US embassy cable - 05MANAMA179

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PI-FRANCESKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2015 
TAGS: ECON, ECIN, PGOV, PREL, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI CONCERNS ABOUT G8 COMMITMENT TO BMENA 
 
REF: 04 MANAMA 1747 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) In a January 31 meeting with Econoff, Yousif Humood, 
Bahrain's Director of Economic Planning at the Ministry of 
Finance, expressed concern over the G8's apparent lack of 
activity on important BMENA initiatives, in particular the 
Entrepreneurship Center.  He said that unless movement is 
seen soon on the initiatives agreed to at the Morocco Forum 
for the Future in December 2004, it may appear as if the G8 
is backtracking.  Regarding the Entrepreneurship Center, he 
expressed dismay that Beyster Institute representatives had 
twice postponed their visit to Bahrain, with current timing 
of the visit tentatively set for the end of February.  He 
also voiced his suspicion that the Entrepreneurship Center 
would become a MEPI vice G8 initiative because of the lack of 
funding from other G8 countries.  He said that establishment 
of the center as a MEPI project changed its political tone in 
Bahrain and throughout the GCC.  This was not a big problem 
for Humood, but the GOB might need to present the center to 
the public in a different way. 
 
2.  (C) Humood also expressed his concern over the 
radio-silence from the British, the current G8 president and 
co-chair of the November 2005 Forum for the Future meeting in 
Bahrain, noting that much planning needed to take place to 
ensure a successful meeting.  We have suggested to Humood 
that he follow-up with the British Embassy concerning the 
November Forum for the Future meeting.  MFA Director for 
Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran had earlier expressed the 
same concern to Pol-Econ Chief.  Al Umran said that he 
welcomed any USG support and assistance in planning the 
meeting.  (Note.  The British Ambassador acknowledged to us 
that he had not begun discussions with the GOB on the 
November Forum for the Future meeting, but noted that it was 
still ten months away and assured us that he would engage the 
GOB on the meeting.  END NOTE.) 
 
3.  (C) Per reftel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar told the Ambassador in November 2004 
that his government is concerned that momentum in the BMENA 
initiative could peter out under the British G8 presidency. 
He is very appreciative of President Bush's leadership and 
hopes that Prime Minister Blair demonstrates the same 
commitment.  As a start, Blair could invite regional leaders 
to the next G8 summit.  Abdul Ghaffar said that the 
initiative was important to demonstrate that the G8 
countries, and in particular the U.S., are friends doing 
positive things for the peoples of the region. 
MONROE