HM King receives Kerry, praises historic bilateral ties

Manama, Apr. 7 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received at the Gudaibiya Palace today, in the presence of HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, on a visit to the Kingdom to take part in the Joint Ministerial Meeting of the GCC Foreign Ministers. HM the King delivered the following keynote speech: "Your Excellency Secretary Kerry, "Distinguished Guests, "It is a great pleasure to welcome you Secretary Kerry and your accompanying delegation to Bahrain. Your visit comes at a crucial time for our region, and the world, and highlights the importance of the deep and longstanding partnership between Bahrain and the United States of America. "This historic relationship between our two nations was born not from agreements between governments, but from the friendship between peoples. It began when, in 1893, a group of courageous Americans travelled to a distant land and set up a hospital that continues to serve our people to this day. In the following decades, this relationship flourished, and today it encompasses security, economic, and cultural ties that continue to develop year after year. "In the late 1940s, we welcomed the establishment of the US Middle East Force in Bahrain, a small naval facility providing communication and logistical support to marine forces in the region. This was the cornerstone upon which the United States security cooperation with Bahrain and the wider region was built. Over the years, our security relationship evolved into what it is today the US Fifth Fleet, based in Manama, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of the vital waters of the Arabian Gulf, working with the GCC commitment for the benefit of international security, trade and commerce. "As a major non-NATO ally, we have engaged in numerous joint military exercises and we joined US forces in military and humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. In addition, we have worked together to secure the waters of the Arabian Gulf, to preserve the strait of Hormuz as the crucial commercial waterway of the region, and to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden. We stood together in combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and worked toward world peace. Perhaps the most important joint operation we took part in was operation desert shield and desert storm to liberate Kuwait, in which the contribution from Bahrain was second only to that of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [To illustrate the importance of our joint efforts, I was once shown a photograph showing four US aircraft carriers all in the territorial waters of Bahrain at the same time during the liberation of Kuwait.] The largest naval commitment ever. "Meanwhile, trade between Bahrain and the United States has grown considerably since the implementation of our bilateral free trade agreement in 2006 due in no small part to the diversified nature of the Bahraini economy, and we look forward to enhancing our trade ties in the coming years. "All of this is but a small part of our strong and growing partnership, And as the region is going through a difficult period fighting extremism and terrorism, our continued partnership is essential in facing these challenges. "In looking forward to strengthening our historic relationship with the United States in the years to come, I would like to reiterate that this relationship remains, as it always was, a core interest of the Kingdom of Bahrain. And Despite misperceptions about our relationship in recent years, I assure you Secretary Kerry, that as the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Admiral William Crowe said "Pound for pound, Bahrain has been and continues to be America's best friend in the region." "Secretary Kerry, we welcome you and your delegation once again to the Kingdom, wishing you and your team a successful and productive visit to the region. "Thank You very much." Then, the US State Secretary delivered the following statement in which he conveyed to HM the King and the audience greetings from US President Barack Obama and the American people who, he said are "grateful for the strength" of relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also expressed thanks to the Foreign Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, whom he described as a "solid interlocutor", and a good friend with whom he had worked for many years. "Your Majesty, we face, obviously, enormous challenges, and you've just articulated many of them, and I will agree with what Admiral Crowe said 'Pound for pound, Bahrain has been and continues to be America's best friend in the region.' Bahrain is making enormous contributions to this effort. We have challenges ahead of us still, and you know them." "I salute the steps you took beginning in 2001 with the National Action Charter and the work you've done through commissions, through the HRH the Crown Prince and others to try to move the political process forward," he said, highlighting the kingdom's "genuine commitment" to going ahead with progress. Secretary Kerry expressed gratitude to the kingdom for its contributions to the war in Afghanistan and the International Coalition to fight Daesh, adding that a lot could be done in the future regarding those issues. "Let me confirm to you and all who listen that the United States and Bahrain have a strong and solid commitment to fighting against terrorism together, to fighting extremism, to working on the economic transformations, the diversification that you are looking for and to seeing this relationship strengthen long into the future, and we thank you for your commitment to that," he said. HM King Hamad and Secretary Kerry reviews the long-standing bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them for the best interests of the two friendly countries and their peoples. They also discussed the major regional and international developments, as well as efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. HM the King reiterated Bahrain's support to efforts to strengthen the pillars of security and stability in the region and worldwide, valuing highly the role played by the US administration in maintaining regional stability and serving global peace issues. HM King Hamad hosted a lunch banquet in honour of the US Secretary of State.