Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANAMA26
2009-01-15 09:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
how-toVZCZCXRO7490 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHMK #0026 0150938 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 150938Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8372 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000026
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2029
TAGS: PREL KWBG IR BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: IRANIAN ENVOY ON GAZA
REF: A. MANAMA 19
B. MANAMA 24
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000026
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2029
TAGS: PREL KWBG IR BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: IRANIAN ENVOY ON GAZA
REF: A. MANAMA 19
B. MANAMA 24
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Iranian Minister of Culture Mahmoud Hussein
Safar-Harandi visited Bahrain briefly January 14, and
delivered to King Hamad a message on Gaza. (According to
media reports, several Iranian envoys are touring the region
and Europe with similar messages.) Safar-Harandi also met
with local media and criticized Israel, the U.S. and Egypt
over the Gaza conflict.
2. (C) MFA Under Secretary Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa,
who stood in for the vacationing Foreign Minister at the
lunch in honor of Safar-Harandi, told CDA that the GOB
politely heard out Safar-Harandi's message criticizing U.S.
and Egyptian diplomatic efforts, but had no intention of
changing Bahrain's approach. "The Iranians, as always, want
to be players" and believe the Gaza situation has created new
opportunities for them, he said, but the GOB saw Egypt's
diplomacy as the best hope for an end to the conflict.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
HENZEL
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2029
TAGS: PREL KWBG IR BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: IRANIAN ENVOY ON GAZA
REF: A. MANAMA 19
B. MANAMA 24
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Iranian Minister of Culture Mahmoud Hussein
Safar-Harandi visited Bahrain briefly January 14, and
delivered to King Hamad a message on Gaza. (According to
media reports, several Iranian envoys are touring the region
and Europe with similar messages.) Safar-Harandi also met
with local media and criticized Israel, the U.S. and Egypt
over the Gaza conflict.
2. (C) MFA Under Secretary Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa,
who stood in for the vacationing Foreign Minister at the
lunch in honor of Safar-Harandi, told CDA that the GOB
politely heard out Safar-Harandi's message criticizing U.S.
and Egyptian diplomatic efforts, but had no intention of
changing Bahrain's approach. "The Iranians, as always, want
to be players" and believe the Gaza situation has created new
opportunities for them, he said, but the GOB saw Egypt's
diplomacy as the best hope for an end to the conflict.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
HENZEL