Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA559
2006-04-05 09:34:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
BAHRAIN: EXPANDING PSI PARTICIPATION IN THE
how-toVZCZCXRO2693 OO RUEHDE DE RUEHMK #0559 0950934 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 050934Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4365 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0794 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
S E C R E T MANAMA 000559
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC KNNP BA BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: EXPANDING PSI PARTICIPATION IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
REF: STATE 50792
Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T MANAMA 000559
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC KNNP BA BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: EXPANDING PSI PARTICIPATION IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
REF: STATE 50792
Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Pol/Econ Chief April 5 delivered reftel demarche
concerning expanding participation in the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI) in the Middle East to MFA Director
for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran. Al Umran's response
focused on two main issues - other regional countries'
participation in PSI, and GOB legal authority to interdict
shipments. He noted there were no GCC members among the
countries that had joined PSI. He wondered if Bahrain, from
a regional political perspective, would be able to seize a
shipment and withstand the possible backlash if no other GCC
countries had joined the initiative. He also questioned if
Bahrain's domestic laws allowed for the interdiction of
cargo, whether it was associated with weapons of mass
destruction or not, if it was only transiting Bahraini
territory.
2. (S) Al Umran pledged to summarize the demarche
information in a memo for Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin
Ahmed Al Khalifa so he is prepared to address the issue
during his April 8 meeting with Under Secretary Joseph.
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC KNNP BA BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: EXPANDING PSI PARTICIPATION IN THE
MIDDLE EAST
REF: STATE 50792
Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Pol/Econ Chief April 5 delivered reftel demarche
concerning expanding participation in the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI) in the Middle East to MFA Director
for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran. Al Umran's response
focused on two main issues - other regional countries'
participation in PSI, and GOB legal authority to interdict
shipments. He noted there were no GCC members among the
countries that had joined PSI. He wondered if Bahrain, from
a regional political perspective, would be able to seize a
shipment and withstand the possible backlash if no other GCC
countries had joined the initiative. He also questioned if
Bahrain's domestic laws allowed for the interdiction of
cargo, whether it was associated with weapons of mass
destruction or not, if it was only transiting Bahraini
territory.
2. (S) Al Umran pledged to summarize the demarche
information in a memo for Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin
Ahmed Al Khalifa so he is prepared to address the issue
during his April 8 meeting with Under Secretary Joseph.
MONROE