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. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL