VZCZCXRO2828
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMK #1157/01 1790905
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 280905Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5101
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001157 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS BA REGION POL
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF JUSTICE DISCUSSES IRAN, POLITICAL 
SOCIETIES WITH AMBASSADOR 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) Meeting with the Ambassador June 26, Minister of 
Justice Mohamed Al Sitri talked of his recent official visit 
to Iran under the auspices of a bilateral agreement on 
judicial and legal affairs.  His meeting with President 
Ahmedinejad focused on legal issues such as Iranian fishermen 
jailed in Bahrain, but Ahmedinejad also affirmed Iran's right 
to pursue a nuclear program.  Al Sitri said that he was in 
Tehran when the nuclear incentives package was delivered, and 
he sensed an Iranian eagerness to negotiate, even though 
rhetoric meant for domestic audiences has reached heights 
from which it is not easy to descend.  Al Sitri also 
discussed GOB financial support to political societies in the 
run-up to elections in the fall.  Approximately 300,000 
Bahraini Dinars ($800,000) would be distributed to 
participating societies.  The method to distribute the funds 
is still under consideration.  Al Sitri said that 
"independent" election observers (vice "international" 
observers) have not been ruled out.  End summary. 
 
---------------------------- 
The Minister's Visit to Iran 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Minister of Justice Dr. Mohamed Al Sitri, in a 
meeting with the Ambassador June 26, explained that Bahrain 
and Iran have an MOU on judicial and legal affairs and under 
this agreement he makes occasional visits to Iran, the most 
recent of which was in early June.  He likened the agreement 
to those Bahrain has with India, Egypt, and Morocco to 
cooperate on legal issues.  Bahraini-Iranian bilateral 
relations have increased and consequently the potential for 
bilateral legal matters to arise has also increased.  He said 
that his meeting with President Ahmedinejad focused on a 
group of Iranian fisherman who were arrested for fishing 
illegally in Bahraini waters and sentenced to six months in 
prison.  Ahmedinejad then turned to the nuclear issue, saying 
that Iran has the right to pursue a nuclear program and 
questioning why the international community does not respect 
this right.  Al Sitri said he told Ahmedinejad that he was 
not qualified to speak officially on this matter, but he did 
say that this issue does not only affect one country but the 
whole international community. 
 
¶3.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's query about the 
general mood in Iran over the nuclear impasse, Al Sitri said 
that in his view, the Iranians seemed eager to resolve the 
standoff.  It is not in their national interest to maintain a 
stalemate.  However, Iranian officials have "gone to the 
peak" in terms of rhetoric to their own public and therefore 
cannot be seen to back off abruptly.  He was in Iran when the 
incentives package was presented to the GOI, and officials 
seemed pleased with the offer.  Many Iranian officials are 
interested in direct talks with the U.S.  Al Sitri urged U.S. 
patience since indications are that Iran is willing to talk 
to avoid a direct confrontation, even though statements from 
Iranian officials meant for internal consumption may indicate 
otherwise.  Ahmedinejad is still learning about international 
affairs and how he should address the international 
community.  Bahrain has always tried to encourage Iran as it 
moves from being a revolutionary state to a modern state by 
demonstrating that international relations requires more 
sensitive ways of communicating. 
 
----------------------------------- 
GOB Funding for Political Societies 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Al Sitri confirmed that all 15 existing political 
societies have registered under the July 2005 Political 
Societies Law, including the four political societies that 
boycotted the 2002 elections.  (Note:  The last of these 
four, the Shi'a Islamic Action Society, which is composed 
primarily of followers of Ayatollah Shirazi, completed its 
registration the week of June 17.  It is now registered under 
the name "Amal" (hope).  End note.)  Al Sitri stated that the 
GOB will financially support all political societies under a 
set of procedures and conditions that is still being 
discussed.  The terms will include a commitment to 
participate in the fall parliamentary elections, and the 
amount given to each society will likely depend on factors 
such as membership, size, the number of seats won in the new 
parliament, and may include an extra incentive based on 
female candidates elected to the parliament. 
 
MANAMA 00001157  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) Al Sitri said that the Cabinet June 25 set aside 
300,000 Bahraini Dinars ($800,000) from the current year's 
budget for political society funding for this year's 
election, and more has been earmarked in the proposed 
2007-2008 national budget.  Al Sitri said that most of the 
2006 amount will be distributed among the 15 political 
societies, but a small amount will be held aside as there are 
indications that one or two new political societies may 
decide to register prior to the elections.  "We are happy 
with the process so far, and (political) societies are happy 
with how the Ministry (of Justice) is handling it."  There 
have been complaints that the funding is insufficient, but 
according to Al Sitri, the law does not commit the GOB to 
fully fund political societies; it simply says the GOB will 
support them.  He expects GOB financial support to political 
societies to increase over time. 
 
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Legislation and MOJ's Role in Elections 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Al Sitri said that the Ministry of Justice is 
preparing to form committees in support of the fall elections 
and confirmed that members of the judiciary will observe the 
elections.  When the Ambassador suggested that independent 
observers lend legitimacy to the process, Al Sitri said that 
"independent" observers have not been ruled out (vice 
"international" observers), but there are concerns that King 
Hamad is considering.  The 2002 elections were conducted in 
an excellent manner and there were no questions about 
legitimacy.  "This time as well there should be no government 
intervention, and we will strive for fair, free, and just 
elections." 
 
¶7.  (C) Turning to two legislative items of U.S. interest, Al 
Sitri was measured in his comments on terrorism legislation, 
saying that Bahrain cannot afford a terror attack on its 
soil.  Terror legislation needs to be preventative, but also 
should provide protection to the public against unwarranted 
accusations.  He said there have been some concerns from 
Members of Parliament over how terrorism is defined. 
Regarding anti-trafficking-in-persons legislation, he said 
that the draft is still in the hands of the Legal Affairs 
Directorate of the Cabinet and has not yet been placed on the 
Cabinet's agenda.  It will not likely advance to the 
parliament this session, but will be sent to the new 
parliament after elections in the fall. 
 
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On Press Coverage 
----------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Following a comment from the Ambassador about the 
climate of open expression in the press, Al Sitri praised the 
changes Bahrain has undergone to become more open and 
democratic.  He stated that there are examples of the press 
misquoting officials or reporting inaccurate information, and 
this concerns the government.  But overall, the press has a 
positive effect because it is a mechanism by which GOB 
officials are held accountable to the public.  This 
accountability forces ministers, other officials, and their 
ministries to strive to perform more effectively.  Al Sitri 
said that one of the positive aspects of the present 
constitution is that ministers are personally responsible to 
the parliament and to the people. 
 
 
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Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
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MONROE