US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1469

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001469 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ETRD, PINR, BA, IZ, IR 
SUBJECT: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER EMPHASIZES DESIRE TO ENHANCE 
BILATERAL RELATIONS 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1394 
 
     B. MANAMA 1375 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid told 
the Ambassador October 5 that the United States "has a 
special place" in his heart and he wants to enhance the 
already strong bilateral relations.  He stressed that King 
Hamad is committed to the path of democratic reform and 
expanding women's rights.  He hoped for expeditious 
implementation of the U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement and 
looks forward to the Secretary's visit for the November 11-12 
Forum for the Future conference.  Shaikh Khalid said that at 
the October 3 meeting in Jeddah, Arab League SecGen Amre 
Moussa agreed to visit Iraq to promote Sunni reconciliation 
and help shore up Sunni confidence by demonstrating Arab 
support.  He said the major topics of discussion during 
Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki's October 4 visit to Bahrain 
were the nuclear issue and Iraq.  Motakki told the Bahrainis 
that Iran wants to be a good neighbor.  End Summary. 
 
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First-Hand View of Democracy 
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2.  (C) In their initial meeting, newly-appointed Foreign 
Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa told the 
Ambassador October 5 that he seeks to build upon the already 
strong relations with "our old ally" the United States.  He 
noted that he had served as a diplomat in the Bahraini 
Embassy in Washington for almost ten years (from 1985 to 
1994) and the United States "has a special place" in his 
heart.  Shaikh Khalid studied political science in Texas 
during the late 1970's-early 1980's and as part of a course, 
he had volunteered to work during the 1980 presidential 
election.  He said he was personally responsible for 
registering some 250 voters and had handed out literature 
outside polling stations on election day.  He also 
volunteered for gubernatorial and mayoral races, terming his 
work "a great experience" in democracy. 
 
3.  (C) Shaikh Khalid emphasized King Hamad's determination 
to continue on the path of democratization.  "We haven't 
reached the end, we will keep the momentum going and will not 
stop," the ForMin declared.  Bahrain needs a democratic 
society for a democratic political system, noting there 
should be freedoms "at the ballot box and in the home." 
Bahrain has been a regional leader on women's issues and will 
continue to press for their rights, he said. 
 
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Moving Toward FTA Implementation 
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4.  (C) Turning to a hot domestic political issue, Shaikh 
Khalid said that Bahrain is against any boycotts in this age 
of international trade.  Removing the boycott of Israel is 
the right thing to do.  It doesn't mean, however, that 
Bahraini citizens are compelled to purchase Israeli products; 
they are free to make their own decisions.  He said that 
Bahrain and Israel in practice recognize each other because 
they are both members of the UN and the WTO.  Bahrain does 
not have to interact with Israel, but "we recognize that they 
are there."  He added that he was scheduled to meet 
parliamentary critics of the boycott move the following week, 
and that he would stress that the move was part of Bahrain's 
adherence to international obligations, including at the WTO. 
 (Note:  The meeting took place October 9.) 
 
5.  (C) The Ambassador recognized the positive steps Bahrain 
had taken on the boycott and said that this should smooth 
congressional ratification of the U.S.-Bahrain free trade 
agreement (FTA).  The ForMin stated Bahrain was anxious to 
implement the FTA, saying the agreement could prove to be a 
strong boost for the economy.  The Ambassador noted there 
were still some outstanding issues related to labor and 
intellectual property rights, and Shaikh Khalid replied that 
Bahrain was moving toward addressing the U.S. concerns. 
 
6.  (C) The Minister said that Bahrain was looking forward to 
the Secretary's visit for the November 11-12 Forum for the 
Future conference.  He stressed that Bahrain wanted to focus 
on G-8/BMENA accomplishments, like the Entrepreneurship 
Center and the Fund and Foundation for the Future.  He noted 
that several countries had already made pledges to support 
the Fund, saying it was now "on solid ground." 
 
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Arab League to Support All Iraqis 
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7.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, Shaikh 
Khalid said he had attended the October 3 meeting on Iraq in 
Jeddah chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud.  He 
said the group of seven foreign ministers had convinced Arab 
League SecGen Amre Moussa to travel to Iraq to discuss debt 
relief, diplomatic relations, and the role the AL can play in 
Iraq, particularly on the constitution.  Shaikh Khalid said 
that 95 percent of the constitution was very good but there 
were some areas that could be changed to address Sunni 
concerns, which would allow them to vote in favor of the 
charter in the referendum.  The AL could help persuade Sunnis 
to support the constitution, and more broadly help boost 
Sunni confidence by demonstrating Arab support.  Shaikh 
Khalid said that Prince Saud had emphasized that the Arab 
League should "support all Iraqis, not just the Sunnis." 
Shaikh Khalid continued that the ministers had told Moussa 
that he must do something to represent the Arab world and not 
cede the ground to Iran.  Shaikh Khalid reported that Moussa 
had asked Syrian FM Shara to accompany him to Baghdad, but 
Shara had refused, saying he could go there "maybe 
afterwards."  Moussa himself did not commit to a timeframe 
for an Iraq visit. 
 
8.  (C) Referring to October 2 public statements by Iraqi 
Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, Shaikh Khalid said that the 
derogatory attack on Prince Saud "hurt every single Arab." 
He complained it was not a statement from a responsible 
minister.  He said Iraqi ForMin Zebari had apologized at the 
Jeddah meeting, both in public and in private.  Prince Saud 
and Zebari worked well together at the meeting and Shaikh 
Khalid was confident they would continue to cooperate fully. 
 
9.  (C) Shaikh Khalid lamented the situation in Iraq, saying 
at one time it had been a modern, stable country, with a 
solid foundation based upon Bedouins, farmers, and Kurds. 
People did not think of themselves in sectarian terms, but 
rather as members of tribes, some of which are both Sunni and 
Shia.  "Tyranny since 1958," the ForMin said, "created this 
mess," and it would take some time to resolve.  The 
international community must assist the Iraqis during their 
period of transition. 
 
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Iran Seeking Good Relations with Neighbors 
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10.  (C) Shaikh Khalid said that Iranian Foreign Minister 
Mottaki had visited Bahrain from Kuwait October 4 and met 
with King Hamad, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa, Deputy Prime 
Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak, and Shaikh Khalid. 
Mottaki came to introduce himself and to stress that Iran was 
a good neighbor.  Shaikh Khalid said that the Bahraini 
message was that Bahrain wants good relations with Iran, but 
it has concerns about the nuclear issue.  The Bahraini 
officials told Mottaki that Iran must be transparent and 
responsible on anything related to the nuclear file.  Bahrain 
conveyed that the U.S. and EU-3 are dealing with the matter 
in a very serious way, and Bahrain wants Iran to cooperate 
fully according to its international obligations.  Mottaki 
told the Bahrainis that President Ahmadinejad had said in New 
York that nuclear weapons are religiously forbidden 
("haram"), and this statement was Iran's position on the 
issue. 
 
11.  (C) Shaikh Khalid reported that Mottaki told the 
Bahrainis that Iran wants a stable Iraq.  Mottaki 
acknowledged but did not welcome Amre Moussa's upcoming 
visit.  The Bahrainis said that Iran should do more to assist 
the Iraqi government and should not do anything to undermine 
the security situation. 
 
MONROE