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O 161234Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6000
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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 001938 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 
TAGS: PREL ETRD KDEM KMPI BA BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES FTA, NDI, ELECTIONS 
 
REF: MANAMA 1890 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) In their November 9 meeting, Deputy Prime Minister 
Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak agreed with the Ambassador's 
suggestion that the GOB should launch a roadshow led by a 
senior official to promote the U.S.-Bahrain free trade 
agreement in the United States.  Regarding NDI, Shaikh 
Mohammed said Bahrain needs U.S. expertise to help train 
Bahraini politicians, especially new members of parliament 
following the upcoming elections.  He said there would be 
serious discussion about the future of the leadership of the 
Bahrain Institute for Political Development as well as about 
possible Cabinet changes.  Shaikh Mohammed said economic 
development would help moderates gain the upper hand in 
democratic elections, and he complained about the involvement 
of religious figures in politics.  He asserted that the 
democratic experience of the past four years had improved 
life in Bahrain and he stated that the government wants to 
cooperate with parliament on initiatives to improve standards 
of living, economic opportunity, and education.  End Summary. 
 
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Roadshow To Promote FTA 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Opening his November 9 meeting with Deputy Prime 
Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the 
Ambassador described his participation in an October tour 
with eight other U.S. Ambassadors to NEA countries to four 
American cities to promote economic relations.  While 
recognizing that U.S.-Bahrain bilateral trade was way up over 
the same period last year, he cautioned that Bahrain needs to 
move quickly to promote the free trade agreement (FTA) while 
it is still fresh.  The National U.S. Arab Chamber of 
Commerce was poised to sign a memorandum of understanding 
with Bahrain's FTA Implementation Committee to promote the 
FTA, and a senior U.S. Department of Commerce official would 
visit Manama the following week to publicize trade and 
investment relations.  The missing piece, the Ambassador 
said, is a high powered Bahraini delegation to the United 
States to generate interest on the American side. 
 
¶3.  (C) Shaikh Mohammed agreed, saying that the GOB should 
launch a roadshow targeting traditional and non-traditional 
business centers in the United States.  "This should be our 
number one priority - we have to take advantage of the 
momentum," he said.  He thought that Crown Prince Salman, 
Minister of Industry and Commerce Hassan Fakhro, or Economic 
Development Board CEO Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa could lead the 
Bahraini delegation. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Possible Changes at Political Development Institute 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  (C) The Ambassador noted that Under Secretary Hughes, 
during her November 1 meeting with the Crown Prince (reftel), 
had explained that NDI's forced departure from Bahrain 
continued to be an irritant in the relationship.  The 
Ambassador said that NDI was happy to work with the Bahrain 
Institute for Political Development (BIPD), and had arranged 
a study tour for a Bahraini delegation in the United States 
at the time of the U.S. mid-term congressional elections. 
However, many people, including members of the BIPD board, 
find BIPD Secretary General Lulwa Al Awadhi difficult to work 
with.  Shaikh Mohammed said Bahrain wants to work with the 
U.S. to train Bahraini politicians, especially new members of 
parliament following the upcoming elections (to be held 
November 25 and December 2).  He stated that following the 
elections there would be a "very serious discussion" about Al 
Awadhi's leadership and possible Cabinet changes. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Economic Progress Helps Moderates 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Shaikh Mohammed stated that the elections were 
providing people with an opportunity to meet and discuss and 
debate issues.  This is a healthy development.  But he 
worries about who will lead democracies in the region, 
moderates or extremists?  The only way for democracy to 
succeed, he said, is to promote economic development so the 
moderates can gain the upper hand.  He said it is not right 
for clerics to be involved in politics because many people 
 
MANAMA 00001938  002 OF 002 
 
 
will follow their "orders."  Most clerics are unsophisticated 
and make judgments on political and economic issues without 
any knowledge or information.  The Ambassador stated that 
independent election observers, ideally international 
observers, would provide credibility for the election 
process.  The Deputy PM said Bahrain would allow independent 
observers. 
 
¶6.  (C) Shaikh Mohammed said MPs should concentrate on 
promoting democracy and improving the lives of the people, 
not on demonstrations, confrontation, and "small issues" that 
advance private agendas.  He said he is concerned about 
misuse of the system for personal or ideological purposes. 
The democratic experience over the past four years has 
improved life in Bahrain, and the government is committed to 
continued progress.  It is not possible to avoid 
difficulties, but the government wants to have good relations 
with parliament and seeks to cooperate on issues related to 
improving standards of living, economic opportunity, and 
education.  "We have a vision for Bahrain's future," he said, 
"of unlimited opportunity and potential."  The government and 
parliament have to work together to achieve this vision. 
 
 
********************************************* ******** 
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
********************************************* ******** 
MONROE