Bahrain welcomes Obama's ideas for peace, says minister

Manama: Bahrain has welcomed President Barack Obama's ideas on solving the Arab-Israeli conflict, saying that taking the hand of friendship he has extended to the Muslim world will help ease tension and end violence in the region.

“The Muslim world should reciprocate President Barack's friendship gesture for the sake of the parties' interests and dismissing the logic of conflicts and violence,'' foreign minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa has said.

In a statement to the Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain “welcomed the ideas put forward by President Barack Obama during his interview with Al Arabiya.''

“President Obama stressed his interest in the Arab peace initiative and in the peace process in the Middle East and highlighted a wish to work with the Arab states and Israel to achieve a just, durable and comprehensive solution for the region,'' Shaikh Khalid said.

“We do appreciate the views he expressed during the interview about a Palestinian state that is contiguous, allows freedom of movement for its people, allows for trade with other countries, and allows the creation of businesses and commerce so that people have a better life.''

Obama, in his first interview with an Arab media, said that he was looking forward to peace being achieved in the region, but insisted that he would not put a time frame for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The US leader, who took office last week, said that the peace initiative put forth by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was “significant'' and “took great courage,'' even though he “might not agree with every aspect of the proposal.''

However, he said that he was committed to a new approach to addressing the conflict that has plagued the region for six years.

“If we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress,'' he said.

Yes it is good what Obama has said. The question is always the US talking about peace. I think peace will not come until Israel ends the the battle in Palestine.
Abdul
Zwolle,Netherlands
Posted: January 29, 2009, 13:14