MGIZ01: KING, CABINET PUBLICLY HAIL SUCCESS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000136

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BA IZ
SUBJECT: MGIZ01: KING, CABINET PUBLICLY HAIL SUCCESS OF
IRAQ ELECTIONS


Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (SBU) King Hamad and the Bahraini Cabinet January 30
issued statements celebrating the success of Iraq's
elections. The King sent a message, which was released to
the press, to Iraqi Interim President Ghazi Yawar
congratulating him on the success of the elections, saying
that this was "the first step on the path to establishing an
independent, secure, and stable Iraq."


2. (SBU) Following its January 30 session chaired by Prime
Minister Shaikh Khalifa, the Cabinet released a statement
expressing its hope that a democratic and prosperous Iraq
would emerge as a result of the elections. The Cabinet
pledged its full support for the polls and said it had
encouraged all ethnic and political groups to take part and
elect nation-building leaders. The Ministers said that the
"monumental" elections would determine the future of Iraq and
enhance its stability and territorial integrity. They
continued that the elections would help Iraq "achieve
prosperity for its people and reinforce its regional and
international status."


3. (SBU) Crown Prince Salman, speaking live to CNN January
29 from the World Economic Forum in Davos, stated that
Bahrain was fully behind the elections in Iraq. He added,
"This is a first step. It will be a long and difficult
process but we must take that first step and capitalize on
the moment that exists and that moment is now... There is
one less dictator in the region... There is potential for
more and I hope the people of Iraq do not waste" this
opportunity. He said that without participatory government,
there would be no future for the people of the region.


4. (SBU) Official Arabic daily Al Ayam, considered to be a
government mouthpiece, trumpeted the success of the
elections. The paper's front-page editorial said that
"history will write that this day was the day that witnessed
how Iraqis decided to take confident steps to enter the
twenty-first century on the solid ground of democracy and
freedom." (See septel for more press commentary.)


5. (C) The Embassy spoke with several parliamentarians and
civil society contacts to gauge their reactions to the
elections. Generally, Sunnis have reservations about the
elections whereas Shia are celebratory. Hamad Al Mohannedi,
a leader within the Salafi Al Asala bloc in the lower Council
of Representatives (COR),told us that Iraq's Sunni had valid
reasons for not participating (sic) in the elections. He
said that the "occupation" of Iraq did not allow for free and
fair elections. President of the opposition National
Democratic Action Society Abdul Rahman Nuaimi, a Sunni,
complained that the UN should have monitored the elections so
the situation would have been more conducive to full
participation. He hoped that the new parliament would focus
on expediting a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. The
parliament should take into account the interests of all of
Iraq's factions when drafting a constitution, without
reference to sectarianism. The fact that the U.S.
"administered" the elections gives him doubts about the true
agenda for the elections.


6. (C) COR member Mohammed Al Abbas, who is part of the Shia
Al Islamiya bloc, told us that the elections were a "great
democratic change" that would impact the entire region and
represented a challenge to all the terrorists and their
activities. Referring to Iraq's Sunnis, he said that they
did not conduct a full blown boycott. Rather, some small
groups simply decided to refrain from voting. Jassim
Hussein, an academic and member of the main Shia opposition
group Al Wifaq, said that he was very excited by this
"historic event," terming it a "job well done." The high
level of participation indicated that Iraqis support change,
and he hoped this would be only the first of more free and
fair elections in the region. He was disappointed that some
of the boycotters chose to use violence; they could have
expressed their views in a non-violent way. He voiced his
belief that Iraq could become a catalyst for true democratic
change in the region.


7. (C) Comment: There is a general sense of happiness and
surprise at the high participation in the elections, mixed
with relief that there was not more violence. At first
glance, Bahrain's Sunni and Shia are reacting in manners
consistent with the attitudes of many of their fellow sect
members in Iraq. The ruling Al Khalifa family and the
government have publicly and privately supported the
elections all along. They are delighted that the polls
turned out as well as they did, and should take heart from
the Iraq experience that Bahrain's own path of political and
economic reform is the only way forward into the future.


8. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.

MONROE