US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1284

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001284 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, IO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, BA, UNGA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN REQUESTS USG SUPPORT FOR 2006-07 UNGA 
PRESIDENCY 
 
 
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 asked 
the Ambassador for USG support for Bahrain's candidacy for 
UNGA president for the 2007-07 session.  He said that an 
Asian country will be UNGA president during that session, and 
Bahrain is Asia's sole candidate.  Bahrain has received 
written endorsements from more than 80 countries.  Shaikh 
Mohammed said he would formally request the support of the 
United States during his meeting with the Secretary on the 
margins of the UNGA later this month. 
 
2.  (C) Shaikh Mohammed said Bahrain would nominate Shaikha 
Haya bint Rashed Al Khalifa for the post.  She is a lawyer, 
having received two degrees from Egyptian universities in the 
1980's, and was one of the first women in Bahrain to open an 
independent law practice.  She served as Bahrain's ambassador 
to France from 2000 until mid-2004 (and was accredited to 
Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, and as PermRep to UNESCO), and 
currently is a legal advisor to the Royal Court.  Shaikha 
Haya speaks English, French, and Arabic. 
 
3.  (C) Shaikh Mohammed said that installing Shaikha Haya as 
UNGA president, the first Arab Muslim woman to take the post, 
would send a very strong message about the role of women in 
the Arab world.  He noted that Shaikha Haya would travel to 
New York with him for the High-Level Event and UNGA. 
 
MONROE