BAHRAIN: UNDERCUTTING IRAN'S RESCHEDULED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001190 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: UNDERCUTTING IRAN'S RESCHEDULED CONFERENCE OF IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS REF: A. STATE 107327 ¶B. MANAMA 1145 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief July 2 delivered Ref A demarche concerning the planned July 8 Iraq Neighbors Conference in Iran to MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran. Al Umran said it would be usual practice for Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa to attend a conference like this. He noted that Bahrain and Iran have two joint commissions - one on political affairs, the second on economic and technical matters - that are headed by the two foreign ministers. It would be embarrassing if no Bahraini official attended the July 8 meeting, Al Umran said, but understood the U.S. request that the Minister not go. ¶2. (C) In P/E Chief's presence, Al Umran contacted Shaikh Khalid's office and learned that the Minister had not yet decided whether he would go. Al Umran promised to pass the U.S. request to the Minister and see what he says. The Minister's special assistant told the Ambassador that Shaikh Khalid was in contact with his regional counterparts to discuss the Iranian invitation. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE