Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA34
2007-01-15 14:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES GCC PLUS TWO, REGIONAL

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS 
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DE RUEHMK #0034/01 0151408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151408Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6294
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000034 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EMBASSIES KUWAIT/RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO A/S WELCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES GCC PLUS TWO, REGIONAL
ISSUES WITH AMBASSADOR

REF: STATE 3663

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 03 MANAMA 000034

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EMBASSIES KUWAIT/RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO A/S WELCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES GCC PLUS TWO, REGIONAL
ISSUES WITH AMBASSADOR

REF: STATE 3663

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) During their January 15 meeting, Foreign Minister
Shaikh Khalid told the Ambassador that Bahrain had no problem
with a statement being issued at the January 16 GCC Plus Two
meeting in Kuwait, but he thought the Saudis and Kuwaitis
were concerned with aspects of the paragraph on Iraq.
Bahrain supports the President's Iraq strategy and it should
be given time to succeed. Shaikh Khalid pledged to say this
publicly upon his arrival in Kuwait the next day. Bahrain
agrees that Iran is the source of danger and trouble in the
area, and the U.S. and the countries of the region should
face this threat together. Referring to press coverage of
U.S. policy on Iraq, Shaikh Khalid raised the possible
deployment of Patriot batteries to the region and said he
wants to make sure Bahrain is covered. He noted that
Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora would visit Bahrain later in
the day to discuss Bahraini participation at the January 25
conference in Paris with the King. Bahrain supports the
Lebanese government "against all intimidations." They also
discussed Somalia, Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo, and a
Kenyan-Bahraini runner who was stripped of his citizenship.
End Summary.

--------------
No Problem with GCC Plus Two Statement
--------------


2. (C) Opening their January 15 meeting, the Ambassador
asked Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa for
his views of the draft of a statement to be issued following
the GCC Plus Two meeting to be held January 16 in Kuwait. He
said the Secretary was strongly in favor of a statement. The
President had taken a firm stand in the face of domestic
opposition, and the United States needs public support from
the region at this time. Shaikh Khalid said he had no
problem with a statement being issued, but he thought that
aspects of the paragraph on Iraq were "premature." He said
the Saudis and Kuwaitis were particularly concerned about
references to GCC-Iraq cooperation and a joint program on
regional security issues. The Iraqi government needs to take
"bold steps" first to deal with the Iranian presence and
armed militias. The GCC could help Iraq do this.


3. (C) Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain supports the President's
Iraq strategy announced last week, and it should be given
time to succeed. Asked if he would say this publicly, Shaikh

Khalid said he would make sure to say this to reporters upon
his arrival the next day in Kuwait. He praised relations,
saying "we agree we should move forward in the historic
relations between the U.S. and the region, which is a true
working partnership."

--------------
U.S., GCC Should Face Iranian Threat Together
--------------


4. (C) Turning to Iran, Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain agrees
with the United States that Iran is the source of danger and
trouble in the area -- in Iraq, Lebanon, with Hamas, and in
the Gulf. The U.S. and the countries of the region should
face this threat together, and Bahrain does not hesitate to
pitch in, he said, referring to the three Bahraini Navy ships
that were active in last year's Proliferation Security
Initiative exercise and are currently participating in a
combined naval task force. The GCC considers security in the
area to the west of the King Fahd line in the middle of the
Gulf to be the joint responsibility of the U.S. and the Gulf
countries, and "we must be involved in defending our
territory." Beyond the King Fahd line is the responsibility
of the international community. He said Bahrain would not
spare any effort to defend the Gulf and pressed for a clear
strategy laying out the responsibilities of each country in
dealing with the Iranian challenge.


5. (C) Referring to press coverage on aspects of U.S. policy
on Iraq, Shaikh Khalid said he had heard about the possible
deployment of Patriot batteries to the region. He wants to
make sure that Bahrain is covered. Shaikh Khalid said he

MANAMA 00000034 002 OF 003


would raise this privately with the Secretary in Kuwait and
that King Hamad would discuss it with Defense Secretary Gates
during his visit to Bahrain later in the week.

-------------- -
Bahrain to Attend Paris Conference for Lebanon
-------------- -


6. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, Shaikh
Khalid said that Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora would come
to Bahrain later in the day January 15 for a meeting with the
King. Siniora wants to discuss Bahraini participation at the
January 25 conference in support of Lebanon in Paris
(reftel). Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain would be represented at
the ministerial level, but no decision had yet been made on
who it would be. He thought it could be either Finance
Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa or Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Al Baharna, who will both be
at the Davos conference at that time. If they cannot make
it, Shaikh Khalid said he would attend.


7. (C) Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain is very supportive of the
Lebanese government "against all intimidations." Siniora
will find that he has friends and supporters in Bahrain.
Shaikh Khalid pledged that Bahrain would respond to any
Lebanese request to help, noting that bilateral relations
were very good. He indicated that the Lebanese government
had never requested Bahraini assistance for the Lebanese
Armed Forces.

--------------
Warlords in Mogadishu
--------------


8. (C) Changing subjects, Shaikh Khalid said that although
it is a mess, Somalia is in a "better mess" now that the
Islamic Courts Union is out. He warned however, that the
Somali government should now clear the streets of the
warlords who are now roaming Mogadishu. The Somali
government needs help and African countries should get
involved by providing money and weapons. He warned there
could be spillover from Somalia into Yemen and Oman.

--------------
Guantanamo Detainees
--------------


9. (C) The Foreign Minister asked for an update on the
status of the two remaining Bahraini detainees at Guantanamo.
He said that he expected intensified Parliamentary pressure
on this issue in the coming months. (Comment: One of the
loudest parliamentarians on this issue, Mohammed Khalid, is
now a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, which will
give him an enhanced platform to press the government on the
detainees.) He thought this issue would be raised with
Deputy Secretary of Defense England during his January 22
visit to Bahrain.

--------------
Runner Loses Citizenship
--------------


10. (C) The Ambassador said that the way the Bahraini
government stripped a Kenyan-Bahraini runner of his
citizenship for running in the Tiberias Marathon in Israel
was disappointing. At a time when the United States is
promoting moderation with its Arab partners, this looked like
a radical act. Stating that he had been out of the country
at the time, Shaikh Khalid said the matter had been handled
badly and it had not been addressed at a political level. It
was rushed through without proper reflection. He thanked the
Ambassador for raising the issue and said he would discuss it
further with the Bahraini leadership.

--------------
ForMin Washington Trip Off
--------------


11. (C) Shaikh Khalid told the Ambassador that he would
accompany Crown Prince Shaikh Salman to Washington March 1-2.
Unfortunately, Shaikh Khalid's separate visit to Washington
in mid-February was canceled. He thought he might be able to
come to Washington after the opening of the UN General
Assembly in September 2007. The Ambassador cautioned that
this was generally not an optimum time to visit Washington.


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