US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1214

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND DS/IP/NEA 
LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR: JBUNTIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2029 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, ETRD, BA, KSEC 
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER COMMITTED TO NATIONAL SECURITY 
 
REF: MANAMA 1120 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.   (C) SUMMARY.  Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al 
Khalifa and select members of his Cabinet stressed to Charge 
that security is Bahrain's utmost priority and that 
consequently Bahrain will remain at a heightened state of 
vigilance.  PM stressed that full cooperation and sharing of 
information are the keys to the continued success of the 
long-standing relationship between the US and Bahrain.  The 
PM expressed dismay at the Navy's sudden decision to evacuate 
its dependents citing a failure in sharing information. 
Minister of Interior Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said that 
the GOB is working to establish a counter-terrorism center 
that will help solve information sharing and action 
coordination within the GOB.  Stressing Bahrain's commitment 
to national and regional security, the PM said that the 
Cabinet drafted a counter-terrorism law he expects the 
National Assembly to approve in October.  Charge welcomed 
GOB's latest efforts in combating terrorism and said the GOB 
must demonstrate the political will to fight terrorism and 
send a strong signal to any elements that would undertake 
actions threatening Bahrain's security.  Charge lauded 
progress on the counter-terrorism law and noted that many 
parties concerned with Bahrain's security will be following 
the judicial proceedings of the case against the six terror 
suspects (see reftel).  END SUMMARY. 
 
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NAVY DEPENDENTS 
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2.  (C) Welcoming the Charge to Bahrain, on July 31, the 
Prime Minister quickly moved through pleasantries and steered 
the discussion to the issue of national security. The PM 
noted that the relationship between our two countries has 
been one of full cooperation and sharing of information.  The 
PM expressed his disappointment about the Navy's sudden 
decision to evacuate its dependents.  The PM assured Charge 
that the GOB is doing everything in its power to keep Bahrain 
secure and stable and stated his hope that the Navy's 
dependents return to Bahrain soon. 
 
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GOB's COMMITMENT TO SECURITY 
---------------------------- 
 
3.   (C) The following ministers whose portfolios include 
security issues were also present at the meeting:  Minister 
of Interior Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Undersecretary 
for Immigration and Passport Affairs Rashid bin Khalifa Al 
Khalifa. Minister of Finance and National Economy Abdulla 
Saif and HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa bin Shaikh Al Khalifa 
of the PM's Court (the PM's son) also attended.  U/S Rashid 
informed Charge that the Saudi causeway, all naval ports and 
Muharraq airport are currently on heightened alert. Minister 
of Interior Shaikh Rashid stated that the Cabinet has 
finalized a draft counter-terrorism law. Minister Saif 
offered that the Cabinet is working on the formation of a 
counter-terrorism center that will allow rapid information 
sharing among ministries and departments in the GOB and with 
its allies. 
 
4.  (C) The Charge welcomed the GOB's latest security 
measures. Charge said it is important that Bahrain's 
leadership signals it has zero tolerance for any elements 
that seek to destabilize security in Bahrain and has the 
political will to do something about it. The PM acknowledged 
that the regional security environment has worsened during 
the past year.  He said that Bahrain does not exist in 
isolation and is not immune to terrorism in the region.  The 
PM likened the situation to "a boat sailing upriver makes 
waves that hit both shores." The PM emphasized that Bahrain 
is responding to security concerns with a high level of 
vigilance, which he asserted, has become Bahrain's new norm. 
 
5.  (C) The PM said that having the Navy and the Embassy on 
prolonged alert damages Bahrain's reputation as a favorable 
place to visit and conduct business.  Minister Saif expressed 
concern that prolonged alert status might affect the roll-out 
of the Free Trade Agreement. Charge stressed that a signal 
of a strong security environment underpinned by rule of law 
was the best mechanism to encourage foreign direct 
investment. 
 
6.  (C)  In a separate meeting, on August 1, Charge met with 
the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al 
Mutawwa.  Al Mutawwa stated that in the current security 
environment, no one is immune to terrorism, including 
Bahrain.  He assured Charge that the GOB is taking 
preemptive rather than reactive measures to fight terrorism. 
He confirmed that the draft counter-terrorism law passed 
Cabinet review and would address legal requirements to combat 
terrorism that Bahrain's criminal code may not cover.  At the 
Charge's request, Al Mutawwa agreed to forward a copy of the 
draft law to Charge. 
 
7.  (C)  In closing, Al Mutawwa inquired about the status of 
the Bahrain School.  (One of his sons is scheduled to attend 
in the Fall.)  Al Mutawwa asserted that the Bahrain School 
has been an anchor of our long-standing bilateral 
relationship.  The school's academic excellence has prepared 
many Bahrainis for higher education in the US.  Charge 
informed Al Mutawwa that the situation is being discussed in 
Washington, DC and hopes that a decision will be made soon. 
 
8.   (C) COMMENT.  The PM signaled by the selection of 
ministers included in the meeting that his assurances on 
security will be carried out.  In stressing the link between 
national security and economic development, the PM underlined 
a key motivation driving him to ensure that Bahrain is safe 
and secure. END COMMENT. 
ZIADEH