LEBANON TRIBUNAL: BAHRAIN SUPPORTIVE; NO FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

Reference ID 08MANAMA75
Created 2008-02-08 12:12
Released 2011-02-18
Classification CONFIDENTIAL
Origin Embassy Manama



VZCZCXRO3009
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0075 0391210
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081210Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7578
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0686
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1216
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000075

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018
TAGS: PREL LE SY BA
SUBJECT: LEBANON TRIBUNAL: BAHRAIN SUPPORTIVE; NO FINANCIAL
COMMITMENT

REF: STATE 10786

Classified By: Ambassador Adam Ereli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1.(C) Pol/Econ Chief met with MFA Undersecretary Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa on February 7 to review the Secretary's note verbale and talking points A-G (reftel). SIPDIS Al-Khalifa expressed strong support for the tribunal and Bahrain's commitment to working cooperatively to promote peace and stability in Lebanon, but said that limited resources meant that the GOB would likely not be able to contribute financially.

2.(C) Al-Khalifa said that the GOB would continue its public and private support of PM Siniora's government, and agreed that obstacles to the presidential election must be removed. He added that it would be "absolutely unacceptable" for Hizballah to enter the government. Al-Khalifa said that "the time has come to talk publicly about Syria's uncooperative stance," and that he believed the Arab states would send a strong message to Syria at the Damascus Summit. He hinted that King Hamad would no attend.


ERELI


Source: Wikileaks