US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1187

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA AND NEA/ARP 
LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2029 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, BA, KSEC 
SUBJECT: MFA MAKES ASSURANCES OF NATIONAL SECURITY 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  MFA officials gave assurances to Charge 
that the security and stability of Bahrain is the GOB's top 
priority.  As a signal that the GOB is serious about regional 
security concerns, MFA announced that Bahrain will host the 
next International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 
National Gulf Security Conference scheduled for December. 
The conference will focus on regional defense cooperation 
with GCC partners, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and the 
United States.  IISS has extended an invitation to US 
National Security Advisor Condolezza Rice.  Charge 
underscored that there continue to be security challenges in 
the region and offered any assistance to aid the GOB in its 
efforts to meet these challenges.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) With the Minister of State and Minister of Foreign 
Affairs out of the country, on July 26, Charge Ziadeh called 
on the most senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Undersecretary Yousif Al Mahmoud, Assistant 
Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow-up Shaikh Abdul 
Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Director of Bilateral 
Relations, Dr. Dhafer Al Umran.  U/S Al Mahmoud welcomed the 
opportunity to meet Charge Ziadeh and emphasized that the 
long-standing relationship between the two countries has 
always been one of full cooperation and frank communication. 
U/S Al Mahmoud referenced the Crown Prince's July meetings in 
Washington with VP Cheney, SecDef Rumsfeld, SecState Powell 
and National Security Advisor Rice as an indication of the 
bilateral willingness to discuss sensitive issues, such as 
security. 
 
------------------------------------- 
GOB TAKES NATIONAL SECURITY SERIOUSLY 
------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) U/S Mahmoud assured Charge that ensuring its 
citizens' safety is one of the GOB's top priorities.  Charge 
said that national security is essential and the actions 
taken by the GOB regarding the terror suspects must reflect 
the GOB's commitment to public safety and the security of its 
citizens.  Charge noted that there continue to be threats in 
the region and elements that constantly challenge Bahrain's 
security.  Emphasizing that frank discussion of sensitive 
issues is the only way to improve bilateral relations and 
move the relationship forward, Charge said that the USG will 
continue to raise security issues with the GOB and offered 
assistance to aid the GOB in its efforts to meet these 
challenges. 
 
4.  Affirming the GOB's commitment to regional security, A/US 
Shaikh Abdul Aziz announced that in coordination with IISS, 
Bahrain will host a National Gulf Security Conference on 
December 3-5.  The conference is a continuation of the IISS 
Shangri-La dialogues on regional defense cooperation that 
took place in Singapore last year. France, Russia, the United 
Kingdom and all GCC countries plan to participate and IISS 
has extended an invitation to US National Security Advisor 
Condolezza Rice to participate. 
ZIADEH