Crown Prince's visit to Russia commended

Manama, May4 (BNA)His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister has heralded a new chapter in the relations bonding Bahrain and Russia. Minister of State for Information Affairs and Government's Official Spokesperson Sameera Ebrahim bin Rajab commended the visit, describing it a major catalyst to bolster bilateral relations. She affirmed Bahrain's drive to strengthen joint relations and promote cooperation with all countries in the world. Commenting on the US reaction, she said that nothing justifies any external criticism of the visit. "Russia is a superpower which continues to play a pivotal political role in the regional", she said, stressing the importance of the visit which aimed mainly at bolstering constructive international relations. In a statement in the aftermath of the weekly Cabinet session, she said that Bahrain is free from Coronavirus, pointing out that all precautionary measures had been taken to avert any potential (Mers-CoV) outbreak. She stressed the Government's directives to take all required preventive measures to avert any outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-CoV) . "HRH the Premier is following up all precautionary measures with the Health Minister", she said, pointing out health statements which are issued to reassure the public opinion. The minister pointed out that the ministerial probe committee in charge of investigating the blaze which broke out at a facility located at the Information Affairs Authority has yet to release its report. She announced that a new-look Bahrain TV programme format would be launched in the last quarter of this year (2014), as part of the five-year media development strategy. She paid tribute to His Majesty the King for the royal initiative, allocating a housing project which would benefit journalists. Commenting on the scheme, she revealed that she had since held a series of meetings with the Housing Minister to finalise the project. "The two ministries will issue a joint statement highlighting the steps which have been undertaken to implement the royal initiative", she said. The minister stressed the Government's keenness on addressing the stalled construction projects, pointing out that the focus would be on put on mega real estate schemes in the private sector. A H N