VZCZCXRO4030
OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHMK #1763/01 2831054
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101054Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5748
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 1250
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001763 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI BA OFFICIALS BILAT POL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DOMESTIC, REGIONAL ISSUES 
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Shaikh 
Khalid October 5 and discussed NDI, Bahraini elections, the 
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Havana, friction 
between Jordan and Qatar, and the Ambassador's participation 
in a trade promotion trip in the U.S.  On NDI, Shaikh Khalid 
said that Bahrain would participate in the proposed study 
tour in the Washington, DC area at the time of the mid-term 
elections.  The political development institute was in the 
process of selecting participants.  The Ambassador stressed 
the importance of allowing independent, preferably 
international, monitors to observe Bahrain's upcoming 
elections.  Shaikh Khalid was certain the GOB would ensure 
the elections were transparent and properly observed.  He 
said the NAM meeting was not helpful, calling Chavez and 
Ahmadi-Nejad "Barnum and Bailey."  Shaikh Khalid explained 
that there had been friction between Jordan and Qatar over 
Jordan's late nomination of its UN ambassador to be UN 
secretary general.  The Ambassador noted that he would visit 
 
SIPDIS 
four major U.S. cities to promote the U.S.-Bahrain free trade 
agreement (FTA).  End Summary. 
 
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Bahrain To Participate In NDI Program 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) In an October 5 meeting, Foreign Minister Shaikh 
Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and the Ambassador discussed 
NDI's proposed study program coinciding with the U.S. 
mid-term elections, Bahrain's upcoming elections, the NAM 
meeting in Havana, friction between Jordan and Qatar, and the 
Ambassador's commercial mission in the U.S., among other 
issues.  On NDI, the Ambassador asked about the status of 
Bahrain's reply to NDI's proposal to conduct a study mission 
in the Washington, DC area to coincide with the mid-term 
elections.  NDI had requested a reply by September 30 but to 
date had heard nothing.  Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain 
Institute for Political Development (BIPD) Secretary General 
Lulwa Al Awadhi had sent a reply September 28 to NDI Regional 
Director Les Campbell welcoming the proposal and stating that 
BIPD was in the process of selecting participants.  (Note: 
Campbell confirmed separately later the same day that he had 
just received Al Awadhi's letter.)  Shaikh Khalid said it was 
positive that Bahrainis would participate in this program. 
He also drew attention to a sentence in Al Awadhi's letter 
stating, "it seems appropriate to have a legal framework for 
our future cooperation." 
 
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Yemen Supplants Bahrain as Democratic Model 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Turning to Bahrain's elections, the Ambassador said 
that USG officials continue to be unhappy about the NDI 
situation.  In contrast, NDI, along with the EU and an Arab 
organization, observed Yemen's recent presidential election. 
The presence of international observers had attracted 
President Bush's attention, and he now cites Yemen as a good 
model in speeches.  This in contrast with Bahrain, which 
formerly had been held up as a model. 
 
¶4.  (C) The Ambassador continued that it is very important 
that Bahrain's elections be free and fair, and be seen to be 
free and fair.  The best way to do this is to get the 
observer piece right.  Ideally, Bahrain should bring in 
international election monitors.  At a minimum, there should 
be truly independent domestic monitors.  Independent 
observers give credibility to elections and improve the 
perception that elections are legitimate.  Shaikh Khalid said 
he was sure the GOB would take the right steps to ensure the 
elections are transparent and are properly observed.  The 
Ambassador emphasized that this issue is important to the 
U.S.-Bahrain bilateral relationship. 
 
¶5.  (C) In a separate October 4 meeting with Deputy Prime 
Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the 
Ambassador made the same points about NDI and elections 
monitors.  Shaikh Mohammed replied that Bahrain is fully 
committed to democracy and a democratic system.  With the 
elections coming, Bahrain needs its friends to encourage 
democracy to continue to grow.  There are some people who 
push so hard on democracy that "they can push the car right 
off the cliff."  He said, however, that he understood the 
Ambassador's message and would convey it to King Hamad. 
 
MANAMA 00001763  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
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Barnum and Bailey's Traveling Circus 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, the Foreign 
Minister said the NAM conference in Havana was "not helpful," 
calling Venezuelan President Chavez and Iranian President 
Ahmadi-Nejad "Barnum and Bailey."  Shaikh Khalid said that 
Chavez addressed his speech directly to Raul Castro, 
recounting all the nice things Fidel had said about Raul. 
Ahmadi-Nejad's speech "was not important." 
 
¶7.  (C) Shaikh Khalid explained that Jordan's last minute 
nomination of UN Ambassador Prince Zeid bin Raad Al Hussein 
to be UN secretary general had come as a surprise.  Jordan 
put the nomination on the table at the same September Arab 
League (AL) ministerial meeting that (now former) Thai Deputy 
Prime Minister and UN SecGen candidate Surakiart attended and 
spoke at.  Bahrain and other AL countries had been unhappy 
with Jordan's unexpected move.  The Qatari representative 
said that the nomination came too late, and Jordan did not 
like his response.  Jordan feels that Qatar campaigned on 
behalf of the Thai candidate.  Shaikh Khalid said that a 
Jordanian official had asked him if there was consensus 
within the UN on a candidate.  He said there was and 
recommended that Jordan not dwell on the matter any longer. 
 
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Trip to Promote FTA 
------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) The Ambassador informed the Foreign Minister that he 
would depart soon for the United States to participate in a 
commercial tour to four major cities to promote the 
U.S.-Bahrain FTA.  Shaikh Khalid said this was very useful 
and that Deputy PM Shaikh Mohammed had briefed King Hamad on 
the tour.  Separately, in the October 4 meeting, Shaikh 
Mohammed told the Ambassador that a lot of work needs to be 
done to educate Bahrainis about the FTA, saying there should 
be a focus on specific sectors that can benefit from the 
trade preferences.  The Ambassador said he looked forward to 
briefing the GOB and Bahraini FTA Implementation Committee 
upon his return. 
 
 
********************************************* ******** 
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
********************************************* ******** 
ZIADEH