BAHRAIN: ARRANGING A GCC/IRAQ MEETING ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001619 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 TAGS: PREL ECON EAID EFIN KMPI BA IZ SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: ARRANGING A GCC/IRAQ MEETING ON IRAQ ASSISTANCE DURING THE FORUM FOR THE FUTURE REF: STATE 201574 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador November 2 delivered reftel demarche concerning the GOB arranging a GCC-Iraq meeting during the November 11-12 Forum for the Future conference to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. Shaikh Khalid replied that he would be very pleased to try to arrange the meeting. He noted, however, that some of the GCC FMs might want to depart Bahrain immediately following the closing session of the Forum, at 1:45 PM on November 12, and may not want to wait around for a 2:45 PM meeting. He suggested that to avoid this development, the meeting be held the evening of November 11, just after the 8:30 PM dinner in honor of the Forum heads of delegation. ¶2. (C) Following the meeting with Shaikh Khalid, Pol/Econ chief delivered the demarche to MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and Follow-Up, and lead Forum organizer, Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. Shaikh Abdul Aziz responded that the EU had already requested that Bahrain arrange a meeting with GCC foreign ministers for the same time slot on November 12, following the closing press conference. He doubted the timing would work for the EU meeting and agreed with Shaikh Khalid that the November 11 evening timing would work better for the Iraq meeting. MONROE