BAHRAIN DECIDES AGAINST JOINING PSI OPERATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000582 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, ISN/CPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017 TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM BA REGION BILAT SUBJECT: BAHRAIN DECIDES AGAINST JOINING PSI OPERATIONAL EXPERTS GROUP REF: A. MANAMA 0385 ¶B. MANAMA 0370 ¶C. STATE 53412 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) This is an action message - please see para 3. ¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa confirmed to the Ambassador June 21 information that Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa also discussed with the Ambassador the previous day: that Bahrain would not be able to join the Proliferation Security Initiative Operational Experts Group (OEG) because the MOD did not have enough people and resources to devote to it. He noted that MOD was feeling pressed already by its commitments for the NATO Istanbul Cooperative Initiative and it could not spare additional people for the OEG. Shaikh Khalid thought that the MFA might be able to pick up some of the MOD's responsibilities for NATO ICI, which could then free up MOD staff time for the OEG. Asking that the "door remain open" for Bahrain to join the OEG, Shaikh Khalid wondered if GOB representatives could attend the next meeting as observers, to judge better whether they should carve out resources to devote to it. ¶3. (U) Action Request: Please advise on whether Bahrain can attend the next OEG meeting as an observer. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE