Bahrain lauds Turkey's 'constructive' role in Arab countries

Manama: King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa said that Bahrain fully appreciated Turkey's drive to achieve peace and stability in the region.

Turkey's Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin wrapped up a three-day visit to Manama, signing an agreement for inter-parliamentary cooperation. 

Bahrain's speaker of the lower chamber, Khalifa Al Dhahrani, said he was optimistic that the ties between the two countries would steadily increase.

"Such a strategic decision is very important under the current circumstances and during these critical times," he said.

Manama and Ankara have been drawing closer in the wake of a breakthrough visit by King Hamad to Turkey in August 2008.

During his visit to Bahrain last April, Turkish President Abdallah Gul said that Manama and Ankara "shared similar thoughts on world matters and supported each other in the political sphere."

Bahrain and Turkey officially established diplomatic relations on December 4, 1973.