Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA2031
2006-12-12 15:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
MINOR RESHUFFLE BRINGS SOME NEW BLOOD INTO CABINET
how-toVZCZCXRO2917 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMK #2031/01 3461510 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121510Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6173 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 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 04 MANAMA 002031
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BA POL
SUBJECT: MINOR RESHUFFLE BRINGS SOME NEW BLOOD INTO CABINET
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 MANAMA 002031
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BA POL
SUBJECT: MINOR RESHUFFLE BRINGS SOME NEW BLOOD INTO CABINET
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Shaikh
Khalifa December 11 brings in five new ministers, changes the
portfolio of four existing ministers, and drops three others.
Of the 23 ministers, 11 are from the ruling Al Khalifa
family with the remaining twelve evenly split between Sunnis
and Shias. Five of six national security ministers are Al
Khalifas as are two of six economy-related ministers. Four
of the newcomers are well-known faces from their long
experience in national affairs, with the only true outsider
being Shia businessman Nizar Al Baharna, who was appointed
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Most prominent among
the portfolio shifts was former Minister of Defense General
Shaikh Khalifa retaining his position of Deputy
Commander-in-Chief and his seat in the Cabinet but losing his
ministerial title to Minister of State for Defense Affairs
Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The two women
ministers from the previous cabinet retained their positions.
The reshuffle is relatively minor, notable mostly for the
symbolism of the elevation of a Shia to deputy prime minister
for the first time and the inclusion of an opposition society
member in the Cabinet. End Summary.
--------------
Minor Cabinet Reshuffle
--------------
2. (SBU) Following the constitutionally-mandated resignation
of the Cabinet following the November 25/December 2
parliamentary elections, the King reappointed Shaikh Khalifa
bin Salman Al Khalifa to the position of prime minister and
asked him to form a new government. Shaikh Khalifa announced
the Cabinet December 11, appointing five new ministers,
changing the portfolios of four existing ministers, and
dropping three others. Of the 23 ministers (excluding three
ministers related to Royal Court and Prime Minister Court
affairs),11 (48%) are from the Al Khalifa family, six are
non-Al Khalifa Sunnis, and six are Shias. Five of six
national security ministers (Deputy Commander of the Bahrain
Defense Force (BDF),Minister of State for Defense Affairs,
Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) are Al Khalifas. Two
of six economy-related ministers (Electricity and Water,
Industry and Commerce, Public Works and Housing, Finance,
Labor, and Oil and Gas) are Al Khalifas.
--------------
Old Wine in New Bottles
--------------
3. (SBU) Newcomers to the Cabinet are Deputy Prime Minister
(without portfolio) Jawad Al Arrayed, Minister of Justice and
Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of
Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Mansour Bin Rajab,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Al Baharna, and
Minister of State for Defense Affairs Shaikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa. (See bios in para 9.) Of these, four
are familiar faces from their long experience in national
affairs. Al Arrayed had previously served as Minister of
Justice and Advisor to the Prime Minister for Legal Affairs
and Bin Rajab had been a prominent member of the previous
Shura Council. Both Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Mohammed served
as under secretaries in their ministries before being
elevated to minister. The only minister who is truly new to
government is Al Baharna, a well-known business man who had
been elected and was serving as second vice president of the
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
--------------
Some Portfolio Shifts
--------------
4. (SBU) Those with changed portfolios are Deputy Prime
Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Shaikh
Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Information
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, and Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs
Abdul Hussein Ali Mirza. Shaikh Ali, the prime minister's
son, had previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Transportation. He retains the deputy PM
position, but accompanying the announcement of the new
Cabinet was word that the Transportation Ministry would be
transformed into a public authority. There was no indication
of who would head the new authority. General Shaikh Khalifa
had previously served as Minister of Defense and Deputy
Commander-in-Chief of the BDF; he will now serve in only the
MANAMA 00002031 002 OF 004
Deputy CINC capacity but remains a member of the Cabinet.
Abdul Ghaffar held two portfolios in the previous Cabinet,
Minister of Information and Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs. He now will hold only the information portfolio.
Mirza had been Minister of State and Chairman of the National
Oil and Gas Authority; he is now minister of the
reconstituted oil and gas ministry. He had already been
sitting in the office of the former minister of energy, a
position that had been eliminated in last January's Cabinet
reshuffle.
