C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000165

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2016
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS KTIA PREL BA BILAT
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION HOST COUNTRY
AGREEMENT

REF: A. STATE 17334


B. MANAMA 0116 AND PREVIOUS

Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief February 6 delivered reftel demarche
and non-paper concerning finalizing a host country agreement
(HCA) on Chemical Weapons Convention challenge inspections to
MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan
Shaikho. Shaikho recognized that there had been no progress
on the HCA since the USG team visited Manama in early
December 2005. He directed his CWC expert to follow up with
the Ministry of Defense to learn its views on the agreement.


2. (C) Shaikho noted that the regional political environment
had become more tense following the IAEA board decision to
report Iran to the UN Security Council. Although the
governments of Bahrain and Iran have good relations, the
Iranian government was unpredictable and could initiate a
challenge inspection. He commented that, in the event of a
challenge, the U.S. and Bahrain should be able to refer to an
agreement that spells out the responsibilities of each party
rather than react in a crisis mode.

MONROE