BAHRAIN SHARES U.S. CONCERNS AHEAD OF DOHA SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000183 SIPDIS BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019 TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG KPKO MOPS PGOV PHUM AL SU XF BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN SHARES U.S. CONCERNS AHEAD OF DOHA SUMMIT REF: A. STATE 28323 ¶B. MANAMA 166 Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: MFA Undersecretary Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa told A/DCM on March 26 that Bahrain shared USG concerns about maintaining commitment to the Quartet principles and not undermining the Arab Peace Initiative. Currently, King Hamad plans to attend the Doha Summit, but developments could lead to Crown Prince Salman attending instead. End summary. ¶2. (C) Sheikh Abdulaziz welcomed the President's recent comments reinforcing U.S. commitment to a two-state solution, and assessed that good faith action on the part of Israel to address settlements would strengthen Abu Mazen's hand against Hamas. He reiterated Bahrain's support for Quartet principles and the Arab Peace Initiative. He was skeptical of Arab reconciliation efforts, saying that "Qatar has a lot to prove," yet the Qataris were notably absent from the discussions in Riyadh. Abdulaziz said that King Hamad was planning to attend the Doha Summit, but that a lot was still "up in the air." If last minute developments were to cause the King to stay home, Crown Prince Salman would go to Doha. ¶3. (C) A/DCM made ref A points on Sudan, referring to a recent conversation between Abdulaziz and S/WCI Ambassador Williamson (ref B). Abdulaziz reiterated his concerns about the ICC warrant and agreed that the expulsion of international NGOs could create a significant humanitarian problem. He gave no indication whether the Sudanese had yet approached the GOB for assistance. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL