US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1835

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001835 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KUNR, BA, OFFICIALS, ROW 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TAHIR-KHELI DISCUSSES UN REFORM WITH 
BAHRAINI OFFICIALS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State on 
UN Reform Ambassador Tahir-Kheli met in separate meetings 
December 7 with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and 
Minister of Information Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar and Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs Assistant Undersecretary for Political 
Affairs and International Cooperation Ahmed Al Haddad.  The 
officials expressed GOB support for UN reform, but focused on 
the need for consensus on reform areas.  They also urged UNSC 
expansion, to include an Islamic or Arab state as a permanent 
member.  Abdul Ghaffar stated clear GOB support for the U.S. 
position in its against terrorism.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) In separate meetings December 7 with Abdul Ghaffar 
and Al Haddad, Ambassador Tahir-Kheli urged movement on UN 
reform, particularly in the area of management.  Al Haddad 
stated that mismanagement of UN funds is not acceptable and 
that the GOB supports management reform.  He expressed 
appreciation that the U.S., as a major contributor to the UN, 
is consulting with smaller countries on reform issues. 
 
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Hot-Button Issues 
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3.  (C) Officials in both meetings said they were open to UN 
reform, but stressed the need for consensus on reform areas. 
Abdul Ghaffar said that reform should reflect the interests 
of the majority of countries, if not all, and not just big 
countries.  He recognized that complete consensus would be 
difficult to reach, but that at least most countries now 
realize that reform is necessary.  Ambassador Tahir-Kheli 
urged that UN members move forward on those reform items on 
which there is general agreement. 
 
4.  (C)  Both Bahraini officials focused on the issue of UNSC 
expansion.  Al Haddad expressed the need for an Islamic or 
Arab country with a permanent seat on the UNSC.  Ambassador 
Tahir-Kheli expressed concern that the issue of UNSC 
expansion had polarized the UN, affecting UN work in many 
areas.  She explained that the U.S. was not against moderate 
UNSC expansion, but that the expansion should be approached 
from a context of effectiveness of the UNSC and comprehensive 
reform within the UN. 
 
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Islam and Terror 
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5.  (C) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli expressed hope that the UN 
would launch the Peacebuilding Commission and conclude the 
Comprehensive Convention Against International Terrorism in 
the next year.  She encouraged the GOB to work within the 
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to support these 
initiatives.  Abdul Ghaffar stated that the view of many Arab 
countries has been that the definition of terrorism should 
include "state terrorism."  He said that the issue of the 
definitions of "aggression" and "terrorism" have been a 
problem for a long time.  Abdul Ghaffar stated clearly that 
"We are with you" in the fight against terror.  He expressed 
optimism in the fact that Saudi Arabia has taken a leadership 
role in the fight against terrorism and has proposed locating 
a counter-terrorism center in Saudi Arabia.  Ambassador 
Tahir-Kheli reiterated that the Secretary had stated that 
there could be no exceptions to attacks by terrorists on 
innocent civilians. 
 
6.  (U) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli has cleared this message. 
 
 
MONROE