BAHRAIN REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR UNGA PRESIDENT

UNCLAS MANAMA 000414

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL BA UNGA ROW
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR UNGA PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE


Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not
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(SBU) MFA Director for International Organization Affairs
Ghassan Shaikho told Pol/Econ Chief March 15 that Bahrain's
candidate for president of the 2006-07 UNGA session, Shaikha
Haya bint Rashed Al Khalifa, was now Asia's single candidate
for the position. He said it was Asia's turn in the
position, and the Asian bloc had already endorsed her.
Shaikha Haya's election was now only a "procedural matter."
Shaihko said Bahrain wanted U.S. support for her candidacy in
the run-up to the election, and suggested that the Crown
Prince and Foreign Minister's Washington visit (March 19-23)
would be a good opportunity to discuss the issue. Shaikho
said Shaikha Haya was a highly qualified candidate and her
serving as UNGA president would send a positive message about
the role of women in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

MONROE