BAHRAIN: SCENESETTER FOR THE SECRETARY'S MEETING

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000151 SIPDIS FOR THE SECRETARY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR IR AF BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: SCENESETTER FOR THE SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Summary and introduction: Bahrain's strong ties with the U.S. are the key to the country's security, and it has long been a solid military and diplomatic partner. The Bahraini leadership is enthusiastic about the Obama administration's early engagement in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa will be eager to throw Bahrain's (admittedly modest) weight behind your priorities in order to get off on the right foot with the new administration. He will also provide you with insight into intra-Arab maneuverings on Gaza relief, and on the region's dealings with Iran. Shaikh Khalid participated in your meeting with King Hamad in Sharm March 2. End summary and introduction. ¶2. (C) Iran: Shaikh Khalid recently visited Tehran, where he publicly accepted a semi-apology for an Iranian official's remarks about old claims to Bahrain. In private, the GOB is alarmed by Iran's nuclear program and what it views as Tehran's growing influence in the region. Shaikh Khalid will welcomes the prospect of U.S. engagement with Tehran, but will request that GCC governments be kept in the loop if any U.S.-Iran dialogue on regional security develops. Resource-poor Bahrain is continuing slow-motion negotiations, underway for several years, for the potential purchase of Iranian natural gas if no other suppliers can be found. ¶3. (C) Gaza relief: King Hamad ordered that all Bahraini private and government donations for Gaza be funneled through a royal commission, in order to prevent direct funding to Hamas. Bahrain pledged USD 23 million at Sharm, but has not yet clearly explained to us what mechanisms it will use to ensure that its aid does not indirectly strengthen Hamas. Bahrain will likely follow the Saudis' lead on this question, as on many others. ¶4. (SBU) Human Rights: Shaikh Khalid will meet with Sen. Isakson's office to address concerns there that dissident Shia are being mistreated. Bahraini authorities have detained about 30 Shia in connection with an alleged bomb plot uncovered in December. The GOB has not yet made public all its evidence, but the authorities claim some of the accused trained at a camp in Syria. Among those awaiting trial are two leaders of the radical Haq movement, which asserts that Bahrain's constitution is illegitimate, and urges Shia to boycott parliament. Most of Bahrain's Shia majority reject Haq and support the moderate Wifaq party, which presses for redress of Shia grievances through non-violent protest and electoral politics. ¶5. (S) Guantanamo detainees: All Bahraini detainees are back home, and Bahraini authorities, helped by the ex-detainees' family networks, are ensuring they stay away from politics. The GOB is still considering our recent requests that Bahrain now take Tunisian and Syrian detainees. The Bahrainis worry that foreign ex-detainees would be hard to control, and might rally local Sunni extremists. Ambassador Williamson will visit Manama March 18-20 to press this issue. ¶6. (C) Afghanistan police: King Hamad told you in Sharm that Bahrain wanted to send police to help in Afghanistan. The Interior Ministry here says it has in mind sending about 30 policemen to serve as guards for a coalition facility. Embassy Kabul and the U.S. military are studying the offer; it might be too small to justify the support costs. ¶7. (C) Anti-piracy: The King also told you at Sharm that Bahrain could send its sole frigate to help coalition efforts off Somalia. We have thanked the Bahrainis and told them we are considering the offer; however, we think the frigate might need $20-30 million worth of refurbishment first. Bahrain would have trouble footing this bill, and U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Bahrain this year was only $3.9 million. ¶8. (C) Israel: Bahrain has no official ties with Israel, but Shaikh Khalid has had meetings and frequent phone contact with Tzipi Livni. Bahrain's Israel boycott office was closed in 2006 as required by the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. During the Gaza conflict some in parliament pushed for a resumption of the boycott, but the GOB has ignored these calls. Shaikh Khalid, at last year's UNGA General Assembly, proposed a new regional organization that would include both Iran and Israel, without preconditions. Despite a tepid response from Arab governments, the proposal remains on the table. MANAMA 00000151 002 OF 002 ¶9. (S) Open to Additional Facilities for the U.S. military: Bahrain hosts the headquarters of NAVCENT and the Fifth Fleet - about 2500 U.S. personnel - and permits easy access for U.S. military aircraft to its Shaikh Isa airbase. We understand CENTCOM is considering Shaikh Isa as a potential, partial alternative to Manas in Kyrgyzstan. We think the Bahrainis would respond positively if asked. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL