BAHRAIN: WAY FORWARD ON UN REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000099 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016 TAGS: PREL KUNR PHUM KDEM BA UN ROW OFFICIALS SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: WAY FORWARD ON UN REFORM REF: A. STATE 4746 ¶B. STATE 4651 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador January 21 delivered Ref A demarche concerning the way forward on UN reform to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa in a meeting covering several subjects (septels). Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain supports U.S. efforts in the reform process and promised to get back to us with more details after studying the U.S. position. ¶2. (C) On UN Security Council reform, Shaikh Khalid noted that Japan had requested Bahrain's support to join the Council as a permanent representative, which Bahrain agreed to do. In return, Bahrain asked for and received Japan's support for Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa's candidacy to be president of the UN General Assembly for the session beginning in September 2006. Shaikh Khalid asked the Ambassador for the support of the United States for Shaikha Haya. He said she is qualified, experienced, would do a very good job, and would promote a positive image of women in the Gulf. She would be a prominent example of women's empowerment, a core issue for U.S. reform and democratization efforts in the broader Middle East region. He reminded the Ambassador that this was not the first time Bahrain has formally requested U.S. support for Shaikha Haya's candidacy. MONROE