Bahrain: solving regional crises should be via influential Arab states

MANAMA, Dec 10 (KUNA) -- Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh khaled Al-Khalifa said Saturday the best methods to solve regional problems should take place through influential Arab countries, like the GCC States, Jordan and Egypt.
Solving crises of the region should take place through major and influential countries like Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in additon to Egypt and Jordan with the objective of spreading peace and security, Sheikh Khaled said in his speech before the Manama Dialogue.
He hoped Iraq would return to the Arab fold "because it is one of the major countries and influential force in the region." He added that strength, unity and stability of Iraq "is crucial to the stability of the whole region." Sheikh Khaled meanwhile commended fruitful outcome of the recent GCC summit that was held in Manama, and would give a great push to defense and security cooperation among the six GCC countries.
"The results of the summit will also push for further economic integration," he said.
Sheikh Khaled also commended the outcome of the GCC-Britain summit, during which the two sides showed great desire to expand economic and security cooperation.
On Iraq, the Bahraini foreign minister said the Islamic Republic's policies should change in order to have transparent and serious relations with regional countries.
For her part, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen called for the establishment of a real partnership between the European Union (EU) and regional countries to confront terrorism and extremism.
"Security means more partnership in addition to paying more attention to economy which will bring about success to efforts against extremism," she said.
Germany, said von der Leyen, was bolstering security cooperation with regional countries with the objective of fighting terrorism.
Recent elections in the West have showed how Islamophobia was on the rise, which was counter to efforts countering extremism, she said.
The West, she added, needed to show how Islam was a faith of love, tolerance and peace.
She warned against the so-called Islamic State's (IS) use of internet.
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said extremism was a common enemy.
He said France suffered from terrorism on its lands over the past two years, during which IS killed innocent people.
Le Drian said France was committed to helping its friends in the region in the fight against extremism, citing the military operations against IS in Iraq. (end) mge.bs