Bahrain and Turkey pledged to consolidate relations and promote bilateral ties with a specific focus on political, economic and cultural sectors in addition to possible co-operation in scientific research.
A joint communiqué reaffirming the firm resolve of both countries to bolster cooperation in all fields was issued, following fruitful talks between His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Turkish President Abdulla Gul.
HM the King arrived last Friday in Istanbul on a three-day visit to Turkey at the invitation of President Gul. Hopes are pinned on the key visit to mark a starting point for further coordination, cooperation and solidarity between both countries at different regional and international arenas.
Both countries hope to promote bilateral relations soon to the level of strategic partnership. The two sides discussed the possibility of bolstering political, economic and cultural fields, in addition to scientific research. They also reaffirmed their strong desire to promote security and military cooperation. In this regard, they decided to consolidate cooperation, giving the priority to combating piracy, smuggling, money laundering and human trafficking. Experts from both countries will also step up their contacts towards activating joint agreements in all fields. Bilateral cooperation will be further boosted to include a host of other areas including women, youth, sport, tourism, media, scientific, strategic and security researches. During the session of talks, HM King Hamad outlined reforms strides undertaken in Bahrain over the last ten years, updating the Turkish side on the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) which has been set up to probe the events which happened in Bahrain last February and March. He also spotlighted the reforms endorsed by the National Consensus Dialogue – a crucial step which won the firm backing of Turkey. The Turkish side voiced its support for the reform momentum to continue in Bahrain, describing reforms as quintessential to ensure peace, security and stability in the whole Middle East. Meanwhile, HM King Hamad hailed pivotal role of Turkey as active player to ensure the peaceful settlement of regional problems. In this regard, the two sides voiced deep concerns over mounting concerns and difficult living conditions in Syria. They also called for acts of violence and military operations to stop, stressing the urgency of implementing viable reforms. HM King Hamad invited President Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Bahrain. The Turkish side expressed deep appreciation for the invitation, stressing the importance of preserving strong cordial relations. HM the King thanked the Turkish side for the warm welcome and hospitality, expressing the hope that fraternal relations persist.