Manama: King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa has reiterated Bahrain’s interest in developing its relations with the US in all areas.
Receiving Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson and Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski, the Bahraini monarch lauded the role of the US alongside the international community in preserving peace and stability in the region and in consolidating global peace, the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported on Thursday.
Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa told Patterson and Malinowski at a meeting held on Wednesday that Bahrain recognised “long-term safety and security as a vital pillar in the kingdom’s programme of development.”
“Bahrain remains fully committed to countering all forms of terrorism and violent extremism to ensure lasting stability,” he said as he highlighted how events in the region serve to underscore the need for consensus-based reform and development, the BNA said.
In remarks at a press conference, Patterson late on Thursday said that she was happy to be in Bahrain with Malinowski.
“We are both pleased to be back in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a long-standing friend of the US, and we have been able to hold productive discussions that reinforced the strong strategic and economic partnership our two countries share,” she said.
“I was just in Yemen and obviously there’s a great deal of uncertainty in many parts of the region, which greatly concerns all of us and reinforces the need for close cooperation among allies. Especially during difficult times, it is critical to keep the lines of communications open with our friends and partners, which is why I wanted to join Assistant Secretary Malinowski in Manama this week.
“The United States and Bahrain share a deep interest in regional security, and today we’re working more closely than we ever have before countering common threats. Bahrain is a key member of the international coalition that has joined together to oppose Daesh and put an end to this criminal terrorist group. While much of the media coverage of the coalition has focused on military strikes, Bahrain and the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been leaders of other lines of effort aimed at undermining Daesh and other terrorist networks,” she said.
Patterson said that Bahrain’s status was obvious in hosting last month an international conference focused on countering terrorist financing.
Moving forward
“Bahrain will also host the tenth annual Manama Dialogue, which will provide a useful opportunity for governments to discuss anti-Daesh measures and provide a crucial forum to discuss other regional issues. Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and we clearly share important strategic objectives. But increasingly our ties extend beyond our militaries and touch on shared economic and civil society interests, as well,” she said.
Malinowski who was asked to leave Manama in July over divergences with the government said that he was “very glad to be back in Bahrain.”
“As everyone knows, my last visit did not end in a way that served anyone well. I am very happy that we are now looking and moving forward,” he said. “The United States is grateful for Bahrain’s leadership and partnership in confronting our shared challenges in this region, from our long-standing security relationship to our current efforts against Daesh. The turmoil in other parts of this region is one reason why we so greatly value and encourage Bahrain’s efforts to find strength and stability in diversity,” he said.
