US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1769

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BA, SY, REGION 
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  DEMARCHE ON ISOLATION OF SYRIA 
 
REF: STATE 205436 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4(b), (d) 
. 
 
1.  (C) DCM November 19 delivered reftel demarche concerning 
the isolation of Syria after the United Nations Security 
Council's passing of Resolution 1636 to MFA Assistant 
Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow-Up Shaikh Abdul 
Aziz Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.  With regard to the November 12 
Forum for the Future conference, Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that 
he did not know of any Bahraini bilateral meetings with 
Syrian Foreign Minister Al Shara, but he presumed that there 
had been.  He said that the message of UNSCR 1636 to Syria is 
clear, that it has no other option other than to comply with 
the investigation.  He said that the whole world is watching 
and will not grant Syria any favors.  Shaikh Abdul Aziz 
clarified the GOB position, that Syria should not be isolated 
from opportunities during which other nations can encourage 
Syria to cooperate with the Mehlis investigation. 
 
2.  (U) English language Gulf Daily News November 22 carried 
a photo of Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed 
Al Khalifa meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in 
Damascus the previous day.  The caption read that Shaikh 
Khalid delivered a letter from King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa 
"on bilateral relations, Middle East issues and challenges," 
and was a response to a letter from President Al Assad to 
King Hamad.  FM Shaikh Khalid has just returned to Bahrain 
from his travels.  Post will seek the first opportunity to 
follow up on this issue with him. 
 
ZIADEH