AMBASSADOR SIGNS MOU ON HOMELAND SECURITY

UNCLAS MANAMA 000546 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC BA SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SIGNS MOU ON HOMELAND SECURITY COOPERATION WITH MINISTER OF INTERIOR REF: STATE 75994 ¶1. (U) The Ambassador on June 12 signed reftel non-binding Memorandum of Understanding on Homeland Security Cooperation between the U.S. and Bahrain with Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa. In attendance on the U.S. side were two Riyadh-based DHS representatives, Attache Donna Chabot and Assistant Attache Scott Marvin. Shaikh Rashid welcomed the agreement, saying he hoped it would lead to greater cooperation in the areas of responsibility of the MOI and DHS, including cooperation between the two countries' Coast Guards. Chabot expressed regret that Secretary Chertoff could not be in Bahrain to sign the MOU himself, as originally anticipated, adding that he had only postponed his planned trip to Bahrain and hoped to reschedule in the coming months. ¶2. (U) Press coverage of the signing ceremony was excellent, including front-page coverage in several of the Arabic language newspapers. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE