Bahrain's achievements highlighted in US

Manama, May 23 (BNA): The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington hosted the Ambassador of Bahrain to the US, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, in a discussion on Bahrain's achievements and their relation to the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the US. The discussion is part of the series organised by the institute to host the ambassadors of the Arab Gulf countries separately. Shaikh Abdullah briefed them on the great developmental achievements by Bahrain, which are the result of the reform approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the reflection of these achievements on economic and social development indicators, as well as the basic role of the Bahraini society with its rich cultural heritage and diversity, creating a tolerant social environment in which different sects and religions coexist. He also discussed the distinguished strategic partnership between the Bahrain and the US, and his aspiration to enhance bilateral relations at various levels, stressing the need to grant Bahrain an exemption from the customs tariff issued by the US Administration on imports from steel and aluminum. Shaikh Abdullah discussed the situation and developments in the region and conveyed the official stances of the Kingdom, expressing his country's support for the US president's decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement. He called on all other signatory countries to take similar steps, and praised the US decision to resume harsh sanctions against the Iranian regime after it saw that the agreement did not change Iran's destructive policies in the region and its continued support for terrorism, nor did it address the Iranian regime's ballistic missile programme. The US also saw Iran's support for terrorist militias in the region, and its continued attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of its neighbours. The President of the Arab Gulf States Institute, Marcelle M. Wahba, honoured the ambassador and thanked him for speaking at the discussion and for his continued interest in consolidating relations between the embassy and the institute. The discussion was attended by a large number of officials and experts from the State Department, think tanks, universities, companies and other non-governmental organisations.