GULF IRAQI EXPO POSTPONED

UNCLAS MANAMA 000165 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EB/CBA, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN EINV ETRD BA REGION ECTRD SUBJECT: GULF IRAQI EXPO POSTPONED REF: MANAMA 039 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) Iraqi Ambassador Ghassan Mohsen told the Ambassador that the planned Iraqi commercial exhibition "Iraqi Expo 2007" (reftel),scheduled to take place March 24 - 26 in Manama, has been postponed. Mohsen said that planning for the fair had been disrupted by the kidnapping of the Iraqi organizer. Although the organizer had since been released, it was now deemed too late to put the fair on as scheduled. Mohsen surmised that lackluster interst in the Gulf may have also contributed to the postponement. (Comment: competition from a similar exhibition in Amman may have also been a factor.) He said that it was hoped that the exhibition will be rescheduled for the fall. ¶2. (U) Post will provide any updates regarding the rescheduling of this event when such information becomes available. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE