BAHRAIN: U.S. UNGA FIRST COMMITTEE RESOLUTION ON

UNCLAS MANAMA 001429 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL BA CDG UNGA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: U.S. UNGA FIRST COMMITTEE RESOLUTION ON COMPLIANCE REF: STATE 178316 Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not for Internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Econ chief October 2 delivered reftel demarche concerning the U.S. UNGA First Committee resolution on compliance to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho. Shaikho said that Bahrain supports all non-proliferation goals and objectives, including the declaration of a Middle East WMD-free zone. The Arab countries coordinate closely on non-proliferation issues and are concerned about Israel's lack of compliance. He pledged to relay the demarche to the Foreign Minister and the Bahraini Mission in New York. ¶2. (SBU) Shaikho said that if the U.S. called for adoption of the resolution without a formal vote, as was the case with the 2003 resolution, Bahrain would support it without question. In the case of a vote, however, the issue became more problematic and would require coordination with other Arab countries. MONROE