VZCZCXRO6371
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHMK #0797 1271346
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 071346Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4655
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY

S E C R E T MANAMA 000797 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS BA REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN:  MAY 6 GCC HEADS OF STATE CONSULTATIVE 
MEETING 
 
REF: A. WHITE HOUSE DTG 051219Z MAY 06 
 
     ¶B. STATE 68574 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (S) In a meeting covering several subjects (septels), the 
Ambassador May 6 delivered Ref A letter from the President 
and Ref B demarche on the GCC heads of state Consultative 
Meeting to Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al 
Khalifa a few hours before the Minister and King Hamad 
departed for the meeting.  Shaikh Khalid was pleased to 
receive the letter and demarche and pledged to pass the 
package to the King.  Delivering Ref B oral points, the 
Ambassador stressed that Bahrain should take concrete, 
tangible steps to support the new Iraqi government.  It 
should issue positive statements, invite the Iraqi Foreign 
Minister to visit Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid could visit Baghdad, 
there could be reciprocal visits of business leaders, and 
Bahrain could send an Ambassador to its embassy in Baghdad. 
 
¶2.  (S) Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain welcomed developments 
in the political system in Iraq, especially the choosing of a 
prime minister.  The GOB will issue a positive public 
statement when a government is formed.  At the Consultative 
Meeting, the heads of state will discuss development of a GCC 
statement welcoming the government, to be issued following 
government formation.  Bahrain wants the GCC to offer support 
for and contact with all Iraqis, Sunni, Shia, and Kurd.  The 
GCC should not leave the field open for Iran to interfere. 
 
¶3.  (S) On Iran, Shaikh Khalid said the primary outcome of 
the Consultative Meeting would be a common GCC position on 
Iran.  He said the GCC needs to be firm on the nuclear issue. 
 If there is a confrontation, Iran should know that the GCC 
holds it responsible for the consequences.  Iran did not 
consult with the GCC when it launched its nuclear program, 
with a reactor on the shores of the Gulf.  The Foreign 
Minister said Bahrain is concerned and worried, and the GCC 
states need to show that they are in full agreement with each 
other on Iran.  He continued that Bahrain is working hard 
internally to prepare itself for the worst - a major regional 
confrontation or Iranian attack. 
 
¶4.  (S) The Ambassador stated that the U.S. was pursuing the 
diplomatic channel to address the nuclear issue.  At some 
point, it is very possible that we will be looking at ways to 
increase the pressure on Iran, through targeted sanctions or 
travel restrictions imposed by the UN or the international 
community.  Iran has launched a campaign of engagement with 
countries in the region, sending senior officials on visits 
and talking publicly about the possibility of deals on 
natural gas.  The countries in the region will have decide 
what to do if/when there are sanctions. 
 
¶5.  (S) Shaikh Khalid replied that Bahrain would apply 
sanctions against Iran if they are the result of UN Security 
Council resolutions, and therefore have "international 
legitimacy."  If necessary, the GOB will close Iranian banks 
in Bahrain.  Bahrain has no problem with applying sanctions, 
he said.  Shaikh Khalid cautioned, however, that the U.S. 
should be careful about Dubai.  He said the Dubai - Iran sea 
passage would be a busy thoroughfare, "like Route 66," for 
smuggled goods. 
 
MONROE