His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday stressed the need to steer the region away from further tensions and crisis-mongering.

 

He warned against the current untenable situation, adding that the region has become so volatile that it won't endure any further instability, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

 

"The region has had enough of violence and instability," the Premier said as he received citizens, diplomats, religious figures, journalists and businessmen.

 

He urged all countries to take positive stands to avert further unrest, commending the stability reigning in the GCC countries despite regional upheavals.

 

He affirmed Bahrain's political approach to build constructive relations with all countries and blocs on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

 

He said that "the interests of the countries of the region, without exception, lie in adhering to the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Said to move towards Gulf Union."

 

The Premier also urged all GCC countries to step up efforts to form the Gulf Union.

 

He called for the need to strengthen pan-Arab co-operation to counter plots targeting the region's security and stability.

 

"The interests of the countries of the region, without exception, lies in adhering to the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to move towards the Gulf Union," he said.

 

"What hurts us most is that chaos and instability have spread in some Arab countries that used to be oases of security and role models for development and progress," he said.

 

"Arab citizens are honoured and respected in their countries, probably more than their counterparts in most developed ones. But those who targeted the Arab nation, using democracy as a pretext to interfere in internal Arab affairs, have tended to depict them as individuals who are deprived of their basic human rights, and tackled disturbances as symptoms of a spring and chaos as demands," he said.

 

The Premier was speaking as he received at Gudaibiya Palace scores of citizens, ambassadors, clerics, intellectuals, media persons and businessmen.

 

He asserted that Arab countries had the potential to form a strong political and economic entity.

 

"If there is a strong will and determination to achieve unity, Arab states' ability to face all challenges will increase."

 

The Premier said the challenges faced by the kingdom throughout its history have proved the true mettle of Bahrainis.

 

He praised the "patriotic and honourable" role played by Bahrain's Press, and commended columnists and journalists for moulding public opinion and raising awareness on vital issues. - TradeArabia News Service