US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1281

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Identifier:	05MANAMA1281
Wikileaks:	View 05MANAMA1281 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Manama
Created:	2005-09-05 14:06:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL EFIN AEMR EAID KPAO BA US
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001281 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EFIN, AEMR, EAID, KPAO, BA, US 
SUBJECT: TFUS01:  GOB REACTS TO KATRINA 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1271 (NOTAL) 
     B. MANAMA 1270 (NOTAL) 
     C. MANAMA 1269 (NOTAL) 
     D. STATE 163366 
     E. MANAMA 1259 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) In a September 4 meeting covering several subjects, 
Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa 
extended his condolences to the Ambassador for the 
catastrophe brought on by hurricane Katrina.  He reiterated 
the GOB pledge made by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar the previous day to donate $5 million 
to the relief effort (Ref A) and noted that Crown Prince 
Salman had sent condolence messages to President Bush and 
Vice President Cheney (Refs B and C).  (Note:  Shaikh 
Mohammed had previously sent a letter to the Secretary, Ref 
E). 
 
2.  (U) The Bahraini cabinet issued a statement September 4 
announcing the $5 million donation.  The cabinet affirmed 
Bahrain's unity with and sympathy towards the people and 
government of the United States in the wake of the disaster. 
Bahraini papers also widely covered the story of Dr. Mohammed 
Mirza, a University of Bahrain physics professor who was in 
New Orleans on a Fulbright scholarship to study at Tulane 
University.  At the instruction of local authorities, Dr. 
Mirza departed the city ahead of the storm and took refuge 
with his brother-in-law in Chicago.  He plans to return to 
Bahrain soon, having lost the possessions he left behind in 
his "sunken" apartment.  In his comments, Dr. Mirza expressed 
his appreciation for the assistance of the Department, 
Embassy Manama, and the Fulbright Commission during his 
ordeal. 
 
3.  (U) The Embassy passed routing information for transfer 
of the $5 million donation to Finance Ministry Assistant 
Under Secretary Mahmood Al Kooheji.  We are awaiting 
confirmation that the transfer is complete. 
 
MONROE