BAHRAIN: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION HOST COUNTRY

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