Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA671
2005-05-09 12:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

GCC FINANCE MINISTERS GIVE OK TO FTAS WITH US

Tags:  ETRD BA GCC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000671 

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR/NOVELLI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2015
TAGS: ETRD BA GCC
SUBJECT: GCC FINANCE MINISTERS GIVE OK TO FTAS WITH US

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000671

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR/NOVELLI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2015
TAGS: ETRD BA GCC
SUBJECT: GCC FINANCE MINISTERS GIVE OK TO FTAS WITH US

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D)


1. (U) The Bahrain press on May 9 published a report from
the UAE Arabic daily Al-Khalij stating that Saudi Finance
Minister Al-A'ssaf, during a GCC Finance Minsters' meeting in
Bahrain May 7, gave Saudi concurrence for GCC countries to
sign bilateral FTAs with the U.S. This Saudi approval of an
exception for bilateral FTAs with the U.S., the report said,
came as a result of Saudi CP Abdulla's recent trip to the
U.S. and meeting with President Bush.


2. (C) The Ambassador, during a May 9 discussion with Bahrain
Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed Al-Khalifa, asked about this
report. Shaikh Ahmed said that the Finance Ministers did
indeed concur in their May 7 meeting on an exception for
bilaterals FTAs with the U.S. He said that this decision
was not announced publicly because it needs to be endorsed by
the GCC Foreign Ministers and ultimately approved by the
heads of state. He fully expected full GCC endorsement. He
said he knew that news of the decision would leak out, but
did not want to be the source of the leak.


3. (C) Comment: This GCC decision is consistent with the news
we have been hearing here -- that the Saudis have put the FTA
issue with Bahrain behind them. There are also reports that
a solution may soon be reached on a second Saudi-Bahrain
irritant: the cessation of Saudi exports of sand for the
construction industry. Still to be resolved is the cut-off
of the 50,000 b/d oil grant.
MONROE