Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA1829
2005-12-12 08:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

NAVCENT COMMANDER MAKES INITIAL CALLS ON BAHRAIN

Tags:  PREL MARR BA BILAT OFFICIALS REGION 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001829 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR BA BILAT OFFICIALS REGION
SUBJECT: NAVCENT COMMANDER MAKES INITIAL CALLS ON BAHRAIN
LEADERSHIP


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d)

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001829

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR BA BILAT OFFICIALS REGION
SUBJECT: NAVCENT COMMANDER MAKES INITIAL CALLS ON BAHRAIN
LEADERSHIP


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d)

--------------
SUMMARY
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1. (C) The Crown Prince, DPM Shaikh Mohammed, and MFA
Minister of State Abdul Ghaffar all praised the positive role
played by the U.S. Navy, both in Bahrain and in the region,
during introductory calls December 10 by newly-arrived
NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Walsh. All three raised the
Navy dependent issue, expressing the hope that the
dependents could return soon and stressing the important role
they have played in developing people-to-people relations in
Bahrain. The Crown Prince and Shaikh Mohammed reiterated
often-expresed concerns about Iran, including the potential
impact on local developments. Because Iran is part of the
region, Bahrain must continue dialogue with the Iranians, and
wants good relations, but it will be very careful in its
dealings with Iran. The Crown Prince and Shaikh Mohammed
hailed the House's ratification of the FTA. Noting that
Bahrain's military cooperation with the U.S., which began
before others in the region, had served as a model for GCC
countries, Shaikh Mohammed hoped that Bahrain's economic
cooperation (first GCC country with an FTA) and political
reforms would also serve as examples for others in the Gulf.

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POSITIVE ROLE OF U.S. NAVY HAILED
--------------


2. (U) Vice Admiral Patrick Walsh, newly-arrived Commander of
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the U.S. 5th Fleet, and
the Combined Maritime Forces, made separate introductory
calls December 10 on Crown Prince Shaikh Salman, Deputy Prime
Minister Shaikh Mohammed, and Minister of
Information/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr.
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar. The Ambassador accompanied Admiral
Walsh on the calls.


3. (SBU) All three interlocutors opened their conversations
by stressing the important positive role that the U.S., and
the U.S. Navy, have played in the region. The Crown Prince
said that the U.S. role in maintaining peace and security in
the region is most appreciated in Bahrain. Bahrain, he said,
wants to strengthen its ties with the U.S. and make sure the
relationship stays robust. Shaikh Mohammed, who had served

as Foreign Minister for over 30 years until October of this
year, highlighted the U.S. Navy's long history in Bahrain,
and noted that it had filled a vacuum when the British left
and that its presence had played a critical role in checking
aggression in the region. "Without your presence," he said,
"the situation would have been different, not only in the
Gulf but in the world as a whole." While some people in the
region did not understand that point, he added, Bahrainis
did. Abdul Ghaffar, a former Bahraini Ambassador to the
U.S., praised the bilateral relationship as "super."

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BRING BACK THE NAVY DEPENDENTS ... AND KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) All three interlocutors raised the issue of the Navy
dependents, expressing the strong hope that family members
could return soon. The Crown Prince stated that a return of
Navy dependents would be an important positive statement and
would help stop people from "driving wedges between us." He
stressed the important role that Navy family members had
traditionally played in helping get the Navy out into the
community. Shaikh Mohammed said he hoped the Admiral would
take the lead in bringing the families back. The families
traditionally played an important role in developing
people-to-people relationships, he stated, and there is a
cost to not having the families here. Abdul Ghaffar said he
hope the families would come back in the next year, noting
the "wonderful relations" over the years between Navy family
members and Bahrainis. "The families have always played an
important role in the relationship,' he added.


5. (SBU) The Crown Prince highlighted the important role of
the DOD-run Bahrain School in breaking down barriers between
people of different nationalities and cultures. "We don't
want to lose that," he stated. Shaikh Mohammed echoed that
sentiment, saying that the "school is one of the best things
you have done here."

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CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN
--------------


6. (C) The Crown Prince said that Bahrain is watching the
new government in Iran closely, adding that they are not
comfortable with the direction the Iranians are heading. One
concern is the potential impact of Iran on local
developments. "We want to build a modern secular state, but
there is underlying tension in Bahrain now, and ideas from
Iran can spread out across the Gulf." He said it was not
clear whether opposition Shia activists were "trying to
negotiate a place at the table, or maybe more than that." On
the international level, he stated that Iran has penetrated
the Iraqi political structure, particularly in the South, and
we all need to understand what that will mean for the future
of Iraq. He repeated an idea he had raised with Assistant to
the President for Homeland Security/Counterterrorism Frances
Townsend during the recently-held IISS conference in Bahrain
-- that we engage the Iranians in multi-party talks much like
the six-party talks with the North Koreans. Such talks could
include the U.S., Europeans, Russia, China, perhaps India,
and a perhaps a country from the Arab world, he said.


7. (C) Shaikh Mohammed also raised Iran, saying the country
is going backwards. The Iranians believe they have a message
that the revolution should succeed not just in Iran but also
in the region. To gain support both in Iran and regionally,
they choose issues that will resonate with the people, such
as harsh condemnation of Israel. But as far as the
Palestinians are concerned, Bahrain will take its lead from
what the Palestinians themselves want, not what the Iranians
want. During the recently-concluded OIC Summit in Mecca,
where the King met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad,
Bahrain tried to convey a message of good relations, which
includes not interfering in one's neighbors' internal
affairs. Iran is a part of the region, and so dialogue with
the Iranians is important and necessary. But Bahrain is very
careful. It wants to have good relations with Iran, but it
cannot go further unless it feels it is on the basis of an
honest relationship.

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GOOD NEWS ON FTA
--------------


8. (SBU) Shaikh Mohammed hailed the news received over the
Bahrain weekend that the U.S. House of Representatives had
approved by a large majority the Free Trade Agreement with
Bahrain, the first such agreement in the Gulf. Noting that
Bahrain's military cooperation with the U.S., which began
long before any other GCC country had welcomed a U.S.
military presence, served as a model for the region, he said
he hoped that Bahrain's economic cooperation would likewise
serve as a model for others. He added that Bahrain also
hopes that its political reforms can also serve as an example
for others on how to move forward.
MONROE