US embassy cable - 05MANAMA918

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000918 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, BA, IZ, IR 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS BRUSSELS CONFERENCE A 
SUCCESS, "BAD RESULT" IN IRAN ELECTION 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) The Ambassador called on Foreign Minister Shaikh 
Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa June 27 and discussed with 
him, among other subjects, the U.S.-EU International 
Conference on Iraq in Brussels, the Iranian presidential 
election, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' June 14 visit 
to Bahrain, and counter-terrorism.  Shaikh Mohammed termed 
the Brussels conference a success, saying it demonstrated for 
the Iraqi people that the world cares about them.  He 
complimented the Iraqis who participated, commenting that the 
speeches of the Prime Minister, National Assembly Chairman, 
and Foreign Minister showed that they are articulate, 
educated intellectuals.  He said now the Iraqis should focus 
on strengthening the reconstruction program in parallel with 
fighting the insurgency.  The first point is to meet the 
citizens' basic needs, but a secondary impact would be to 
show Iraqis the benefits of stability.  He said 14 of Iraq's 
18 provinces were relatively secure.  Significant strides in 
reconstruction in these areas could have a beneficial effect 
on the rest of the country. 
 
2.  (C) Shaikh Mohammed called Ahmadi-Nejad's election as 
president of Iran a "bad result."  He said that French 
President Chirac, during his recent meeting with Crown Prince 
Salman in Paris, referred to the Iranian presidential 
candidates as "horses following each other around a ring," 
and said there was no difference between them.  Shaikh 
Mohammed said Supreme Leader Khamenei is in full control of 
the Iranian government and Ahmadi-Nejad would only be 
"Khamenei's secretary."  He noted that the King, Crown 
Prince, and Prime Minister had all sent Ahmadi-Nejad cables 
of congratulations, but told the Ambassador that Bahrain 
would be watching him carefully.  Shaikh Mohammed was 
concerned Ahmadi-Nejad would heighten tensions in the Gulf 
region, dismiss concerns over Iran's nuclear program, and 
defy the West. 
 
3.  (C) Referring to President Abbas' visit, Shaikh Mohammed 
said peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians 
must move ahead.  Abbas is being very straightforward, saying 
the same things publicly and privately.  Israeli PM Sharon 
should find ways to support him.  Shaikh Mohammed said the 
Israeli Supreme Court ruling that the Gaza withdrawal is 
constitutional could serve as a legal basis for further 
progress. 
 
4.  (C) The Ambassador said that the USG continued to follow 
closely the legal case of the Bahraini terrorism suspects and 
was counting on the GOB to send the right message on 
terrorism.  Shaikh Mohammed said he understood our position, 
but asked why the USG had not reacted publicly to the Omani 
Sultan's decision to pardon the Ibadhis.  The Ambassador, 
noting that Shaikh Mohammed was the third Bahraini minister 
to raise the case with him (the others being Minister of 
State for Foreign Affairs/Information Minister Mohammed Abdul 
Ghaffar and Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid), responded 
that Bahraini officials should not forget that the Ibadhis 
were convicted before being pardoned.  They were charged with 
belonging to a secret organization and seeking to overthrow 
the state, but they were not accused of planning attacks or 
having connections to known terrorists outside Oman.  The 
Ambassador stated that the case is very different from that 
against the Bahraini cell and the GOB should not read 
anything into the lack of a public USG reaction to the pardon. 
 
MONROE