BAHRAIN: UPDATE ON ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001924 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016 TAGS: PREL MASS EAID BA LE REGION SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: UPDATE ON ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON REF: A. STATE 183255 ¶B. MANAMA 1645 ¶C. STATE 147838 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 4. ¶2. (C) Pol/Econ Chief November 13 requested an update on the status of Bahraini assistance for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) from MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. Shaikh Abdul Aziz recalled the Ambassador's earlier discussion with Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa on the same issue (Ref B) and stated that he was not aware that the Lebanese government had approached the GOB about military assistance. He said he would follow up with the MFA Arab Affairs directorate and with the Ministry of Defense. If the Lebanese government makes a request for help, Bahrain may be able to provide some in-kind assistance or provision of services. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador November 13 raised this matter with Lebanese Ambassador to Bahrain Mohammed Hajjar. Hajjar said that he had received no instructions from his ministry to request Bahraini assistance for the LAF. He stated that he was reluctant to go back to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry for instructions because he and the minister are from different political trends in Lebanon. ¶4. (C) Action Request: Ref C indicated that the Lebanese authorities would discuss specific needs with individual GCC countries. If Department, or Embassy Beirut, can confirm that this discussion took place, and through what channel, it could facilitate our ability to generate a positive Bahraini response. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE