New chapter of relations opened between Bahrain and Qatar

Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Thursday expressed his determination to open a "new chapter" with Qatar. This was expressed upon his arrival in Doha in a visit aimed at improving bilateral relations.

The ruler of Bahrain was quoted by the Qatar News Agency as saying that Bahrain is ready "to open a new page and to maintain rapprochement between the two sisterly countries."

He added, "We will open the door of cooperation wide vast in various official fields in the political, economic and cultural areas." He asserted that the joint higher committee which was set up at the end of December 1999 to settle the old border dispute amicably is able to "meet the ambitions of the two peoples," in Bahrain and Qatar.

The two rulers are expected to continue talks which had already started during a visit by the ruler of Qatar to Bahrain on December 28, over border disputes because of the Hawar and Fash al-Dubble islands, which are under the control of Bahrain and claimed by Qatar.