US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1829

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001829 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, BA, BILAT, OFFICIALS, REGION 
SUBJECT: NAVCENT COMMANDER MAKES INITIAL CALLS ON BAHRAIN 
LEADERSHIP 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe.  Reason: 1.4 (b)(d) 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) The Crown Prince, DPM Shaikh Mohammed, and MFA 
Minister of State Abdul Ghaffar all praised the positive role 
played by the U.S. Navy, both in Bahrain and in the region, 
during introductory calls December 10 by newly-arrived 
NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Walsh.  All three raised the 
Navy dependent issue, expressing the hope that the 
dependents could return soon and stressing the important role 
they have played in developing people-to-people relations in 
Bahrain.  The Crown Prince and Shaikh Mohammed reiterated 
often-expresed concerns about Iran, including the potential 
impact on local developments.  Because Iran is part of the 
region, Bahrain must continue dialogue with the Iranians, and 
wants good relations, but it will be very careful in its 
dealings with Iran. The Crown Prince and Shaikh Mohammed 
hailed the House's ratification of the FTA.  Noting that 
Bahrain's military cooperation with the U.S., which began 
before others in the region, had served as a model for GCC 
countries, Shaikh Mohammed hoped that Bahrain's economic 
cooperation (first GCC country with an FTA) and political 
reforms would also serve as examples for others in the Gulf. 
 
--------------------------------- 
POSITIVE ROLE OF U.S. NAVY HAILED 
--------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) Vice Admiral Patrick Walsh, newly-arrived Commander of 
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the U.S. 5th Fleet, and 
the Combined Maritime Forces, made separate introductory 
calls December 10 on Crown Prince Shaikh Salman, Deputy Prime 
Minister Shaikh Mohammed, and Minister of 
Information/Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. 
Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar.  The Ambassador accompanied Admiral 
Walsh on the calls. 
 
3. (SBU) All three interlocutors opened their conversations 
by stressing the important positive role that the U.S., and 
the U.S. Navy, have played in the region.  The Crown Prince 
said that the U.S. role in maintaining peace and security in 
the region is most appreciated in Bahrain.  Bahrain, he said, 
wants to strengthen its ties with the U.S. and make sure the 
relationship stays robust.  Shaikh Mohammed, who had served 
as Foreign Minister for over 30 years until October of this 
year, highlighted the U.S. Navy's long history in Bahrain, 
and noted that it had filled a vacuum when the British left 
and that its presence had played a critical role in checking 
aggression in the region.  "Without your presence," he said, 
"the situation would have been different, not only in the 
Gulf but in the world as a whole." While some people in the 
region did not understand that point, he added, Bahrainis 
did.  Abdul Ghaffar, a former Bahraini Ambassador to the 
U.S., praised the bilateral relationship as "super." 
 
---------------------------- ------------------------------ 
BRING BACK THE NAVY DEPENDENTS ... AND KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN 
------------------------------------- --------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) All three interlocutors raised the issue of the Navy 
dependents, expressing the strong hope that family members 
could return soon.  The Crown Prince stated that a return of 
Navy dependents would be an important positive statement and 
would help stop people from "driving wedges between us."  He 
stressed the important role that Navy family members had 
traditionally played in helping get the Navy out into the 
community.  Shaikh Mohammed said he hoped the Admiral would 
take the lead in bringing the families back.  The families 
traditionally played an important role in developing 
people-to-people relationships, he stated, and there is a 
cost to not having the families here.  Abdul Ghaffar said he 
hope the families would come back in the next year, noting 
the "wonderful relations" over the years between Navy family 
members and Bahrainis.  "The families have always played an 
important role in the relationship,' he added. 
 
5. (SBU) The Crown Prince highlighted the important role of 
the DOD-run Bahrain School in breaking down barriers between 
people of different nationalities and cultures.  "We don't 
want to lose that," he stated.  Shaikh Mohammed echoed that 
sentiment, saying that the "school is one of the best things 
you have done here." 
 
------------------- 
CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN 
------------------- 
 
6. (C)  The Crown Prince said that Bahrain is watching the 
new government in Iran closely, adding that they are not 
comfortable with the direction the Iranians are heading.  One 
concern is the potential impact of Iran on local 
developments.  "We want to build a modern secular state, but 
there is underlying tension in Bahrain now, and ideas from 
Iran can spread out across the Gulf."  He said it was not 
clear whether opposition Shia activists were "trying to 
negotiate a place at the table, or maybe more than that."  On 
the international level, he stated that Iran has penetrated 
the Iraqi political structure, particularly in the South, and 
we all need to understand what that will mean for the future 
of Iraq.  He repeated an idea he had raised with Assistant to 
the President for Homeland Security/Counterterrorism Frances 
Townsend during the recently-held IISS conference in Bahrain 
-- that we engage the Iranians in multi-party talks much like 
the six-party talks with the North Koreans.  Such talks could 
include the U.S., Europeans, Russia, China, perhaps India, 
and a perhaps a country from the Arab world, he said. 
 
7. (C) Shaikh Mohammed also raised Iran, saying the country 
is going backwards.  The Iranians believe they have a message 
that the revolution should succeed not just in Iran but also 
in the region.  To gain support both in Iran and regionally, 
they choose issues that will resonate with the people, such 
as harsh condemnation of Israel.  But as far as the 
Palestinians are concerned, Bahrain will take its lead from 
what the Palestinians themselves want, not what the Iranians 
want.  During the recently-concluded OIC Summit in Mecca, 
where the King met with Iranian President Ahmadinejad, 
Bahrain tried to convey a message of good relations, which 
includes not interfering in one's neighbors' internal 
affairs.  Iran is a part of the region, and so dialogue with 
the Iranians is important and necessary.  But Bahrain is very 
careful.  It wants to have good relations with Iran, but it 
cannot go further unless it feels it is on the basis of an 
honest relationship. 
 
---------------- 
GOOD NEWS ON FTA 
---------------- 
 
8. (SBU) Shaikh Mohammed hailed the news received over the 
Bahrain weekend that the U.S. House of Representatives had 
approved by a large majority the Free Trade Agreement with 
Bahrain, the first such agreement in the Gulf.  Noting that 
Bahrain's military cooperation with the U.S., which began 
long before any other GCC country had welcomed a U.S. 
military presence, served as a model for the region, he said 
he hoped that Bahrain's economic cooperation would likewise 
serve as a model for others.  He added that Bahrain also 
hopes that its political reforms can also serve as an example 
for others on how to move forward. 
MONROE