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