FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS GUIDANCE ON U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000821 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 TAGS: KUNR PREL BA UNSC UNGA SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS GUIDANCE ON U.S. POSITION ON UNSC REFORM REF: A. MANAMA 811 (NOTAL) ¶B. MANAMA 810 ¶C. MANAMA 727 (NOTAL) Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 5. ¶2. (C) During a June 7 meeting covering a number of issues (Refs A, B),Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa told the Ambassador that Bahrain wanted to work with the U.S. on UN Security Council reform. The Group of Four (Japan, Germany, India, Brazil) had submitted a proposal, and Shaikh Mohammed was looking for some indication of the U.S.' thinking. He indicated that the Ambassadors from the four countries had asked for Bahrain's vote, but he would not develop a firm position until hearing from the U.S. ¶3. (C) MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho told Pol/Econ chief June 8 that U.S. support for Japan's UNSC bid was clear, but its position on the candidacies of the other three countries was not. Per Ref C, Shaikho said that Bahrain supported an efficient, democratic Security Council, but had not committed to supporting any of the four countries thus far. ¶4. (C) Shaikho noted that the Group of Four was moving very quickly, requesting a vote in the General Assembly before the end of June and seeking resolution of the issue before the September 14 High Level Meeting. Representatives of the Group had been "very forceful" in requesting Bahrain's support. ¶5. (U) Action Request: Post requests Washington guidance on responding to Bahrain's questions about the U.S. position on UN Security Council reform. MONROE