Bahrain affirms role of major Arab countries in solving regional problems

02 : 21 PM - 10/12/2016 Manama, Dec. 10 (BNA): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, stated that the right way to solve the region's problems is through the major and effective Arab states such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council states, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Arab Republic of Egypt, as well as every state that has a viable modern nation and has real and sincere desire to cooperate with the countries of the region in order to spread peace and establish security. He expressed his hope that Iraq will return as a strong nation in the Arab world, because it is one of the major countries and one of the active actors in the region, and that its strength, unity and stability are an essential element in the stability of the whole region. Shaikh Khalid praised in his speech at the Manama Dialogue the success of the 37th session of the GCC Summit held in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which he said was an important stage in the progress of joint work and resulted in outcomes that will give a strong impetus to the GCC countries to move forward towards further mutual cooperation in the defense and security fields, as well as further economic integration between the GCC states. He stressed the importance of the role by the economic and development affairs bureau in the outstanding development of cooperation in economic affairs and the completion of development projects, to reach a full Gulf economic unity and further support the economic and investment status of the GCC countries. The minister praised the outcome of the Summit between the GCC leaderships and the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, where it was affirmed the importance of bolstering the strong historic relations between the GCC and the UK, which extends for about two hundred years and marked by excellence, progress, diversity and common interests, as well as expressing the joint keenness to create further opportunities for economic and security cooperation for the interest of both sides. Shaikh Khalid affirmed the importance of international partnerships and the alliances of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC with the United States, the United Kingdom and friendly countries and regional and international organizations, stressing that these partnerships will continue to serve the interests of all parties, as well as strengthen the international role of the GCC as an active partner to achieve security, peace and stability in the region and the world. He criticized the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran that is destabilizing the security and stability of the region, pointing out that Iran has been carrying out this dangerous role for more than thirty years, exploiting every conflict in the region in an effort to extend its influence, in addition to its support of terrorism in the region and the formation of subsidiaries in the armies of the Arab states to destabilize security and stability. This, said the minister, is in addition to the use of Wilayat al Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) to get followers from around the world, stressing that good relations cannot be built with Iran unless it drastically changes its policies and cooperate with full transparency and seriousness with the countries of the region.