VZCZCXRO8416
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHMK #2049/01 3530700
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 190700Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6192
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI 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 03 MANAMA 002049 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR BA BILAT REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI FM, A/S HILLEN, AND A/S RODMAN EXPLORE 
AREAS OF COOPERATION ON REGIONAL SECURITY 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) Meeting with the U.S. delegation to the IISS Manama 
Dialogue conference December 8, Foreign Minister Shaikh 
Khalid said that Iranian FM Mottaki had told him earlier in 
the day that Iran did not want nuclear weapons, saying they 
would be of no benefit to Iran.  Shaikh Khalid said he was 
perplexed that Iran did not accept the P5 Plus 1 package of 
incentives.  Asked about the Iraq Study Group report, A/S 
Hillen told the FM that the report would be one input among 
many the President would consider as he makes his decisions. 
On the Israel-Palestinian track, Shaikh Khalid said he was 
encouraged by indications that Israeli Prime Minister Olmert 
sees positive points in the Arab Peace Initiative and urged 
the parties to move forward on those points.  Regarding 
Palestinian PM Haniyah's visit to Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid said 
he had urged Haniyah not to disregard all past achievements 
by former Palestinian governments.  On the upcoming GCC 
Summit, Shaikh Khalid anticipated that there would be no 
significant new initiatives.  He asked that the U.S. consider 
urging Saudi Arabia and Qatar to resolve their dispute. 
Shaikh Khalid expressed Bahraini concerns about the growth of 
sectarianism in the region.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa 
December 8 met with the U.S. delegation to the IISS Manama 
Dialogue.  Representing the U.S. were Assistant Secretary of 
State for Political-Military Affairs Hillen, Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs 
 
SIPDIS 
Rodman, NSC Senior Director for Middle East and North Africa 
Affairs Doran, Deputy CENTCOM Commander Vice Admiral Nichols, 
and the Ambassador.  Shaikh Khalid was accompanied by MFA 
Assistant Under Secretary Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Mubarak Al 
Khalifa. 
 
------------------------------ 
Iran and the Incentive Package 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C) Shaikh Khalid opened the meeting by expressing his 
country's thanks for U.S. support and protection.  He 
mentioned that he had seen Iranian Foreign Minister 
Manouchehr Mottaki earlier in the day and that they had 
discussed Iran's nuclear program.  Shaikh Khalid said he had 
told Mottaki that Iran had a right to develop nuclear power 
for peaceful purposes.  Mottaki reportedly responded, "We 
don't even want nuclear weapons.  What would they do for us?" 
 Shaikh Khalid told A/S Hillen that this was the third 
different reason the Iranians had given to demonstrate that 
they had no intention of developing nuclear weapons.  Shaikh 
Khalid said, "I'm not sure what to believe.  We know all 
about the (P5 Plus 1) package of incentives that has been 
offered to them.  If they truly only want nuclear technology 
for power, why haven't they accepted the package?"  A/S 
Hillen noted that since Iran had not yet responded to any of 
the diplomatic actions, positive or negative, it was 
important to keep up the pressure from as many directions as 
possible. 
 
---------- 
ISG Report 
---------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Shaikh Khalid asked what changes the region could 
expect as a result of the release of the Iraq Study Group 
report.  A/S Hillen told the FM that the report would be one 
piece of advice that the President would use to make future 
decisions about Iraq, noting that the President routinely 
weighs several sources of advice.  Shaikh Abdul Aziz noted 
that a central suggestion of the report was a change in focus 
from a military combat role to a training role.  A/S Rodman 
said that this shift was already taking place, with a goal of 
increasing the numbers of Iraqi police and military personnel 
who have sufficient training. 
 
