FOR 2006-07 UNGA
PRESIDENCY


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 asked
the Ambassador for USG support for Bahrain's candidacy for
UNGA president for the 2007-07 session. He said that an
Asian country will be UNGA president during that session, and
Bahrain is Asia's sole candidate. Bahrain has received
written endorsements from more than 80 countries. Shaikh
Mohammed said he would formally request the support of the
United States during his meeting with the Secretary on the
margins of the UNGA later this month.


2. (C) Shaikh Mohammed said Bahrain would nominate Shaikha
Haya bint Rashed Al Khalifa for the post. She is a lawyer,
having received two degrees from Egyptian universities in the
1980's, and was one of the first women in Bahrain to open an
independent law practice. She served as Bahrain's ambassador
to France from 2000 until mid-2004 (and was accredited to
Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, and as PermRep to UNESCO),and
currently is a legal advisor to the Royal Court. Shaikha
Haya speaks English, French, and Arabic.


3. (C) Shaikh Mohammed said that installing Shaikha Haya as
UNGA president, the first Arab Muslim woman to take the post,
would send a very strong message about the role of women in
the Arab world. He noted that Shaikha Haya would travel to
New York with him for the High-Level Event and UNGA.

MONROE