ID :
41534
Mon, 01/19/2009 - 17:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/41534
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ABDULLAH IN TALKS WITH BAHRAINI LEADER
From Muin Abdul Majid
MANAMA (Bahrain), Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi held talks with his Bahraini counterpart, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman
Al Khalifa, on the second and final day of his visit to this Gulf nation Monday.
Both leaders led their respective delegations at the bilateral meeting held
at the Gudaibiya Palace here. Prior to that, Abdullah was accorded an official
welcoming ceremony by his Bahraini hosts.
According to a senior official, Abdullah's remarks at the start of the
meeting touched on efforts to move bilateral ties forward as well as the
situation in Gaza Strip, the stage of a ruthless Israeli military offensive
which started on Dec 27 that has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians.
"The Malaysian prime minister stated that the unilateral declaration of
ceasefire by Israel would mean nothing unless and until certain other
conditions are met," said the official.
These included that the ceasefire must be permanent; Israeli forces must
withdraw from Gaza completely; the Israeli blockade of Gaza must be lifted
totally; and a United Nations peacekeeping force must be deployed in the coastal
enclave.
The official said Abdullah noted that the Middle East must be allowed to
return to the road of peace and that Israeli occupation of Palestine, which
began in 1967, must finally be brought to an end.
"He stated that a Palestinian state which coexists alongside Israel in
peace and security must be established and that there must be a just, lasting
and comperehensive peace for the Middle East as a whole," he added.
According to the official, the Malaysian leader favoured the convening of
the first joint commission meeting between Malaysia and Bahrain to discuss ways
to expand bilateral ties.
"The prime minister also expressed hope that Proton and Perodua vehicles
made by Malaysian automakers can enter the Bahraini market," he said.
Malaysia is also seeking to work with Bahrain in areas such as tourism,
Islamic banking and finance, halal products and services as well as education.
Abdullah took the opportunity to point out that many Malaysian firms were
involved in the development process in Bahrain, according to the official.
They include four financial institutions, eight construction companies, two
ICT companies, two architectural firms, two consultancy firms and two food
chain companies.
Malaysia was the first country from Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic
relations with Bahrain.
Malaysia's second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, visited Bahrain in
1975 while the prime minister of Bahrain visited Malaysia twice in 2003 --
for the 13th Non-Aligned Movement Summit and the 10th Organisation of the
Islamic Conference Summit.
Abdullah is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the Malaysia-Bahrain
business seminar and meet the Malaysian community in Bahrain before leaving for
Qatar Monday night.
-- BERNAMA
MANAMA (Bahrain), Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi held talks with his Bahraini counterpart, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman
Al Khalifa, on the second and final day of his visit to this Gulf nation Monday.
Both leaders led their respective delegations at the bilateral meeting held
at the Gudaibiya Palace here. Prior to that, Abdullah was accorded an official
welcoming ceremony by his Bahraini hosts.
According to a senior official, Abdullah's remarks at the start of the
meeting touched on efforts to move bilateral ties forward as well as the
situation in Gaza Strip, the stage of a ruthless Israeli military offensive
which started on Dec 27 that has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians.
"The Malaysian prime minister stated that the unilateral declaration of
ceasefire by Israel would mean nothing unless and until certain other
conditions are met," said the official.
These included that the ceasefire must be permanent; Israeli forces must
withdraw from Gaza completely; the Israeli blockade of Gaza must be lifted
totally; and a United Nations peacekeeping force must be deployed in the coastal
enclave.
The official said Abdullah noted that the Middle East must be allowed to
return to the road of peace and that Israeli occupation of Palestine, which
began in 1967, must finally be brought to an end.
"He stated that a Palestinian state which coexists alongside Israel in
peace and security must be established and that there must be a just, lasting
and comperehensive peace for the Middle East as a whole," he added.
According to the official, the Malaysian leader favoured the convening of
the first joint commission meeting between Malaysia and Bahrain to discuss ways
to expand bilateral ties.
"The prime minister also expressed hope that Proton and Perodua vehicles
made by Malaysian automakers can enter the Bahraini market," he said.
Malaysia is also seeking to work with Bahrain in areas such as tourism,
Islamic banking and finance, halal products and services as well as education.
Abdullah took the opportunity to point out that many Malaysian firms were
involved in the development process in Bahrain, according to the official.
They include four financial institutions, eight construction companies, two
ICT companies, two architectural firms, two consultancy firms and two food
chain companies.
Malaysia was the first country from Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic
relations with Bahrain.
Malaysia's second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, visited Bahrain in
1975 while the prime minister of Bahrain visited Malaysia twice in 2003 --
for the 13th Non-Aligned Movement Summit and the 10th Organisation of the
Islamic Conference Summit.
Abdullah is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the Malaysia-Bahrain
business seminar and meet the Malaysian community in Bahrain before leaving for
Qatar Monday night.
-- BERNAMA
