Cablegate: Standing Up Embassy Baghdad: Bahrain Not

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS MANAMA 000688

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BA IZ PREL
SUBJECT: STANDING UP EMBASSY BAGHDAD: BAHRAIN NOT
FOLLOWING SUIT

REF: STATE 89241

1. We reviewed ref on May 8 with Bahraini MFA Assistant
Undersecretary (Assistant Secretary-equivalent) for Bilateral
Affairs and on May 11 with the Bahraini MFA Minister of
State. The Bahraini officials reiterated broad Bahraini
support for American efforts to stabilize Iraq. Bahrain does
not, however, plan to upgrade the status of its Embassy in
Baghdad. The Minister of State said there is a full-time
Bahraini diplomat at the Embassy working with local staff.
Manama has no plans to add staff in the foreseeable future.
The MinState said that for the MFA perceives that the
security situation in Baghdad does not permit Bahrain to
increase the size of its Embassy there. He added that he and
some other MFA officials have urged the Bahraini diplomat in
Baghdad to come home, but so far the diplomat prefers to stay
because his children are Iraqis settled in Baghdad.
FORD

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