HRH Premier receives former Turkish president

Manama, Sept. 15 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has warned of the highly-dangerous consequences of the critical situation the region is currently going through, stressing that dealing with such complex developments will never be effective unless the Arab and Islamic nations join ranks and step up joint action. The current level of international cooperation in this regard does not match the size of the threats posed to the region, and their extremely serious consequences on its countries and peoples, he said. "The current situation requires reinforcing domestic security amid the internal and external terrorism we are facing, the non-stop foreign interference in our internal affairs, and the volatile region in which we exist," he affirmed. "Those who criticise the way we deal with terrorist threats have to put in mind the way they respond to whoever violates the law while demanding their rights by immediately putting them in the terrorism list," he said. "How can we accept the equation under which whoever breaks their laws is considered a terrorist who deserves maximum punishment, while those violating our laws and mobilising those seeking evil to Bahrain are considered persons who are demanding their rights?" HRH Premier inquired. HRH the Prime Minister made the statements as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace today former Turkish President Abdullah Gül, who praised his wisdom, statesmanship and far-sighted visions thanks to which, he said, Bahrain has become a role model of development despite the challenges it is facing because of terrorism and its conflict-stricken surrounding. He affirmed that the progress boom witnessed by the kingdom despite challenges indicates the wisdom of the mastermind of the country's advancement march and his outstanding ability to turn obstacles into development opportunities. HRH Premier and the former Turkish President reviewed the latest regional and global situation, and urged unified stances, particularly among Islamic countries, amid some developments that increase the ambitions in the region and enhance their ability to undermine its security, stressing that adopting unified stances is the best response to any ambitions. The two sides affirmed that some policies have produced a new reality in which terrorism has become more detrimental than ever, noting that terrorism used to be besieged, but now its scope has widened and it can expand freely taking advantage of the contrived conflicts in some Arab countries. HRH the Prime Minister praised the role played by Turkey as a country with a political and economic weight in its Islamic surrounding, as well as the world. HRH Premier valued highly Turkey's supportive stances towards the kingdom in all circumstances, expressing hope that the Bahraini-Turkish cooperation in the investment and economic fields will be boosted in the near future.