Bahrain to reopen embassy in Lebanon after 34-year hiatus

Manama: Bahrain is set to reopen its embassy in Lebanon after a 34-year hiatus, Bahrain's foreign minister has said.

"The political decision has been made, and it will be matter of only a few days," Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said following talks with Lebanon's Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri.

"I have conveyed to Prime Minister Hariri a message from His Majesty King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa on strengthening the deep-rooted and historic ties. There will be numerous new political and economic measures stemming from these special ties, including the re-opening of the Bahraini embassy in Lebanon, the country that we consider the vital heart without which we cannot live," he said in Istanbul where he met the Lebanese premier.

Bahrain opened an embassy in Beirut in 1974, three years after the Arabian Gulf country became independent. However, it shut it down in 1976 as the civil war ravaged the Mediterranean country.

Lebanese officials have recently urged Bahrain to re-open the embassy to boost coordination and cooperation.