Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA477
2005-03-29 14:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REPORT

Tags:  PHUM KDEM KJUS BA 
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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 MANAMA 000477 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2015
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KJUS BA
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REPORT
DELIVERED TO GOB

REF: STATE 48134

Classified By: Acting DCM Hallie Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000477

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2015
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KJUS BA
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY REPORT
DELIVERED TO GOB

REF: STATE 48134

Classified By: Acting DCM Hallie Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Poloff delivered the 2004-2005 Supporting Human
Rights and Democracy Report to MFA Assistant Undersecretary
for Coordination and Follow-up Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak
Al Khalifa March 28. Sheikh Abdul Aziz pledged to review the
report carefully, and noted that the MFA is thinking of
establishing a new department within the ministry to work on
the issues raised in certain international reports. He said
the GOB wanted to become more pro-active rather than reactive
in dealing with the issues contained in the reports.


2. (C) Recognizing that the Supporting Human Rights and
Democracy Report includes the 98 countries and entities that
the U.S. deems to have the most human rights abuses, he asked
for advice on how Bahrain could "get off the list." Sheikh
Abdul Aziz commented that in response to a recent report on
Bahrain from the UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, the GOB was considering establishing a
national institute on human rights and publishing more of its
internal reports on human rights issues.


3. (C) The Bahrain Tribune, a pro-government newspaper,
published a front page article March 29 on the Supporting
Human Rights and Democracy Report entitled "Bahrain Reforms,
War on Graft Win US Praise." The article cited passages from
the report which noted positive actions taken by the GOB with
regard to human rights in the last year, and included very
little from the more negative passages. It highlighted
several USG-funded initiatives in Bahrain including Civitas,
the Microscholarships program, the International Visitors
program, the American Bar Association program, and the
Commercial Law Development Program.
MONROE