BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE ON ISOLATION OF SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001769

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV BA SY REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE ON ISOLATION OF SYRIA

REF: STATE 205436

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4(b),(d)
.


1. (C) DCM November 19 delivered reftel demarche concerning
the isolation of Syria after the United Nations Security
Council's passing of Resolution 1636 to MFA Assistant
Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow-Up Shaikh Abdul
Aziz Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. With regard to the November 12
Forum for the Future conference, Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that
he did not know of any Bahraini bilateral meetings with
Syrian Foreign Minister Al Shara, but he presumed that there
had been. He said that the message of UNSCR 1636 to Syria is
clear, that it has no other option other than to comply with
the investigation. He said that the whole world is watching
and will not grant Syria any favors. Shaikh Abdul Aziz
clarified the GOB position, that Syria should not be isolated
from opportunities during which other nations can encourage
Syria to cooperate with the Mehlis investigation.


2. (U) English language Gulf Daily News November 22 carried
a photo of Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed
Al Khalifa meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in
Damascus the previous day. The caption read that Shaikh
Khalid delivered a letter from King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa
"on bilateral relations, Middle East issues and challenges,"
and was a response to a letter from President Al Assad to
King Hamad. FM Shaikh Khalid has just returned to Bahrain
from his travels. Post will seek the first opportunity to
follow up on this issue with him.

ZIADEH