AMBASSADOR AND NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000013 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV BA POL OFFICIALS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DISCUSS POLITICS, LEGAL REFORM REF: A. 06 MANAMA 2061 ¶B. 06 MANAMA 2031 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador January 4 called on new Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arayedh and discussed local politics, the democratic reform process, and legal reform. Al Arayedh said the political climate had improved since Shia political society Al Wifaq boycotted the King's December 15 address to parliament. He said the government wants Al Wifaq to participate fully in the political system and noted the government may have a tough time dealing with the new parliament - "a good thing," in his view. He thought that Al Wifaq would achieve some success in pursuing its legislative agenda. On democratization, he said Bahrain had accomplished a lot but warned that transition takes time. Al Arayedh wants to lead an effort to revise and update Bahrain's laws and legal framework, and he asked if ABA consultants could work with him on this effort. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador January 4 met with newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arayedh and discussed the political situation, democratization, and legal reform, among other issues. Per Ref B, Al Arayedh is a long-serving government official, having first become a minister in 1971, when he was appointed Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. He also served as minister of state for cabinet affairs, health, municipalities and environmental affairs, and justice. Until his appointment on December 11, he had been an advisor to the prime minister for legal affairs. He comes from a wealthy Shia merchant family and is the first Shia to reach the rank of deputy prime minister. -------------- Political Atmosphere Improving -------------- ¶2. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, Al Arayedh said the political atmosphere had improved since leading Shia opposition political society Al Wifaq "committed the mistake" of not attending the King's address to a joint session of parliament December 15 (Ref A). He thought that Al Wifaq's decision not to attend the Council of Representatives' (COR) initial administrative session a few days later was tactical: Al Wifaq knew it would not be able to win an election for COR speaker, so it did not participate. Thus the group avoided a public defeat. ¶3. (C) Al Arayedh emphasized that the GOB wants Al Wifaq to participate fully in the political system and to cooperate on solving policy problems. The government may have a tough time dealing with the COR, but this is a good thing, he said, and "is the (democratic) path we have chosen." The government should be accountable to parliament. In response to the Ambassador's question, Al Arayedh said the Sunni and Shia parliamentary blocs can work together, but "with some shyness." He admitted there is sectarian friction in society, and said Sunni Islamist parliamentary blocs Al Asala (Salafi) and Al Minbar (Muslim Brotherhood) try to hide their sectarianism, but it is there. He said that Iran plays games inside Bahrain when it wants to and, unfortunately, "many Bahrainis are willing to cooperate with the devil (Iran)." He claimed that the Qatari government gives money to Al Wifaq and other oppositionists. "We are good friends with Qatar on the face of things, but facts are facts." ¶4. (C) Al Arayedh said that Al Wifaq Secretary General Shaikh Ali Salman is very good and politically savvy, but complained that senior Shia cleric and Al Wifaq spiritual leader Shaikh Isa Qassem is "unbelievably stubborn." Although Qassem does not have much political influence over Salman, he does have great influence within the Shia community. Al Arayedh said a long-term challenge was dealing with Shias' belief that they are oppressed. He thought that Al Wifaq would "not be allowed to fail" in pursuing its legislative agenda. He admitted there would be fights, but if democracy can succeed in Bahrain, a heterogeneous country, it could serve as a good example for the rest of the region. -------------- Progress on Democratization -------------- ¶5. (C) Regarding democratic reform, Al Arayedh urged that MANAMA 00000013 002 OF 002 Bahrain not be looked at in isolation from the rest of the Gulf. Bahrain has accomplished a lot in comparison with the other Gulf countries even though short-term progress may not be steady. Transition takes time, he said. Not all Al Khalifas are happy with the King's reform program because they have lost power and prestige. He said there is a new school and an old school in the ruling family and government. Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, he said, is forward looking, as are King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman, but there are some in the palace who have no experience in governing or in the give-and-take of politics. They are only familiar with issuing orders and decrees. -------------- Further Legal Reform -------------- ¶6. (C) Al Arayedh said that he has the legal affairs portfolio among the three deputy prime ministers. (Note: The others are Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the former long-serving foreign minister, and Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, transportation minister and the PM's son.) He wants to lead an effort to revise and update Bahrain's laws and legal framework, drawing on the U.S. and UK as models, not Egypt, as Bahrain currently does. "Egyptian laws," he said, "are dragging us down." He praised new Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa for reviving the Ministry's training and modernization programs. Referring positively to the work the MEPI-funded American Bar Association rule of law project does at the Ministry, Al Arayedh asked if ABA consultants could work with the Cabinet's legal committee. The Ambassador urged that the Cabinet act expeditiously on pending Trafficking-in-Persons legislation. Al Arayedh said he would look into the status of the draft law. ¶7. (C) The Ambassador asked about a recent half-day strike by Bahraini lawyers, who were protesting the presence of foreign legal offices in the country. Al Arayedh said that since the 1970s, some Bahraini lawyers have not wanted international lawyers to work in Bahrain because they fear the foreigners will take their jobs away. But they cannot stop international legal professionals from working in Bahrain. Bahraini lawyers generally have low standards and bad English. How can they do legal work for banks and other international companies, he asked. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE