US embassy cable - 05MANAMA165

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, OEXC, KWMN, BA 
SUBJECT: NEW MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR 
CIVIL SOCIETY 
 
REF: MANAMA 68 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
1.  (C) The Ambassador met with the second woman in Bahrain's 
reshuffled cabinet, Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Fatima Al 
Belooshi, on February 1.  Al Belooshi, formerly the Dean of 
Education at the University of Bahrain, was sworn into office 
January 15 (reftel).  The Ambassador congratulated Al 
Belooshi on her new assignment and asked her what her goals 
are as Minister.  She said she hoped to improve relations 
between the government and civil society and do everything 
possible to help disadvantaged Bahrainis.  Al Belooshi, who 
received her PhD from Columbia University and is an 
Eisenhower exchange program alumna, frequently mentioned the 
U.S. government's support for social programs and indicated 
that she wanted to implement similar programs in Bahrain. 
She asked for U.S. assistance in strengthening Bahrain's 
civil society and indicated her support for MEPI projects in 
the country.  She said that such projects are the best way to 
bridge the gap between the people of the region and the 
United States. 
 
2.  (C) The Ambassador noted that many groups are eager to 
assist Bahrain in its reform efforts and stressed that the 
Bahraini government needs a procedure for registering 
international organizations in the country.  He cited the 
difficult experiences that the National Democratic Institute 
(NDI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
have had in officially registering their presence.  The 
Ambassador explained that the GOB's delay in registering IOM 
could reflect negatively on Bahrain in the 2005 
Trafficking-in-Persons Report.  The Minister expressed 
support for organizations that help migrant workers and said 
she would look into IOM's case as soon as possible. 
 
3.  (C) The Ambassador told Al Belooshi that the GOB's 
closure of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) was of 
great concern.  The Minister replied that the Center had 
illegally involved itself in political affairs, which were 
outside its charter.  She added that the government allows 
several independent human rights organizations to operate. 
Al Belooshi commented that the most effective organizations 
are not those that like to yell and create a scene, but those 
that "get their hands dirty and do something for people." 
She mentioned that she would soon meet with the Bahrain 
Women's Union, a group that has unsuccessfully sought 
government approval for the past several years.  Al Belooshi 
said she called representatives from the Union and told them 
the "past is the past" and she looked forward to working with 
them.  Her policy is to "meet with everyone" and give NGOs 
more freedom.  She noted that democratization is a process 
and both NGOs and the GOB are learning a lot along the way. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  Minister Al Belooshi is eager to continue 
the King's democratic reforms and appears willing to engage 
with NGOs.  Al Belooshi's frequent references to her 
experience as a student in the United States underscore the 
importance of educational exchange as a U.S. foreign policy 
initiative. 
MONROE