Origin: Embassy Manama
Classification: SECRET
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN'S KING HAMAD ON SYRIA, LEBANON AND THE PALESTINIANS
1. (S) Summary: Bahrain's King Hamad told the Ambassador that Syria was working to have anyone but Siniora represent Lebanon at the Arab League Summit; Qatar was proposing Bouez as a compromise choice for President, and Abu Mazen bemoaned Arab in-fighting. End Summary.
2. (S) During an hour-long audience with the Ambassador on February 13, King Hamad discussed at length a visit he received the previous day from Saudi Arabia's intel chief, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz al Saud. Muqrin had come to brief the Bahrainis on recent developments between Syria and Lebanon, and to encourage Bahrain's continued support of the Arab League initiative.
3. (S) King Hamad said the Syrians were making a concerted effort to prevent Prime Minister Siniora from representing Lebanon at the Arab League Summit. Their aim was to have Nabih Berri fill that role, and they were working to engineer such an outcome. Both the King and Muqrin agreed that this was a non-starter and that any attempt to undercut Siniora's authority or legitimacy must be resisted.
4. (S) The Saudis were particularly angry over Qatari mediation efforts in Lebanon. According to Muqrin, the Government of Qatar was advocating Faris Bouez as a compromise candidate with the Syrians and Lebanese in order to resolve the political impasse over Sleiman's selection as President. Muqrin fumed that this was against all previous agreements. King Hamad said that he had called the Amir of Qatar, who replied that this was an issue between Syria and Saudi Arabia, rather than Saudi Arabia and Qatar. King Hamad rejoined that, to the contrary, it was an issue between Syria and the Arab world..."
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