BAHRAIN: SEEKING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR DECEMBER 15

UNCLAS MANAMA 001872

SIPDIS


SENSITVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO BA IZ REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SEEKING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR DECEMBER 15
IRAQ ELECTION

REF: A. STATE 225860


B. MANAMA 1827

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.


1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief December 20 delivered Ref A demarche
calling for public statements in support of Iraq's political
process to MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al
Umran. Al Umran noted that the GCC Summit, which concluded
December 19 in Abu Dhabi, had issued a statement welcoming
the parliamentary elections and the participation of all
sects in the democratic process and expressing the hope that
a new chapter in the modern history of Iraq would open as a
result. He said he would pass our request for additional
supporting statements to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin
Ahmed Al Khalifa.


2. (U) Per Ref B, the Bahraini Cabinet December 11 issued a
statement urging all Iraqis to vote in the elections. It
called the elections a major step toward stability, paving
the way for a united Iraq.

ZIADEH