Cablegate: Bahrain: New World Bank President

VZCZCXRO0906
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0492 1510829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 310829Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6878
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY

UNCLAS MANAMA 000492

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL EFIN BA ECTRD
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: NEW WORLD BANK PRESIDENT

REF: STATE 73691

Sensitive but unclassified; please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.

1. (SBU) The Ambassador May 31 delivered reftel information
concerning the nomination of Robert Zoellick to be World Bank
president to Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al
Khalifa. Shaikh Ahmed said that Bahrain knew Zoellick well
from the FTA negotiations and would be fully supportive of
his nomination. He said he planned to write Zoellick to
congratulate him on the nomination.

2. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief also delivered the information to
MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dr. Dhafer Al Umran May
30. Al Umran characterized Zoellick as a "great choice." In
Al Umran's view, the primary focus of the World Bank should
be on poverty alleviation and sustainable development. He
stated that Zoellick is someone who has demonstrated interest
in and concern about these issues.

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Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
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