Cablegate: Embassy Manama

VZCZCXYZ0153
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMK #0130 0641254
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 041254Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7636
RUEATRS/TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000130

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA - GRAY, STEINFELD, JACKSON-FARRIER, GERBER,
ISN - MCNERNY
NSC FOR ABRAMS, SINGH
TREASURY FOR UNDER SECRETARY LEVEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM EFIN ECON IR BA

REF: STATE 21770

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

1.(C) Ambassador briefed Bahrain,s Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Tuesday, March 4, on UNSCR 1803 (reftel) and discussed next steps on Future Bank. (Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah al Khalifa was in Cairo attending an Arab League ministerial.)

2.(C) Ambassador told Sheikh Abdulaziz that Resolution 1803 specifically cites Banks Melli and Saderat and urges member states to exercise vigilance over their activities. Sheikh Abdulaziz said that this should provide sufficient basis for Bahrain to act against Future Bank. The Ambassador stressed to the Undersecretary that this meant either pulling the bank,s license or otherwise shutting it down. He added that if action was not taken within a week, the U.S. would most likely move to designate.

3.(C) Sheikh Abdulaziz spoke shortly thereafter with the Foreign Minister in Cairo, who said that he would work to get "a political decision" to shut down the bank before March 11. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX********************************************* ******** ERELI

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