BAHRAIN'S CROWN PRINCE ON IRAN, QATAR, AND THE

					  C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2029 
TAGS: PREL KPAL MARR IR QA BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN'S CROWN PRINCE ON IRAN, QATAR, AND THE 
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT 
 
REF: MANAMA 69 
 
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
					

1. (C) Summary: Bahrain's Crown Prince said developments in
the region had strengthened radicals, and urged the USG to
show Qatar that there were "consequences" for unhelpful
policy choices. End summary.



2. (C) Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman discussed Iran, Qatar,
and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Ambassador February


9.



3. (C) The CP said moderate governments and reformers in the
region had been weakened over "the last eight years" by
continuing Israeli settlement of the West Bank, and by events
in Gaza, Iraq, and Lebanon. The same developments had made
Iran, Syria, and their clients stronger.



4. (U) Shaikh Salman understood and appreciated the new
administration's early focus on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and expressed hope that Senator Mitchell's
appointment as special envoy signaled serious U.S. engagement
that would produce visible results that "relieve the pressure
on us." Bahrain and the other Arab moderate governments
wanted to help.



5. (C) The CP complained that Qatar had recently been
behaving like a "client state" of Iran. He asserted that the
Qataris believed they could "get away with this" because of
alleged U.S. dependence on military facilities there. He
urged, several times, that the U.S. show Qatar that there
were "consequences" for its unhelpful policy choices.



6. (C) The Crown Prince also reiterated Bahrain's concern
over the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. He asked that the
USG consult with the GCC states before any U.S.-Iranian
discussions that concerned regional security arrangements.



7. (C) Participants: The CP and Ambassador were joined by
the President of the Crown Prince's court Sheikh Khalifa bin
Daij, media advisor Ahmad Salama, and DCM (notetaker.)



8. (C) Comment: MFA senior advisor Saeed Al Faihani told
DCM this week that the Qatari government was "very angry" at
Bahrain's decision not to attend the January 16 Doha meeting.
When forced to choose between Qatar and Saudi Arabia,
Faihani said, it was a "no-brainer" to keep Riyadh happy.

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HENZEL