DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR ARAB SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000024 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y. References corrected. SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/RA BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2029 TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG AL BA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR ARAB SUMMIT REF: STATE 3120 Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) CDA conveyed reftel demarche to MFA Under Secretary Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa in a meeting the morning of January 14. CDA emphasized that diplomatic activity that undermined Egypt's efforts would only delay an end to Gaza hostilities. ¶2. (C) Shaikh Abdulaziz bemoaned Qatar's call for a separate summit on Gaza because it exposed moderate Arab governments to even more pressure from their publics. If there must be an Arab summit on Gaza, he said Bahrain would prefer that it take place in Kuwait, immediately before the meetings on economic issues. He observed that Bahrain would likely follow the Saudi lead on whether to attend and at what level. ¶3. (U) Septel reports on continuing popular anger over Gaza, and the visit of an Iranian envoy. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL