Minister affirms Bahrain’s solidarity with Qatar in abductees' case

Manama, Dec. 22 (BNA): The Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa voiced the Kingdom of Bahrain’s deep concern over the case of the brotherly citizens of the State of Qatar who were kidnapped in southern Iraq though they have entered the country in a legal way and without committing any violations. This came in a telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and his Iraqi counterpart Dr. Ibrahim Al Jaffari. During the conversation, the Minister pointed that the Iraqi government ought to assume its responsibility and take the necessary crucial procedures for the safe release of the abductees and their return unharmed to the brotherly State of Qatar. During the conversation, the two ministers also reviewed a number of issues of common concern. In the same context, the minister held a telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah during which he reiterated the full solidarity of the Kingdom of Bahrain with the State of Qatar in whatever procedures the latter would take to free its citizens who have been kidnapped in the south of the Republic of Iraq in flagrant violation of all moral and humanitarian values. Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa revealed that the Kingdom was monitoring closely and with deep concern the developments of this case which represents a dangerous and unacceptable first that may negatively impact bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries unless the brothers join their efforts to ensure the immediate and safe release of the abductees as well as non-occurrence of such dangerous acts in the future.