--------------
Three Ministers Depart
--------------
5. (SBU) Three ministers were dropped from the previous
Cabinet. They are former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Islamic Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa, an
elderly man who openly has said he wanted to retire. Islamic
Affairs has now been joined with Justice under Shaikh Khalid.
Former Minister of Justice Mohammed Al Sitri has been
appointed the King's advisor for legislative affairs with the
rank of minister, although he is not a member of the Cabinet.
Former Minister of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs
Ali Al Saleh was appointed to the Shura Council and is
expected to serve as the chamber's chairman.
--------------
Notable Elements of New Cabinet
--------------
6. (C) The appointment of Al Arrayed as deputy PM represents
the most senior level reached by a Shia in the government.
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin
Attiyatallah Al Khalifa, who was accused of running a
wide-ranging conspiracy to sway outcomes in the recent
parliamentary elections in a report written by former advisor
Salah Al Bandar, remains in his position despite the
accusations and widespread (but not universal) public disgust
for his alleged activities. Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Al Baharna is the first member of an opposition
society to be appointed to the Cabinet. Al Baharna is a
member of leading Shia opposition political society Al Wifaq,
which holds the largest single bloc of deputies in the
elected lower house of parliament. Al Baharna comes from the
most moderate and open-minded wing of Al Wifaq. The two
women from the previous Cabinet, Minister of Health Nada
Haffadh and Minister of Social Development Fatima Al
Baloushi, remain in their positions.
--------------
Comment
--------------
7. (C) The Cabinet reshuffle is relatively minor, notable
mostly for the symbolism of the elevation of a Shia to deputy
prime minister and inclusion of an opposition society member
in the Cabinet, albeit in a position for which he has no
background or experience. While one long-time official
departed, Minister of Islamic Affairs Shaikh Abdullah,
continuing a trend in recent Cabinet shake-ups, many
observers had expected Minister of Defense Shaikh Khalifa to
leave as well. Although he is no longer Minister, he
maintains a Cabinet seat and will overshadow his former
deputy Shaikh Mohammed. The biggest question hanging over
Bahraini politics remains: When will the prime minister
leave? The reshuffle did nothing to resolve this question.
End Comment.
--------------
Cabinet List
--------------
8. (U) Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arrayed
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force Shaikh
Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Minister of Education Dr. Majid Al Nuaimi
Minister of Electricity and Water Shaikh Abdullah bin Salman
Al Khalifa
Minister of Finance Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin
Mohammed Al Khalifa
Minister of Health Dr. Nada Haffadh
Minister of Housing and Public Works Fahmi Al Jowder
Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr. Hassan Fakhro
Minister of Information Dr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar
Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali
MANAMA 00002031 003 OF 004
Al Khalifa
Minister of Labor Dr. Majeed Al Alawi
Minister of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Mansour
Bin Rajab
Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs Dr. Abdul Hussein Ali Mirza
Minister of the Prime Minister's Court Shaikh Khalid bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa
Minister of Royal Court Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Minister of Royal Court Affairs Shaikh Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa
Minister of Social Development Dr. Fatima Al Baloushi
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin
Attiyatallah Al Khalifa
Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Al Baharna
Minister of State for Shura Council and Parliament Affairs
Abdul Aziz Al Fadhel
--------------
Bios of New Cabinet members
--------------
9. (C) Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arrayed (Shia): Born
in 1940, Al Arrayed received a degree in English literature
from Cairo University and law degree from Leeds University in
the UK. He served as a public prosecutor in 1969 before
becoming Labor and Social Affairs Minister in 1971 and
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in 1973. He became
Health Minister and Chairman of the Environmental Protection
Committee in 1982 and Minister of State for Municipalities
and Environmental Affairs in 1999. He was Minister of
Justice 2002-2005. For the past year he has been an advisor
to the prime minister for legal affairs. Al Arrayed led the
GOB legal team at hearings into Bahrain's border dispute with
Qatar at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. As
Minister of Justice, Al Arrayed participated in a rule of law
study tour in the United States for senior Bahraini officials
and legislators that was organized by the Southern Methodist
University in 2004.
