HRH Premier receives GCC, Arab ambassadors

Manama, Nov. 25. (BNA) – His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has been congratulated by GCC and Arab leaders on his safe return to Bahrain following the successful medical tests he underwent recently. This came as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace today a delegation of ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of GCC and Arab countries to Bahrain, led by the Kuwaiti Ambassador and Dean of Diplomatic Corps Shaikh Azzam Mubarak Al Sabah. Saudi Ambassador Abdulla bin Abdul Malik Al-Shaikh delivered a statement on behalf of the delegation, in which he congratulated HRH Premier on his safe return. He also congratulated him on the strong emotions expressed by the crowds of citizens when they welcomed back, which, he said, proves the Bahraini people's love and loyalty to him, and the existing cohesion between the leadership and people in Bahrain. He asserted that HRH Premier's return on the eve of the parliamentary and municipal elections had filled the hearts of the Bahraini citizens with utmost joy and happiness and increased their optimism, praying Allah Almighty to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain, the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. HRH Premier expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the GCC ambassadors for their noble feelings, and asked them to convey his sincere thanks and greetings to GCC leaders and heads of governments. HRH the Prime Minister reviewed with the ambassadors the situation in the Arab World, noting that Arab countries should "put aside" and overcome their differences, and focus their efforts on the Palestinian issue, Arabs' major cause. He expressed optimism of the "new awakening", inaugurated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud through reaching, along with other GCC leaders, the " Riyadh Supplementary Agreement", which, he said, will usher in a new phase of GCC and Arab unity. HRH Premier urged expediting efforts to strengthen cooperation among Arab countries in order to be able to counter attempts to subvert regional security and stability. He called for the need to consolidate stability across the Arab World, stressing that the region "has suffered from instability for long, and can no longer withstand further violence."