MANAMA, JAN. 12 (BNA) -- US PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSHS HISTORIC VISIT TO BAHRAIN COMES TO FURTHER BOOST BILATERAL TIES IN ALL DOMAINS, INVIGORATE THE FTA AND CREATE OTHER OPEN UP NEW HORIZONS FOR STABILITY AND SECURITY IN THE GULF, SAID STATE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR. NIZAR AL BAHARNA.
HE STRESSED IN A STATEMENT TO BAHRAIN SATELLITE CHANNEL THAT THE CHOICE ON BAHRAIN AS AN IMPORTANT STATION OF BUSHS REGIONAL TOUR REFLECTED THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE KINGDOM IN REINFORCING THE REGIONS SECURITY AND STABILITY, ADDING THAT THE US LISTENS TO BAHRAIN AND ACCORDS IT A SPECIAL STATUS.

BAHRAIN HAD AND STILL HAS A TREMENDOUS ROLE IN REGIONAL STABILITY AND ACTS EITHER THROUGH THE GCC, THE ARAB LEAGUE OR THE CONFERENCES IT HOSTS TO REINFORCE SECURITY IN THE REGION AND THE GULF AND SUPPORT ARAB AND ISLAMIC CAUSES.


HE ADDED THAT THE US PRESIDENTS CURRENT VISIT WILL STRENGTHEN THE DEEP- ROOTED BAHRAIN-US RELATIONS, POINTING IN THIS REGARD TO THE US APPRECIATION OF THE KINGDOMS EFFORTS MAINLY IN DEEPENING DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES AND EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PROPELLING THEM TO PARLIAMENT.

BAHRAINS SPECIAL STATUS IN THE GCC, ARAB AND GLOBAL ARENAS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS ADEQUATE POLITICAL REFORMS, THE STATE MINISTER NOTED.

ANSWERING A QUESTION ON THE IMPACT OF THE VISIT AND THE FTA, AL BAHARNA NOTED THAT HM THE KING HAD REITERATED ON MORE THAN AN OCCASION THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE THE REAL WEALTH OF THE KINGDOM AND IN THIS CONTEXT, THE FTA WOULD FURTHER BOOST NATIONAL ECONOMY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE OF THE BAHRAINI CITIZENS.

WHILE ANSWERING A QUESTION ON TEHRANS NUCLEAR DOSSIER, AL BAHARNA UNDERLINED THE STRENGTH OF BAHRAINI-IRANIAN TIES AND BAHRAINS ROLE IN SUPPORTING WHATEVER REINFORCES PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION AND AVERTS WARS AND CONFLICTS.

BAHRAIN WILL CONTINUE SUCH EFFORTS TIRELESSLY, RESORTING TO DIALOGUE AS AN EFFICIENT MEDIUM TO STEER THE REGION AWAY FROM THE SPECTER OF WAR, HE CONCLUDED.

MTQ 12-JAN-2008 23:29