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali
Al Khalifa (Royal Family, Sunni): In his mid-30s and the
grandson of departing Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Abdullah,
Shaikh Khalid studied law as an undergraduate in Egypt and
received his Master's degree in legal studies from the
University of Norwich in the UK. He worked in the Ministry
of Justice as a prosecutor, judge, and head judge before
being appointed under secretary in 2004. Shaikh Khalid is
reform-minded and works very closely with the MEPI-funded
American Bar Association advisor placed in the Ministry to
promote the Rule of Law program.
Minister of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Mansour
Bin Rajab (Shia): Born in 1951, Bin Rajab comes from one of
the most prominent Shia families in Bahrain. He was a member
of the Shura Council for six years and served as the Second
Deputy Chairman since 2004. He is the Chairman of the
General Committee for Husseini Matams (Shia community
centers) and Vice President of the Jaafari (Shia) religious
endowment board of directors. He is president of the Al Ahad
Journalism Company and owner of the weekly newspaper Al Ahad.
Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa (Royal Family, Sunni): A medical doctor,
Shaikh Mohammed served as Under Secretary of the Ministry of
Defense for four years, from 2002. Prior to that he was head
of the heart center at the BDF Hospital. Shaikh Mohammed
served several times as the head of the Bahraini delegation
at U.S.-Bahrain joint meetings. Shaikh Mohammed would fill
in for the Minister when the Minister was outside the country
but he did not have the authority to make policy decisions in
the Minister's absence. BDF contacts have told Emboffs that
Shaikh Mohammed's elevation to Minister of State will
increase his influence and improve his ability to interact
with other ministers. Still, he is not expected to be a
strong player in the government.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Al Baharna
(Shia): Al Baharna studied engineering at the then-Aramco
University in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He is CEO of Nizar
Consulting, part of the Al Baharna Holding Group, and CEO of
Technologies and Consulting Group - Middle East, which was
selected as one of the top five e-government solution
providers by the World Summit on the Information Society. Al
Baharna was elected second vice president of the Bahrain
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2005. He was a founding
member of the Shia Al Wifaq society but left the board in
2004 to protest what he viewed as the society's growing
intolerance. He rejoined Al Wifaq in 2005 and is viewed as
one of the group's leading moderates and technocrats,
particularly on economic and business affairs.
MANAMA 00002031 004 OF 004
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BA POL
SUBJECT: MINOR RESHUFFLE BRINGS SOME NEW BLOOD INTO CABINET
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Shaikh
Khalifa December 11 brings in five new ministers, changes the
portfolio of four existing ministers, and drops three others.
Of the 23 ministers, 11 are from the ruling Al Khalifa
family with the remaining twelve evenly split between Sunnis
and Shias. Five of six national security ministers are Al
Khalifas as are two of six economy-related ministers. Four
of the newcomers are well-known faces from their long
experience in national affairs, with the only true outsider
being Shia businessman Nizar Al Baharna, who was appointed
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Most prominent among
the portfolio shifts was former Minister of Defense General
Shaikh Khalifa retaining his position of Deputy
Commander-in-Chief and his seat in the Cabinet but losing his
ministerial title to Minister of State for Defense Affairs
Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The two women
ministers from the previous cabinet retained their positions.
The reshuffle is relatively minor, notable mostly for the
symbolism of the elevation of a Shia to deputy prime minister
for the first time and the inclusion of an opposition society
member in the Cabinet. End Summary.
--------------
Minor Cabinet Reshuffle
--------------
2. (SBU) Following the constitutionally-mandated resignation
of the Cabinet following the November 25/December 2
parliamentary elections, the King reappointed Shaikh Khalifa
bin Salman Al Khalifa to the position of prime minister and
asked him to form a new government. Shaikh Khalifa announced
the Cabinet December 11, appointing five new ministers,
changing the portfolios of four existing ministers, and
dropping three others. Of the 23 ministers (excluding three
ministers related to Royal Court and Prime Minister Court
affairs),11 (48%) are from the Al Khalifa family, six are
non-Al Khalifa Sunnis, and six are Shias. Five of six
national security ministers (Deputy Commander of the Bahrain
Defense Force (BDF),Minister of State for Defense Affairs,
Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) are Al Khalifas. Two
of six economy-related ministers (Electricity and Water,
Industry and Commerce, Public Works and Housing, Finance,
Labor, and Oil and Gas) are Al Khalifas.
