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