US embassy cable - 05MANAMA821

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000821 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI, IO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 
TAGS: KUNR, PREL, BA, UNSC, UNGA 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS GUIDANCE ON U.S. 
POSITION ON UNSC REFORM 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 811 (NOTAL) 
     B. MANAMA 810 
     C. MANAMA 727 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request; please see para 5. 
 
2.  (C) During a June 7 meeting covering a number of issues 
(Refs A, B), Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al 
Khalifa told the Ambassador that Bahrain wanted to work with 
the U.S. on UN Security Council reform.  The Group of Four 
(Japan, Germany, India, Brazil) had submitted a proposal, and 
Shaikh Mohammed was looking for some indication of the U.S.' 
thinking.  He indicated that the Ambassadors from the four 
countries had asked for Bahrain's vote, but he would not 
develop a firm position until hearing from the U.S. 
 
3.  (C) MFA Director for International Organization Affairs 
Ghassan Shaikho told Pol/Econ chief June 8 that U.S. support 
for Japan's UNSC bid was clear, but its position on the 
candidacies of the other three countries was not.  Per Ref C, 
Shaikho said that Bahrain supported an efficient, democratic 
Security Council, but had not committed to supporting any of 
the four countries thus far. 
 
4.  (C) Shaikho noted that the Group of Four was moving very 
quickly, requesting a vote in the General Assembly before the 
end of June and seeking resolution of the issue before the 
September 14 High Level Meeting.  Representatives of the 
Group had been "very forceful" in requesting Bahrain's 
support. 
 
5.  (U) Action Request:  Post requests Washington guidance on 
responding to Bahrain's questions about the U.S. position on 
UN Security Council reform. 
 
MONROE