--------------
Old Wine in New Bottles
--------------
3. (SBU) Newcomers to the Cabinet are Deputy Prime Minister
(without portfolio) Jawad Al Arrayed, Minister of Justice and
Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of
Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Mansour Bin Rajab,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Al Baharna, and
Minister of State for Defense Affairs Shaikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa. (See bios in para 9.) Of these, four
are familiar faces from their long experience in national
affairs. Al Arrayed had previously served as Minister of
Justice and Advisor to the Prime Minister for Legal Affairs
and Bin Rajab had been a prominent member of the previous
Shura Council. Both Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Mohammed served
as under secretaries in their ministries before being
elevated to minister. The only minister who is truly new to
government is Al Baharna, a well-known business man who had
been elected and was serving as second vice president of the
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
--------------
Some Portfolio Shifts
--------------
4. (SBU) Those with changed portfolios are Deputy Prime
Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Shaikh
Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Information
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, and Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs
Abdul Hussein Ali Mirza. Shaikh Ali, the prime minister's
son, had previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Transportation. He retains the deputy PM
position, but accompanying the announcement of the new
Cabinet was word that the Transportation Ministry would be
transformed into a public authority. There was no indication
of who would head the new authority. General Shaikh Khalifa
had previously served as Minister of Defense and Deputy
Commander-in-Chief of the BDF; he will now serve in only the
MANAMA 00002031 002 OF 004
Deputy CINC capacity but remains a member of the Cabinet.
Abdul Ghaffar held two portfolios in the previous Cabinet,
Minister of Information and Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs. He now will hold only the information portfolio.
Mirza had been Minister of State and Chairman of the National
Oil and Gas Authority; he is now minister of the
reconstituted oil and gas ministry. He had already been
sitting in the office of the former minister of energy, a
position that had been eliminated in last January's Cabinet
reshuffle.
--------------
Three Ministers Depart
--------------
5. (SBU) Three ministers were dropped from the previous
Cabinet. They are former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Islamic Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa, an
elderly man who openly has said he wanted to retire. Islamic
Affairs has now been joined with Justice under Shaikh Khalid.
Former Minister of Justice Mohammed Al Sitri has been
appointed the King's advisor for legislative affairs with the
rank of minister, although he is not a member of the Cabinet.
Former Minister of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs
Ali Al Saleh was appointed to the Shura Council and is
expected to serve as the chamber's chairman.
--------------
Notable Elements of New Cabinet
--------------
6. (C) The appointment of Al Arrayed as deputy PM represents
the most senior level reached by a Shia in the government.
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin
Attiyatallah Al Khalifa, who was accused of running a
wide-ranging conspiracy to sway outcomes in the recent
parliamentary elections in a report written by former advisor
Salah Al Bandar, remains in his position despite the
accusations and widespread (but not universal) public disgust
for his alleged activities. Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Al Baharna is the first member of an opposition
society to be appointed to the Cabinet. Al Baharna is a
member of leading Shia opposition political society Al Wifaq,
which holds the largest single bloc of deputies in the
elected lower house of parliament. Al Baharna comes from the
most moderate and open-minded wing of Al Wifaq. The two
women from the previous Cabinet, Minister of Health Nada
Haffadh and Minister of Social Development Fatima Al
Baloushi, remain in their positions.
--------------
Comment
--------------
7. (C) The Cabinet reshuffle is relatively minor, notable
mostly for the symbolism of the elevation of a Shia to deputy
prime minister and inclusion of an opposition society member
in the Cabinet, albeit in a position for which he has no
background or experience. While one long-time official
departed, Minister of Islamic Affairs Shaikh Abdullah,
continuing a trend in recent Cabinet shake-ups, many
observers had expected Minister of Defense Shaikh Khalifa to
leave as well. Although he is no longer Minister, he
maintains a Cabinet seat and will overshadow his former
deputy Shaikh Mohammed. The biggest question hanging over
Bahraini politics remains: When will the prime minister
leave? The reshuffle did nothing to resolve this question.
End Comment.
