Bahraini minister's Iraq visit marks fresh start in ties

Manama: Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa on Saturday made an unannounced visit to Baghdad in a fresh push by Manama to enhance political and economic relations between the two countries.

"We support the [Iraqi] government's diligent endeavours to promote development in all sectors," Al Khalifa, on his first visit to Baghdad since he became foreign minister in September 2005, was quoted as telling Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki by the Bahrain News Agency.

"Our wish is to see stability, security and peace, as well as national and territorial unity prevailing in Iraq," he said.

Only two days earlier, Bahrain's new ambassador, Salah Ali Al Maliki, had presented his credentials to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

Manama had pulled its charge d'affaires Hassan Malallah Al Ansari in 2005 after he was ambushed by gunmen who attacked his car as he made his way to his office.

"We are among the first Arab countries to open an embassy in Baghdad as a sign of our deep belief in the need to support Iraq and help it regain its natural standing among Arab and Muslim countries," Al Khalifa said.

According to the news agency, the Iraqi premier said that Bahrain's move to appoint an ambassador and to open an embassy in Baghdad "paved the way for other Arab countries" to maintain diplomatic missions in Baghdad.