Manama: Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have reiterated strong support for each other’s stability and security as “firm and consistent positions within their policies”.
The pledge was renewed during a one-day visit by Bahrain’s Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa to Riyadh for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.
“HRH Prince Salman, the Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister reiterated the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Bahrain in all matters that preserve its security, stability and sovereignty,” Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported. “HRH Prince Salman stressed that this support is a robust and steady position within the Saudi policy.”
In a statement, Prince Khalifa said that Bahrain “stresses its firm and strong support to the sister state of Saudi Arabia on all measures it takes to preserve its security and boost its stability as it faces terrorism and endeavours to eradicate its roots”.
According to official reports from both capitals, the meeting addressed bilateral relations and ways to broaden them.
Bahrain is keen on bolstering coordination with Saudi Arabia on all issues, especially broadening bilateral cooperation in all areas and expanding their common views and objectives, Prince Khalifa said, quoted by BNA.
The two sides reiterated their full support for the initiative announced by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to move the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from the stage of cooperation to the stage of a union within a single entity, saying that it would consolidate security and stability in the region and bolster political and economic achievements, BNA said.
The call for the Gulf union was issued by the Saudi monarch in December 2011 at the GCC summit hosted by his country.
The proposal was welcomed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the six members of the GCC set up in 1981 in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
However, while officials in Manama and Riyadh showed the greatest enthusiasm for the move, their counterparts in other GCC capitals requested more time to study the finer details.
The reports added that Prince Khalifa and Prince Salman also reviewed the latest developments in the region and agreed on the need to converge positions and views.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are linked by the 25-kilometre long King Fahd Causeway inaugurated in November 1986.