--------------
Cabinet List
--------------
8. (U) Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa
Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arrayed
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force Shaikh
Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Minister of Education Dr. Majid Al Nuaimi
Minister of Electricity and Water Shaikh Abdullah bin Salman
Al Khalifa
Minister of Finance Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin
Mohammed Al Khalifa
Minister of Health Dr. Nada Haffadh
Minister of Housing and Public Works Fahmi Al Jowder
Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr. Hassan Fakhro
Minister of Information Dr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar
Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali
MANAMA 00002031 003 OF 004
Al Khalifa
Minister of Labor Dr. Majeed Al Alawi
Minister of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Mansour
Bin Rajab
Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs Dr. Abdul Hussein Ali Mirza
Minister of the Prime Minister's Court Shaikh Khalid bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa
Minister of Royal Court Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Minister of Royal Court Affairs Shaikh Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa
Minister of Social Development Dr. Fatima Al Baloushi
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin
Attiyatallah Al Khalifa
Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Al Baharna
Minister of State for Shura Council and Parliament Affairs
Abdul Aziz Al Fadhel
--------------
Bios of New Cabinet members
--------------
9. (C) Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arrayed (Shia): Born
in 1940, Al Arrayed received a degree in English literature
from Cairo University and law degree from Leeds University in
the UK. He served as a public prosecutor in 1969 before
becoming Labor and Social Affairs Minister in 1971 and
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in 1973. He became
Health Minister and Chairman of the Environmental Protection
Committee in 1982 and Minister of State for Municipalities
and Environmental Affairs in 1999. He was Minister of
Justice 2002-2005. For the past year he has been an advisor
to the prime minister for legal affairs. Al Arrayed led the
GOB legal team at hearings into Bahrain's border dispute with
Qatar at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. As
Minister of Justice, Al Arrayed participated in a rule of law
study tour in the United States for senior Bahraini officials
and legislators that was organized by the Southern Methodist
University in 2004.
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali
Al Khalifa (Royal Family, Sunni): In his mid-30s and the
grandson of departing Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Abdullah,
Shaikh Khalid studied law as an undergraduate in Egypt and
received his Master's degree in legal studies from the
University of Norwich in the UK. He worked in the Ministry
of Justice as a prosecutor, judge, and head judge before
being appointed under secretary in 2004. Shaikh Khalid is
reform-minded and works very closely with the MEPI-funded
American Bar Association advisor placed in the Ministry to
promote the Rule of Law program.
Minister of Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Mansour
Bin Rajab (Shia): Born in 1951, Bin Rajab comes from one of
the most prominent Shia families in Bahrain. He was a member
of the Shura Council for six years and served as the Second
Deputy Chairman since 2004. He is the Chairman of the
General Committee for Husseini Matams (Shia community
centers) and Vice President of the Jaafari (Shia) religious
endowment board of directors. He is president of the Al Ahad
Journalism Company and owner of the weekly newspaper Al Ahad.
Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa (Royal Family, Sunni): A medical doctor,
Shaikh Mohammed served as Under Secretary of the Ministry of
Defense for four years, from 2002. Prior to that he was head
of the heart center at the BDF Hospital. Shaikh Mohammed
served several times as the head of the Bahraini delegation
at U.S.-Bahrain joint meetings. Shaikh Mohammed would fill
in for the Minister when the Minister was outside the country
but he did not have the authority to make policy decisions in
the Minister's absence. BDF contacts have told Emboffs that
Shaikh Mohammed's elevation to Minister of State will
increase his influence and improve his ability to interact
with other ministers. Still, he is not expected to be a
strong player in the government.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Al Baharna
(Shia): Al Baharna studied engineering at the then-Aramco
University in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He is CEO of Nizar
Consulting, part of the Al Baharna Holding Group, and CEO of
Technologies and Consulting Group - Middle East, which was
selected as one of the top five e-government solution
providers by the World Summit on the Information Society. Al
Baharna was elected second vice president of the Bahrain
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2005. He was a founding
member of the Shia Al Wifaq society but left the board in
2004 to protest what he viewed as the society's growing
intolerance. He rejoined Al Wifaq in 2005 and is viewed as
one of the group's leading moderates and technocrats,
particularly on economic and business affairs.
MANAMA 00002031 004 OF 004
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE