Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA272
2007-03-26 11:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
BAHRAIN: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT AND UNSCR 1747
how-toVZCZCXRO5315 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMK #0272/01 0851131 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261131Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6608 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0002 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0078 RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000272
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA, IO, ISN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC PARM BA REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT AND UNSCR 1747
DEMARCHES
REF: A. STATE 37801
B. STATE 36209
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000272
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA, IO, ISN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC PARM BA REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT AND UNSCR 1747
DEMARCHES
REF: A. STATE 37801
B. STATE 36209
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In response to reftel demarches on the Arab League
(AL) summit and UNSCR 1747, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid
said the summit would deal primarily with two issues:
Israel-Palestinian peace and Iraq. He emphasized the
importance of Saudi Arabia hosting the summit and taking a
leading role on regional affairs. He thought the AL could
issue a statement on the peace process similar to that of
Jordan's King Abdullah to Congress - a vision of full Arab
peace with Israel and negotiations on all issues. On the
refugee question, the Arabs could press Palestinians to move
to a new state of Palestine, while only 1948 refugees born in
present-day Israel would be allowed to return to it. On
Iraq, the ForMin said Bahrain is feeling more comfortable
about the situation on the ground and he pledged that Bahrain
would engage. Bahrain is taking UNSCR 1747 very seriously
and will implement it fully. Shaikh Khalid reported rumors
of infighting in Tehran on the government's handling of the
nuclear issue. End Summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador March 25 delivered reftel demarches on
the Arab League ministerial and summit and UN Security
Council resolution 1747 to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin
Ahmed Al Khalifa. Shaikh Khalid said the AL meetings would
deal with two main issues: making progress on peace between
Israel and the Palestinians, and Iraq. He noted the irony
that the Arabs are pondering making peace with Israel while
at the same time discussing the Iranian threat to Arab
national security. He emphasized the importance of Saudi
Arabia hosting the summit and taking a leading role on
regional matters. Shaikh Khalid understood that the heads of
state of Morocco, Libya, and Oman would not attend the summit.
--------------
Arab Engagement on Peace Process
--------------
3. (C) On the Israel-Palestinian situation, Shaikh Khalid
said Arab-Israeli engagement would increase concurrent with
progress in the peace process. The Arabs were encouraged by
Israel's statement that the AL initiative could be a basis
for negotiations. He thought that perhaps the AL summit
could issue a statement similar to that made recently by
Jordan's King Abdullah to Congress. King Abdullah had
offered a vision of full Arab peace with Israel and said
there should be negotiations on all issues. On the
Palestinian refugee situation, Shaikh Khalid said that if
there was a strong Israeli commitment to peace, the Arabs
would put pressure on Palestinian refugees to move to a new
state of Palestine. Israel, he suggested, could offer to
allow the remaining 1948 refugees who were born in
present-day Israel to return to it, while not permitting
subsequent generations to do so. If Israeli settlements
turned over to a Palestinian government were in good
condition, they could be used to house returned refugees.
4. (C) In Shaikh Khalid's view, it was important to get
things moving now, with no pre-conditions. Israeli
conditions would "put us into a corner." A favorable AL
statement could move things in the right direction. The
Arabs want a major push. Bahrain will be involved, Shaikh
Khalid said, "shaking hands with Israelis" to achieve
progress on peace. He noted that Saudi Arabia must play a
lead role in this process. Referring to the Secretary's
March 24 meeting in Aswan, Shaikh Khalid wondered about the
role of the "Arab Quartet" and the implications for the GCC 2
group. The Ambassador replied that the GCC 2 addressed a
broad range of regional issues while the Arab Quartet was
involved in only the Israel-Palestinian situation.
--------------
"Why Delay" Iraq Neighbors Meeting
--------------
5. (C) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Khalid said that Iraqi
Foreign Minister Zebari was still considering where to hold
the Iraq Neighbors ministerial meeting. "Why delay," he
MANAMA 00000272 002 OF 002
asked, and suggested holding the meeting in either Istanbul
or Cairo. The focus should be on getting things moving in
Iraq. He admitted that regional countries needed to do more
with Iraqis and noted that former PM Allawi would visit
Bahrain soon. The GOB is feeling more comfortable with
events on the ground in Iraq and he pledged that Bahrain will
engage. "We're with you all the way," the FM said.
--------------
Full Implementation of UNSCR 1747
--------------
6. (C) Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain was taking UNSCR 1747 very
seriously. "We will apply the resolution fully, against
people and entities, and tell others in the Gulf to do so as
well." He said he would discuss implementation with the
Finance Minister and Central Bank governor and pledged that
Bahrain would report back to the UN on the steps it had taken
within two months, per the resolution. The Ambassador
pointed out that the resolution increased the pressure on
Iran while pushing for a peaceful resolution to the
situation. There are signs that some positive things are
happening and that Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad is coming
under pressure at home. The ForMin said he had heard there
was infighting in Tehran on the government's handling of the
nuclear situation, and he had sensed during his November 2006
visit to Moscow that the Russian government was unhappy with
Iran, particularly for its lack of payment on the Bushehr
reactor construction. Shaikh Khalid said it was important to
maintain unanimity in the Security Council on Iran.
7. (C) On Lebanon, Shaikh Khalid noted that the AL had
invited both President Lahoud and Prime Minister Siniora to
attend the summit. This was an important message to Lahoud.
The ForMin recalled that Syrian Vice President Shara, during
a recent visit to Bahrain, had asked Bahrain to work as an
intermediary between Syria and Saudi Arabia to improve the
bilateral relationship. The GOB had replied that Syria
should go directly to Saudi Arabia.
