Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA400
2007-04-30 13:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
BAHRAIN PROMOTES GCC+2 AS VEHICLE FOR IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXRO1224 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHMK #0400 1201357 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301357Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6769 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000400
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR BA IZ REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN PROMOTES GCC+2 AS VEHICLE FOR IRAQ
COOPERATION
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000400
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR BA IZ REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN PROMOTES GCC+2 AS VEHICLE FOR IRAQ
COOPERATION
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
told the Ambassador April 30 that there was a lingering
feeling, mostly from Saudi Arabia, of mistrust of the Iraqi
government. Although he did not know the exact reasons for
Saudi Arabia refusing to host a visit of Iraqi PM Maliki, he
believed it was due to a lack of trust. "We've heard Saudi
Arabia say Maliki must do a lot more to curb terror, reach
out to Sunnis, and control Shia militias," Shaikh Khalid
reported. He noted that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al
Faisal would be in Sharm Al Shaikh for the Compact and
Neighbors meetings, and perhaps he and Maliki could talk at
that time.
2. (C) The Ambassador urged Bahrain and the other GCC
countries to do something positive that creates a climate of
confidence and trust between the GCC and Iraq, which could
empower Maliki to work more closely with Iraqi Sunnis.
Shaikh Khalid replied that because of its demographics,
Bahrain is a "special case" and has relations throughout
Iraqi society, including with Shia hawzas. But it is not a
powerful country and cannot take the lead. With specific
regard to pledging support during the Compact portion of the
upcoming meeting, Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain "will do
what we can to help" without identifying any specifics.
3. (C) Shaikh Khalid continued that the GCC 2 would be an
appropriate forum in which to generate engagement between the
Iraqi government and its Sunni Arab neighbors. During the
meeting in Kuwait, there had been talk of inviting Iraqi
Foreign Minister Zebari to a future session. This would
allow the GCC 2 participants to discuss Iraq among themselves
and then engage directly with Zebari "in a frank way."
Bahrain would be willing to host this meeting, Shaikh Khalid
said. The GCC 2 is an appropriate forum to discuss Iraq
because that country's stability is a vital interest for all
participants. If Iraq continues to be a war zone, with
score-settling and logistical and human support from outside,
it will continue to be a problem. Its borders must be made
secure.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR BA IZ REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN PROMOTES GCC+2 AS VEHICLE FOR IRAQ
COOPERATION
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
told the Ambassador April 30 that there was a lingering
feeling, mostly from Saudi Arabia, of mistrust of the Iraqi
government. Although he did not know the exact reasons for
Saudi Arabia refusing to host a visit of Iraqi PM Maliki, he
believed it was due to a lack of trust. "We've heard Saudi
Arabia say Maliki must do a lot more to curb terror, reach
out to Sunnis, and control Shia militias," Shaikh Khalid
reported. He noted that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al
Faisal would be in Sharm Al Shaikh for the Compact and
Neighbors meetings, and perhaps he and Maliki could talk at
that time.
2. (C) The Ambassador urged Bahrain and the other GCC
countries to do something positive that creates a climate of
confidence and trust between the GCC and Iraq, which could
empower Maliki to work more closely with Iraqi Sunnis.
Shaikh Khalid replied that because of its demographics,
Bahrain is a "special case" and has relations throughout
Iraqi society, including with Shia hawzas. But it is not a
powerful country and cannot take the lead. With specific
regard to pledging support during the Compact portion of the
upcoming meeting, Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain "will do
what we can to help" without identifying any specifics.
3. (C) Shaikh Khalid continued that the GCC 2 would be an
appropriate forum in which to generate engagement between the
Iraqi government and its Sunni Arab neighbors. During the
meeting in Kuwait, there had been talk of inviting Iraqi
Foreign Minister Zebari to a future session. This would
allow the GCC 2 participants to discuss Iraq among themselves
and then engage directly with Zebari "in a frank way."
Bahrain would be willing to host this meeting, Shaikh Khalid
said. The GCC 2 is an appropriate forum to discuss Iraq
because that country's stability is a vital interest for all
participants. If Iraq continues to be a war zone, with
score-settling and logistical and human support from outside,
it will continue to be a problem. Its borders must be made
secure.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE