Shura President, Iraqi Speaker discuss cooperation

Manama, May 18 (BNA): Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh today urged Arabs to join ranks so as to withstand challenges and confront the dangerous developments unfolding in the region. "The untenable regional situation and the terror scourge which is spreading its tentacles require collective cooperation to confront mounting dangers", he said as he met Iraqi Parliament President Dr. Salim al-Jabouri, currently on visit to Bahrain. He called on Arabs to join efforts so as to thwart attempts to redraw the region and cause the fragmentation of Arab societies along sectarian and ethnic fault lines to further weaken the Arab states. Al-Saleh hailed long-standing relations bonding Bahrain and Iraq, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, stressing the importance of stepping up cooperation to achieve desired interests. The two sides discussed regional and Arab issues of mutual interest, stressing the importance of bolstering pan-Arab parliamentary relations, being one of the modern diplomatic tools. Dr. al-Jabouri tendered an invitation to Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh to visit Iraq-which he accepted. The meeting was attended by Shura Council First and Second Vice Chairpersons Jamal Mohammed Fakhro and Jameela Ali Salman and other members