------------------------ 
Israel-Palestinian Track 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (C) Shaikh Khalid said he was encouraged by indications 
from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the Arab Peace 
Initiative had positive points.  Shaikh Khalid stated that 
the Arab Initiative contained very basic principles and 
needed to be updated and fleshed out.  He said that Bahrain 
and Israel share a mutual respect for one another and that it 
 
MANAMA 00002049  002 OF 003 
 
 
was important to engage with the Israelis to explore points 
on which negotiations can proceed.  While the focus on the 
Palestinian track was most important, Shaikh Khalid noted 
that there should also be engagement with Syria on the Golan 
so it feels it is part of the process.  He also mentioned 
that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas needs to take more 
fiscal control of government operations.  He urged increased 
support to empower Abbas. 
 
¶6.  (C) Shaikh Khalid said that the Israel-Palestinian 
problem is an underlying issue for conflict in the region 
because it seems to be an intractable conflict that cannot be 
resolved.  The conflict is a rallying point for extremists. 
"If we could resolve this issue and thereby remove this 
rallying point, we can undermine extremist rhetoric."  A/S 
Rodman commented that Israel recognizes a common interest 
with the Gulf Arabs in confronting Iran.  This adds an 
incentive for Israel to resolve its conflict with the 
Palestinians. 
 
¶7.  (C) Commenting on Palestinian Prime Minister Haniyah's 
visit to Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid said Haniyah was looking for 
financial aid for the Palestinian government.  Shaikh Khalid 
said he had told Haniyah that Bahrain's support for the 
Palestinian people is strong, but he urged Haniyah not to 
lose the agreements that had been reached in the past (by 
former Palestinian governments).  Shaikh Khalid said that he 
had told Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar in an 
earlier visit, "You cannot just disregard previous government 
accomplishments."  However, al-Zahar was steadfast in his 
stance that Hamas does not and will not recognize any 
previous agreements with the Israelis. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Bahraini GSD Delegation to Visit U.S. 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz reminded the group that on a 
previous visit by a U.S. delegation to discuss the Gulf 
Security Dialogue (GSD), the group had identified six pillars 
for action.  It was now necessary to identify those who would 
be tasked with carrying out the action items within each 
pillar.  A/S Hillen told the Foreign Minister that Crown 
Prince Shaikh Salman had told him earlier that he would lead 
a delegation to the U.S. in the spring to discuss the range 
of GSD issues. 
 
------------------------- 
GCC Summit and GCC Plus 2 
------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) When asked about anticipated outcomes from the 
December 9-10 GCC Summit, Shaikh Khalid said it was unlikely 
that there would be any significant new initiatives this 
year, but there would be serious discussions about Iraq and 
how to face Iran.  Shaikh Khalid commented that the 
Saudi-Qatari dispute continued to sour relations among GCC 
countries.  He suggested that it could be helpful if the U.S. 
were to urge the two countries to resolve their differences. 
A/S Hillen commented that the U.S. had pushed the Qataris on 
their commitment to the central strategy to confront Iran. 
Shaikh Khalid said the Bahrainis do not know where the 
Qataris stand exactly. 
 
¶10.  (C) When asked about his thoughts on the GCC plus two, 
Shaikh Khalid said that he saw it as a group with an 
important role.  He suggested that in addition to Egypt and 
Jordan, Yemen should be included among the participants if 
the group intended to deal with Iran in any depth.  Shaikh 
Khalid suggested that others be included as needed on an ad 
hoc basis. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Sectarianism Is Region's Largest Problem 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (C) Shaikh Khalid expressed his concerns about the 
growth of sectarianism in the region, calling attention to 
the recent Bahraini elections and the "us versus them" 
mentality that could be sensed during the process.  He 
recalled that in the 1970's, before the Iranian revolution, 
Bahraini society was mixed in a natural way.  At that time it 
was common to see Sunni and Shia intermarriages, but the 
revolution in 1979 brought sectarianism to Bahrain.  Iran is 
now trying to exploit sectarianism for its benefit in some 
other countries in the region, he said.  Iraq has now 
magnified the sectarian split and "we all will need to help 
Iraq get out of the cycle of violence and sectarianism that 
has engulfed it." 
 
 
MANAMA 00002049  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶12.  (U) A/S Hillen, A/S Rodman, and Dr. Doran cleared this 
cable. 
 
********************************************* ******** 
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
********************************************* ******** 
ZIADEH