8. (C) Shaikh Khalid had little comment on our Sudan and
Somalia points, indicating that these two issues would not be
the top priority at the summit. He expressed his view that
the Sudan government should accept the UN Heavy Support
Package and the African Union/UN hybrid force.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA, IO, ISN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREL KNNP MNUC PARM BA REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT AND UNSCR 1747
DEMARCHES
REF: A. STATE 37801
B. STATE 36209
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In response to reftel demarches on the Arab League
(AL) summit and UNSCR 1747, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid
said the summit would deal primarily with two issues:
Israel-Palestinian peace and Iraq. He emphasized the
importance of Saudi Arabia hosting the summit and taking a
leading role on regional affairs. He thought the AL could
issue a statement on the peace process similar to that of
Jordan's King Abdullah to Congress - a vision of full Arab
peace with Israel and negotiations on all issues. On the
refugee question, the Arabs could press Palestinians to move
to a new state of Palestine, while only 1948 refugees born in
present-day Israel would be allowed to return to it. On
Iraq, the ForMin said Bahrain is feeling more comfortable
about the situation on the ground and he pledged that Bahrain
would engage. Bahrain is taking UNSCR 1747 very seriously
and will implement it fully. Shaikh Khalid reported rumors
of infighting in Tehran on the government's handling of the
nuclear issue. End Summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador March 25 delivered reftel demarches on
the Arab League ministerial and summit and UN Security
Council resolution 1747 to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin
Ahmed Al Khalifa. Shaikh Khalid said the AL meetings would
deal with two main issues: making progress on peace between
Israel and the Palestinians, and Iraq. He noted the irony
that the Arabs are pondering making peace with Israel while
at the same time discussing the Iranian threat to Arab
national security. He emphasized the importance of Saudi
Arabia hosting the summit and taking a leading role on
regional matters. Shaikh Khalid understood that the heads of
state of Morocco, Libya, and Oman would not attend the summit.
--------------
Arab Engagement on Peace Process
--------------
3. (C) On the Israel-Palestinian situation, Shaikh Khalid
said Arab-Israeli engagement would increase concurrent with
progress in the peace process. The Arabs were encouraged by
Israel's statement that the AL initiative could be a basis
for negotiations. He thought that perhaps the AL summit
could issue a statement similar to that made recently by
Jordan's King Abdullah to Congress. King Abdullah had
offered a vision of full Arab peace with Israel and said
there should be negotiations on all issues. On the
Palestinian refugee situation, Shaikh Khalid said that if
there was a strong Israeli commitment to peace, the Arabs
would put pressure on Palestinian refugees to move to a new
state of Palestine. Israel, he suggested, could offer to
allow the remaining 1948 refugees who were born in
present-day Israel to return to it, while not permitting
subsequent generations to do so. If Israeli settlements
turned over to a Palestinian government were in good
condition, they could be used to house returned refugees.
4. (C) In Shaikh Khalid's view, it was important to get
things moving now, with no pre-conditions. Israeli
conditions would "put us into a corner." A favorable AL
statement could move things in the right direction. The
Arabs want a major push. Bahrain will be involved, Shaikh
Khalid said, "shaking hands with Israelis" to achieve
progress on peace. He noted that Saudi Arabia must play a
lead role in this process. Referring to the Secretary's
March 24 meeting in Aswan, Shaikh Khalid wondered about the
role of the "Arab Quartet" and the implications for the GCC 2
group. The Ambassador replied that the GCC 2 addressed a
broad range of regional issues while the Arab Quartet was
involved in only the Israel-Palestinian situation.
--------------
"Why Delay" Iraq Neighbors Meeting
--------------
5. (C) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Khalid said that Iraqi
Foreign Minister Zebari was still considering where to hold
the Iraq Neighbors ministerial meeting. "Why delay," he
MANAMA 00000272 002 OF 002
asked, and suggested holding the meeting in either Istanbul
or Cairo. The focus should be on getting things moving in
Iraq. He admitted that regional countries needed to do more
with Iraqis and noted that former PM Allawi would visit
Bahrain soon. The GOB is feeling more comfortable with
events on the ground in Iraq and he pledged that Bahrain will
engage. "We're with you all the way," the FM said.
--------------
Full Implementation of UNSCR 1747
--------------
6. (C) Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain was taking UNSCR 1747 very
seriously. "We will apply the resolution fully, against
people and entities, and tell others in the Gulf to do so as
well." He said he would discuss implementation with the
Finance Minister and Central Bank governor and pledged that
Bahrain would report back to the UN on the steps it had taken
within two months, per the resolution. The Ambassador
pointed out that the resolution increased the pressure on
Iran while pushing for a peaceful resolution to the
situation. There are signs that some positive things are
happening and that Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad is coming
under pressure at home. The ForMin said he had heard there
was infighting in Tehran on the government's handling of the
nuclear situation, and he had sensed during his November 2006
visit to Moscow that the Russian government was unhappy with
Iran, particularly for its lack of payment on the Bushehr
reactor construction. Shaikh Khalid said it was important to
maintain unanimity in the Security Council on Iran.
7. (C) On Lebanon, Shaikh Khalid noted that the AL had
invited both President Lahoud and Prime Minister Siniora to
attend the summit. This was an important message to Lahoud.
The ForMin recalled that Syrian Vice President Shara, during
a recent visit to Bahrain, had asked Bahrain to work as an
intermediary between Syria and Saudi Arabia to improve the
bilateral relationship. The GOB had replied that Syria
should go directly to Saudi Arabia.
8. (C) Shaikh Khalid had little comment on our Sudan and
Somalia points, indicating that these two issues would not be
the top priority at the summit. He expressed his view that
the Sudan government should accept the UN Heavy Support
Package and the African Union/UN hybrid force.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE