Manama, Jun. 23. (BNA) – His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has urged to maintain the stability enjoyed by GCC countries despite the surrounding regional troubles, noting that positive stances of brotherly and friendly countries on the need to distance the region from crises and conflicts have become a necessity.
The region has endured enough instability and can no longer put up with more violence, he said, noting that for Bahrain, relations with countries and world blocs have are important whenever they are based on mutual respect and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
“Bahrain is not hostile to anyone, except those seeking to interfere in its internal affairs,” he said, noting that Bahrain had recognised the importance of strengthening ties with Asia long before, and has always spared no effort to broaden its cooperation with Asian countries.
He called for the need to strengthen pan-Arab cooperation and activate it, being the only option available to counter policies targeting the region’s security, which, he said, has made each country focus on its own affairs and expanded the gap between the Arab Unity dream and the real ability to make it true.
He said that “the interests of the countries of the region, without exception, lies in adhering to the good initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz to move towards the Gulf Union.”
“What hurts us most is that chaos and instability have spread in some Arab countries the same states that used to be oases of security and role models of development and progress,” he said, calling upon Arab peoples to be aware and vigilant so as to be able to face the plots staged against their countries for the aim of subverting their stability and sparking conflicts and disputes among their segments.
“Arab citizens are honoured and respected in their countries, probably more than their counterparts in the most developed ones, but those who targeted the Arab Nation, using democracy as a pretext to interfere into internal Arab affairs, have tended to depict them as individuals who are deprived of their basic human rights, and tackled disturbances as symptoms of a spring and chaos as demands,” he said.
HRH Premier voiced the stances as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace today scores of citizens, ambassadors of brotherly and friendly countries, clerics, intellectuals, media persons and businessmen.
He asserted that Arab countries boast enough potentials that enable them to form a strong political and economic entity, noting that once there is a strong will and determination to achieve unity, the Arab states’ ability to face all challenges will increase.
HRH Premier said that the challenges faced by the kingdom throughout its history have proved the true mettle of the Bahraini people whose members have thwarted them thanks to their patriotic stances.
He praised the “patriotic and honourable” role played by the Bahraini Press, commending the efforts exerted by columnists and journalists to enlighten the public opinion and raise public awareness.
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BNA 1533 GMT 2014/06/23