Interior Minister meets US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

Washington, June 29 (BNA): Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa met US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf. The minister is on an official visit to the United States within the strong ties between the two countries. Leaf stressed the importance of consolidating relations and cooperation and emphasized the significance of the upcoming visit of the US President to the region to meet with regional leaders as part of efforts to protect international peace and security. The minister, said that Bahrain keeps moving forward with its civilized approach of coexistence and reinforcing the culture of peace, within the vision of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Shaikh Rashid hailed the strong ties and strategic partnerships between the two countries and their joint efforts in reinforcing regional stability and protecting international security and peace. He hailed the US counterterrorism efforts to face Iranian interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, including Bahrain, through financing and supporting terrorist cells, supplying them with weapons and explosives, and sheltering and training terrorist fugitives at the Revolutionary Guard camps, along with providing media propagandas for such terrorist crimes. Shaikh Rashid lauded the level of cooperation and coordination between Bahrain and the US in the combat against terrorism and the exchange of expertise to face regional and international security challenges. The meeting reviewed various topics and efforts to achieve security and reinforce regional stability.