Bahrain Parrots Riyadh on Iran Deal, looks to Obama to extend Free Pass on Rights Abuse

Bahrain welcomes deal for sake of banishing mass destruction proliferation spectre
24 November, 2013 – BNA

Manama, Nov 24 (BNA): Bahrain’s relations with the international community are not built on provisional regional alliances and do not place Iran and Israel in the same category, the foreign minister said.
“We have an Arab and historic conflict with Israel as there is a people that have been chased out of its lands and we are endeavouring to establish its Palestinian state, whereas we have diplomatic relations with Iran as a significant neighbour. We do not place the two countries at the same level under any label,” Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said.

The minister who was speaking at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in the Bahraini capital Manama said that Bahrain was keen on positive relations based on good neighbourliness, mutual respect and non-interference in the domestic affairs of between Bahrain, Iran and the other countries.

“We do not change allies like we are in a market. We look for stability with our neighbours,” he said.

Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain welcomed Iran’s nuclear agreement with the world powers to keep it in check.

“This is an important agreement that will eventually serve stability and defuse any imminent crisis.”
Shaikh Khalid expressed hope the agreement would help banish the spectre of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and end concerns about the existence of such weapons be they in Iran or any other state in the region.

The minister denied claims that Bahrain had concerns about Iran striking a nuclear deal with the 5+1 world power countries, saying there is a new beginning to restore stability and calm to the region.

Referring to the Bahraini Turkish relations, he said that Manama and Ankara had well-anchored ties that have developed throughout the times and in the political, economic, cultural and tourism areas.

“Turkey is highly significant to us and we look forward to developing our relations in all fields,” Shaikh Khalid said.

The minister said that Bahrain was grateful to Turkey for its support in confronting the events that had occurred in the kingdom, adding that Ankara was among the capitals that stressed the sovereignty of the country and rejected any form of interference in its internal affairs. …more