US embassy cable - 04MANAMA291

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000291 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BRUSSELS FOR U/S GROSSMAN 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO:PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE, NEA/ARP, AND 
NEA/RA 
DEPT PASS USTR FOR CNOVELLI AND JBUNTIN 
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2029 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, BA 
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD SUPPORTS REFORM IN THE MIDDLE EAST 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1/4(b)&(d). 
 
SUMMARY 
 
1.(C) Outgoing Arab League Chairman King Hamad bin Isa 
Al-Khalifa told U/S Grossman on March 2 that his Arab League 
Summit speech includes a paragraph supporting reform in the 
Middle East.  Noting that we are all one team, Hamad welcomed 
the U/S description of GME as supportive of local reform 
efforts, and highlighting the FTA negotiations, thanked the 
U.S. for its support of Bahrain's reform program.  The U.S. 
is right to raise the issue of reform now, he said.  Reform 
should not be held hostage to resolution of the Palestinian 
issue.  If we can obtain a public commitment for reform from 
regional leaders, the King suggested that they would not be 
able to retreat.  Successfully embedding democracy in Iraq, 
he said, would greatly strengthen stability in the region and 
increase prospects for democratization. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
BAHRAIN ON BOARD FOR GME 
 
2.(C) King Hamad enthusiastically welcomed the Greater Middle 
East Initiative and U/S Grossman's visit to consult on it. 
Hamad noted that friends, not enemies, provide advice, and if 
the advice is good, it should be embraced.  The GME 
initiative is timely, he added, especially after the U.N.'s 
Arab Human Development Report alarmed many people that the 
region is falling behind the rest of the world.  Fortunately, 
Hamad proudly noted, the report ranks Bahrain number one in 
the region.  Proudly citing that Bahrain is negotiating an 
FTA with the U.S., he stated that we are all on one team and 
emphasized that Bahrain is ready to work together in any way. 
 Hamad thanked U/S Grossman for U.S. public statements 
highlighting Bahrain's reform programs, but commented that he 
has issued policy guidance to government officials to let 
Bahrain's progress speak for itself. 
 
3.(C) Hamad stressed that homegrown reform is a requirement 
for the region.  He welcomed U/S Grossman's statement that 
the purpose of GME is to position the U.S. to support Arab 
governments and people that want to change.  Hamad suggested 
that if we can get leaders to agree publicly to reform, they 
would not be able to retreat, especially in this era of 
modern media.  Hamad commented that many leaders are using 
the Palestinian situation as an excuse not to reform.  One 
day, he said, the Palestinians will find good leaders and 
achieve peace and their own state.  Then, he commented, those 
who have waited will have to scramble to stay ahead of 
popular demand for change.  People in Bahrain, he emphasized, 
are not waiting for the Palestinians to get their act 
together.  For us, Hamad said, the Palestinian issue is an 
indirect concern.  We need reform to respond to our direct 
need for business, investment, and jobs, he added.  The 
government's role is security, justice, and regulation; 
government should not dominate business. 
 
4.(C) King Hamad cautioned that Arab states are different and 
would reform at different speeds and towards different goals. 
 The key, he said, is that they are going in the right 
direction.  (COMMENT:  He was likely talking about Saudi 
Arabia.  END COMMENT).  Hamad welcomed more democracy in the 
Gulf.  Successful elections in neighbors like Iran and Iraq 
make Bahrain feel more secure. 
 
5.(C) Hamad, who is the outgoing Arab League Chairman, 
advised U/S Grossman that he has already included a statement 
of support for reform in his speech for the Arab League 
Summit.  He was pleased with U/S Grossman's description of 
our strategy to discuss building support for Middle East 
reform at the June G-8, US-EU, and NATO summits.  However, 
the Crown Prince commented that getting more than a general 
statement of support at the Arab League Summit would require 
considerable diplomatic effort. 
 
IRAQIS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY 
 
6.(C) Paraphrasing a newspaper editorial published last month 
by one of his close advisors, King Hamad noted that the U.S. 
presence in Iraq provides a terrific opportunity that if 
lost, could condemn Iraq to the sewer for ages.  He said that 
he is personally advising every Iraqi he meets to be patient 
and work with the U.S.  King Hamad added that stability in 
the region can only be achieved if a successful Iraqi 
democracy is established.  Otherwise, he added, local 
countries will always have to be on guard. 
 
7.(U) This cable was cleared by U/S Grossman. 
8.(U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
FORD