A Final statement on Mero's visit to Bahrain
The following final statement was issued on Thursday in conclusion of the visit made by the Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Mero.
At the invitation of Bahrain's prime minister Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa, the Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Mero held an official visit to Bahrain on September 20 and 21.
The Emir of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa met with Mero and his companions and stressed the strong relations linking Syria and Bahrain.
For his part, Mero asked greetings of President Bashar al-Assad to the Emir of Bahrain Sheikh Issa al-Khaleifa with the best wishes for the progress and prosperity of the people of Bahrain and good health and happiness for its ruler.
The two states premiers held a bilateral meeting at the court of the Bahraini Premier and this meeting was followed by a plenary meeting attended by high ranking officials representing the two sides during which the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and areas of coordination and cooperation. The two states stressed their care to strengthen these relations and developing them in all areas for the interests of the two " sisterly " peoples at the directives of President Bashar al-Assad and Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa.
The two sides set up a joint higher Syrian- Bahraini joint committee chaired by their two prime ministers to back coordination and cooperation in the economic, investment, the media, cultural and tourism areas. They also agreed the importance of intensifying their meetings and contacts.
The two sides signed the following agreements: the establishment of the joint higher committee; an air transport agreement; an agreement on avoiding double taxation and preventing escape of income tax; an agreement to encourage and protect investment, a tourism co-operation agreement and an agreement to found a joint council for businessmen in the two countries.
After they reviewed issues of concern to the Arab nation, the two sides stressed the need of restoring back Arab solidarity through the Arab League and its national role in unifying Arab ranks. They in this regard stressed the importance of convening an Arab summit to purify Arab atmospheres, backing the Arab nation's causes and preserving higher national interests.
The two sides also expressed their backing to Damascus declaration in being one of the Arab joint work tributaries which strengthen inter- Arab solidarity and contribute to developing various areas of joint coordination and cooperation.
The two sides discussed the ME peace process developments and stressed that just and comprehensive peace can be only attainable through total implementation of international legitimacy resolutions especially UN resolutions 242 and 338 provide for Israel's complete withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories of 1967. The Bahraini side, in this regard, expressed total backing to Syria's unwavering stand on the need of Israel's complete withdrawal from the Golan until June 4, 1967 border lines.
The two sides also expressed their full backing to the national rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to return back, self determination and the establishment of their own independent state with Jerusalem as a capital, according to UN resolutions concerned.
On the regional level the two sides reviewed developments taking place in the Arab Gulf region. They stressed the need of strengthening security and stability in this area through mutual honoring and respect and non- intervention in the internal affairs, giving up resorting power and settling disputes by peaceful means.
In order to achieve peace and security in the Middle East and the Arab Gulf regions, the two sides called on the international community to make this area free from all mass destruction weapons, especially the nuclear weapons.
Mero extended an invitation to his Bahraini counterpart to visit Syria at his convenience and the invitation was cordially accepted.
Following his visits to Bahrain's institute for banking and financial studies and Bahrain's national Museum, Mero and his companions left Bahrain for Damascus and was officially seen off.