Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA619
2007-07-03 11:14:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAIN: SEEKING REGIONAL SUPPORT TO STOP FLOW OF

Tags:  PREL PTER BA IZ REGION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2137
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMK #0619 1841114
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 031114Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6985
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
S E C R E T MANAMA 000619 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER BA IZ REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SEEKING REGIONAL SUPPORT TO STOP FLOW OF
FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO IRAQ

REF: STATE 91551

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

S E C R E T MANAMA 000619

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER BA IZ REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SEEKING REGIONAL SUPPORT TO STOP FLOW OF
FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO IRAQ

REF: STATE 91551

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


1. (S) The Ambassador July 3 delivered reftel demarche
concerning regional support to stop the flow of foreign
fighters to Iraq to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr.
Nezar Al Baharna. Al Baharna said that the MFA had not heard
of any specific cases of Bahraini citizens traveling to Syria
to fight in Iraq. Although the GOB realizes that segments of
the Bahraini population feel very strongly about the
situation in Iraq, the government had not identified
individual Bahrainis who had attempted to join the fight. He
said that the government would be very concerned if it found
that Bahrainis were actually traveling to Syria with the
intent of entering Iraq.


2. (S) Al Baharna said that the issue of Bahrainis traveling
to regional conflicts had also arisen in connection with a
recent statement by the Lebanese Defense Minister that
identified nationals of several Arab countries, including
Bahrain, as being involved with Fateh Al Islam in the Nahr Al
Bared camp in Lebanon. Responding to the Lebanese Minister's
statement, Al Baharna was quoted in the press July 3 saying
that the MFA did not have any information about the
recruitment of Bahrainis by Fateh Al Islam and that Bahrain
had not received any information on the matter through
official channels from the Lebanese government. To the
Ambassador, Al Baharna said that the Foreign Ministry had
contacted the Bahraini Embassy in Beirut to determine if it
had received any information about Bahrainis fighting with
Fateh Al Islam. The Embassy had not received any information
to this effect but was following up with the Lebanese
government. Al Baharna questioned how the Lebanese Minister
of Defense could make the statement he did unless the army
had actually captured individuals or discovered incriminating
documents. "They can't tell just by looking at them," Al
Baharna said.


3. (S) Separately, Pol/Econ Chief July 3 delivered the same
demarche to MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al
Umran. Al Umran said he would discuss the issue with the MFA
Consular Affairs director and the Ministry of Interior and
urge them to review their systems to ensure Bahrainis were
not allowed to travel to Iraq to fight.


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