Emir of Bahrain concludes visit to Syria
Syria-Bahrain, Politics, 7/22/1999

The Emir of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al- Khaleifa left Damascus on Wednesday following a two-day official visit to Damascus. He was seen off at the airport by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and high-ranking Syrian officials.

In a statement to reporters Sheikh Hamad said: "We were pleased to meet with President Hafez al-Assad and to discuss during our visit as well as to maintain consultation on bilateral relations and issues of concern to the Arab nation."

Sheikh Hamad added that stress was laid on backing and strengthening the Damascus Declaration, its principles and objectives which call for achieving solidarity and investing all potentials to face challenges that hinder security and stability in the region and achieving economic cooperation among its participating parties. This is to have an inter-Arab economic complex as a nucleus to achieve comprehensive social and economic development in all Arab states.

Concerning the Middle East peace process, the emir of Bahrain said, "We have reviewed changes and developments in the region and expressed our hopes that these developments will be conducive to giving the Middle East peace process a push forward to achieve a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the region and restore all occupied Arab territories according to UN resolutions."

Sheikh Hamad continued: "We have reiterated our call on the international community to work for making the Middle East region, including the Gulf region, free from all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, with the need of Israel's joining the Non -Proliferation Treaty and subjugating its firms to the inspection of the International Atomic Energy Agency."

Sheikh Khaleifa said, "It pleases us, as an expression of what Bahrain has towards President al-Assad of feelings of appreciation to extent to his excellency an invitation to visit the state of Bahrain at any time suiting him in order to continue our consultation to serve the interests of our people and sisterly countries and the interests of the Arab nation."

Sheikh Hamad expressed satisfaction over the results of talks with President al-Assad on supporting joint cooperation between the two countries in all areas promoting all common Arab work. "During this meeting we thoroughly reviewed all aspects of relations between the two countries are areas of cooperation in various fields," he said.

Sheikh Hamad said that in the area of bilateral cooperation, it was agreed to support and strengthen joint cooperation in various economic, investment scientific research, educational, media and tourism fields. He added, "We also agreed on encouraging the role of the private sector in economic development, through intensifying meetings among economic activities and businessmen and finding common mechanisms to open new horizons for vital contacts between the two countries."

During the meeting, bilateral relations were reviewed with emphasis on the importance of joint cooperation concerning security and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad, emir of Bahrain hold talks in Damascus   (7/21/1999)
  Emir of Bahrain arrives in Damascus today   (7/20/1999)

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