BAHRAIN APPROVES CWC HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT, SEEKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000301 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, ISN/CB, L OSD FOR NONPROLIFERATION POLICY - DR. COOPER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL MARR OPDC BA BILAT SUBJECT: BAHRAIN APPROVES CWC HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT, SEEKS EXPEDITIOUS SIGNING REF: A. MANAMA 165 ¶B. STATE 17334 ¶C. MANAMA 116 ¶D. 05 STATE 103859 AND PREVIOUS 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) The MFA informed the Embassy by dip note (text in para 5) that the GOB agrees to sign a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Host Country Agreement with the United States, with the text as delivered by the DOD team during its December 11, 2005 visit to Bahrain (Ref C). MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho told Pol/Econ Chief February 28 that Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa will sign on behalf of the GOB. He would like to sign the agreement as soon as possible. Echoing the question in the dip note, Shaikho asked who would sign on behalf of the United States. ¶3. (C) Shaikho hailed the agreement as a win-win, saying it covered both countries in the event of a CWC challenge inspection. He termed it an "administrative agreement" to cover procedures related to a possible inspection. Shaikho confirmed that the GOB wants the agreement to remain confidential, not to be shared with anyone outside the two SIPDIS governments. The signing ceremony itself should be done with only officials present, with no press coverage or cameras. ¶4. (C) Action Request: Post requests Washington authorization for the Ambassador to sign the Host Country Agreement Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the USG. Post also requests guidance on preparation of the MOU text and protocolary and diplomatic procedures for the signing. ¶5. (C) Begin text of diplomatic note: Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations Directorate Ref: 3/6/7-61743 Date: February 22, 2006 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of American in the Kingdom of Bahrain and has the honor to refer to the proposal made by the United States of America regarding signing an agreement with the Kingdom of Bahrain about inspection procedures pertaining to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Ministry has the pleasure to notify the Embassy that the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain agrees to sign the above agreement. H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will sign the agreement representing the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Ministry requests that the esteemed Embassy notify it about who will represent the Government of the United States in signing this agreement. The Ministry avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the esteemed Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration. End Text. MONROE