Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1763
2006-10-10 10:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DOMESTIC, REGIONAL ISSUES

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI BA OFFICIALS BILAT POL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHMK #1763/01 2831054
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101054Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5748
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 1250
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001763 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI BA OFFICIALS BILAT POL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DOMESTIC, REGIONAL ISSUES
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001763

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI BA OFFICIALS BILAT POL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DOMESTIC, REGIONAL ISSUES
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Shaikh
Khalid October 5 and discussed NDI, Bahraini elections, the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Havana, friction
between Jordan and Qatar, and the Ambassador's participation
in a trade promotion trip in the U.S. On NDI, Shaikh Khalid
said that Bahrain would participate in the proposed study
tour in the Washington, DC area at the time of the mid-term
elections. The political development institute was in the
process of selecting participants. The Ambassador stressed
the importance of allowing independent, preferably
international, monitors to observe Bahrain's upcoming
elections. Shaikh Khalid was certain the GOB would ensure
the elections were transparent and properly observed. He
said the NAM meeting was not helpful, calling Chavez and
Ahmadi-Nejad "Barnum and Bailey." Shaikh Khalid explained
that there had been friction between Jordan and Qatar over
Jordan's late nomination of its UN ambassador to be UN
secretary general. The Ambassador noted that he would visit

SIPDIS
four major U.S. cities to promote the U.S.-Bahrain free trade
agreement (FTA). End Summary.

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Bahrain To Participate In NDI Program
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2. (C) In an October 5 meeting, Foreign Minister Shaikh
Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and the Ambassador discussed
NDI's proposed study program coinciding with the U.S.
mid-term elections, Bahrain's upcoming elections, the NAM
meeting in Havana, friction between Jordan and Qatar, and the
Ambassador's commercial mission in the U.S., among other
issues. On NDI, the Ambassador asked about the status of
Bahrain's reply to NDI's proposal to conduct a study mission
in the Washington, DC area to coincide with the mid-term
elections. NDI had requested a reply by September 30 but to
date had heard nothing. Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain
Institute for Political Development (BIPD) Secretary General

Lulwa Al Awadhi had sent a reply September 28 to NDI Regional
Director Les Campbell welcoming the proposal and stating that
BIPD was in the process of selecting participants. (Note:
Campbell confirmed separately later the same day that he had
just received Al Awadhi's letter.) Shaikh Khalid said it was
positive that Bahrainis would participate in this program.
He also drew attention to a sentence in Al Awadhi's letter
stating, "it seems appropriate to have a legal framework for
our future cooperation."

--------------
Yemen Supplants Bahrain as Democratic Model
--------------


3. (C) Turning to Bahrain's elections, the Ambassador said
that USG officials continue to be unhappy about the NDI
situation. In contrast, NDI, along with the EU and an Arab
organization, observed Yemen's recent presidential election.
The presence of international observers had attracted
President Bush's attention, and he now cites Yemen as a good
model in speeches. This in contrast with Bahrain, which
formerly had been held up as a model.


4. (C) The Ambassador continued that it is very important
that Bahrain's elections be free and fair, and be seen to be
free and fair. The best way to do this is to get the
observer piece right. Ideally, Bahrain should bring in
international election monitors. At a minimum, there should
be truly independent domestic monitors. Independent
observers give credibility to elections and improve the
perception that elections are legitimate. Shaikh Khalid said
he was sure the GOB would take the right steps to ensure the
elections are transparent and are properly observed. The
Ambassador emphasized that this issue is important to the
U.S.-Bahrain bilateral relationship.


5. (C) In a separate October 4 meeting with Deputy Prime
Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the
Ambassador made the same points about NDI and elections
monitors. Shaikh Mohammed replied that Bahrain is fully
committed to democracy and a democratic system. With the
elections coming, Bahrain needs its friends to encourage
democracy to continue to grow. There are some people who
push so hard on democracy that "they can push the car right
off the cliff." He said, however, that he understood the
Ambassador's message and would convey it to King Hamad.

MANAMA 00001763 002 OF 002



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Barnum and Bailey's Traveling Circus
--------------


6. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, the Foreign
Minister said the NAM conference in Havana was "not helpful,"
calling Venezuelan President Chavez and Iranian President
Ahmadi-Nejad "Barnum and Bailey." Shaikh Khalid said that
Chavez addressed his speech directly to Raul Castro,
recounting all the nice things Fidel had said about Raul.
Ahmadi-Nejad's speech "was not important."


7. (C) Shaikh Khalid explained that Jordan's last minute
nomination of UN Ambassador Prince Zeid bin Raad Al Hussein
to be UN secretary general had come as a surprise. Jordan
put the nomination on the table at the same September Arab
League (AL) ministerial meeting that (now former) Thai Deputy
Prime Minister and UN SecGen candidate Surakiart attended and
spoke at. Bahrain and other AL countries had been unhappy
with Jordan's unexpected move. The Qatari representative
said that the nomination came too late, and Jordan did not
like his response. Jordan feels that Qatar campaigned on
behalf of the Thai candidate. Shaikh Khalid said that a
Jordanian official had asked him if there was consensus
within the UN on a candidate. He said there was and
recommended that Jordan not dwell on the matter any longer.

--------------
Trip to Promote FTA
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador informed the Foreign Minister that he
would depart soon for the United States to participate in a
commercial tour to four major cities to promote the
U.S.-Bahrain FTA. Shaikh Khalid said this was very useful
and that Deputy PM Shaikh Mohammed had briefed King Hamad on
the tour. Separately, in the October 4 meeting, Shaikh
Mohammed told the Ambassador that a lot of work needs to be
done to educate Bahrainis about the FTA, saying there should
be a focus on specific sectors that can benefit from the
trade preferences. The Ambassador said he looked forward to
briefing the GOB and Bahraini FTA Implementation Committee
upon his return.


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