US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1463

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001463 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, PREL, BA 
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD OPENS PARLIAMENT WITH PRAISE AND 
PROMISES 
 
REF: MANAMA 900 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  King Hamad opened the fourth session of 
parliament on October 1 with praise for the work of both 
chambers of parliament over the last year, in particular for 
the chairman and members of the Finance and Economy Committee 
of the Council of Representatives (COR).  The King commended 
the contributions of the Economic Development Board (EDB), 
which has advanced progressive economic policies encouraging 
private sector growth.  He also promised progress toward 
alleviating the problems of unemployment and housing.  He 
barely mentioned foreign policy, making only  brief comments 
about strengthening GCC integration and praising the work of 
the late Saudi King Fahd.  His praise for parliament and its 
role and responsibilities was likely targeted at boycotters, 
some of whom have voted in recent days to register with the 
government under the new political societies law, and are 
known to be considering participating in the 2006 
parliamentary elections.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa addressed a joint 
session of parliament October 1 to open the fourth session of 
this first legislative term since the adoption of the 2002 
Constitution.  Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa 
and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in addition to 
the full cabinet and other notables, were in attendance. 
 
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Unusual Praise for Parliamentarians 
----------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) King Hamad was generous in his praise for parliament 
and for specific parliamentarians, saying, "we pay tribute to 
the President of the Consultative Council (Shura) and the 
Speaker of the Council of Representatives and to all the 
honorable members, and in particular the chairman of the 
Finance and Economy Committee in the Council of 
Representatives and the members of the Committee," for their 
work on oversight of the government budget (reftel). (Note: 
Committee chair Jehad Bukamal told the Ambassador he was 
honored to have been singled out in this way.)  The King also 
promoted the concept of full participation in the political 
system, referring to "comprehensive reform to renew 
democratic life in the country" and "constructive political 
participation in the march of national action."  King Hamad 
lauded the work of the parliament, which has made "the will 
of the people the source of laws it enacts and decisions it 
makes." 
 
4.  (C) The King encouraged parliament to expand its 
oversight and accountability responsibilities.  He said that 
parliament "has undertaken its constitutional 
responsibilities and powers in overseeing government 
performance," and described parliament as "the source of 
laws, oversight and legitimate accountability, and the house 
of liberty and national unity."  First Deputy Chairman of the 
Shura Council Abdulrahman Jamsheer told us that the King's 
speech sends the message to parliament to tighten its control 
on government expenditure and to root out corruption where it 
is found.  COR member Jassim Abdul A'al considers the King's 
speech to be encouragement to continue questioning ministers 
on their policies. 
 
5.  (C) Turning to the EDB, headed by the Crown Prince, the 
King said, "the Board has undertaken the task of advancing 
economic policies that aim to bring about the participation 
of the private sector and honorable citizens in shouldering 
the responsibility, while the State coordinates and regulates 
the process."  Since assuming the chair of the Board in the 
spring, Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa has taken an 
active leadership position on economic affairs.  The EDB has 
recently taken on a much higher profile in promoting economic 
reform, and has poached some of the most active and effective 
government officials from various ministries to work at the 
EDB.  COR member Abdul Aziz Al-Mousa told us he was 
optimistic that the King's speech would boost business 
confidence by supporting the industrial sector of the economy. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Reaching Out to the Disenchanted 
-------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) The King devoted a major portion of the speech to 
social affairs.  Unemployment and housing have been hot 
issues in recent months, given attention by oppositionists 
and parliamentarians.  He said, "all preparations to 
implement the national employment plan have been completed. 
The plan underlines the State's determination to provide 
suitable work opportunities to all job seekers."  He also 
mentioned the possibility of exploring the creation of a 
system of unemployment insurance, which does not currently 
exist in Bahrain.  Since the King's speech the government has 
announced a public awareness campaign begining this month 
declaring the opening of 20 registration centers throughout 
Bahrain for all those looking for work.  This is a further 
step in the government's $83 million training/employment 
program. 
 
7.  (U) On housing, the King expressed optimism while 
simultaneously recognizing that more needs to be done, saying 
there has been an "improvement in the standard of services 
provided to citizens, particularly housing services - and 
action is being taken to double those housing services in the 
coming stage." 
 
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Foreign Affairs 
--------------- 
 
8.  (U) The King had little to say on foreign affairs.  He 
mentioned the importance of the GCC to the Arab nation and 
his commitment to stengthening integration among GCC 
countries.  He expressed condolences to Saudi Arabia for the 
loss of King Fahd, a founder of the GCC.  He expressed hope 
for continued stability and continuity under the late king's 
brother, King Abdullah. 
 
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"Work from the Inside" 
---------------------- 
 
9.  (C) COR member Jassim Abdul A'al told Emboff that the 
King's comments were a message to those outside the political 
system (the boycotters) that the parliament is a worthy 
institution whose importance in Bahraini political life is 
growing.  Shura Council member Abdul Rahman Jawahery agreed, 
telling us that the King was stressing to the opposition that 
change is indeed happening within the system, even pressure 
for the removal of ineffective ministers from their posts. 
Jawahery said that the King's message to the opposition is 
that it is counterproductive to remain outside the system and 
to attempt to effect change through illegitimate means. 
 
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Comment 
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10.  (C) The King's lavish praise for parliament, and in 
particular for COR Finance and Economic Committee chair Jehad 
Bukamal, signals to the Bahraini public his desire for the 
legislative branch to beef up its government oversight 
activities.  The King's comments also serve to promote the 
legitimacy of parliament at a time when the leading 
boycotting societies, Shia opposition society Al Wifaq and 
the secular National Democratic Action Society (NDAS), both 
voted October 6 to register with the government under the new 
political societies law and thereby set the stage for their 
possible participation in parliamentary elections.  The 
King's goal is to bring the oppositionists into the system, 
where they can influence policies from the inside. 
MONROE