Iran, Bahrain Stress Importance of Regional Security

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, August 18, 2002

Iran, Bahrain Stress Importance of Regional Security

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Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and visiting Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Saturday met in Tehran and stressed the need to safeguard security and stability in the Gulf region, the official IRNA news agency reported.

During the meeting, Khatami said "what is crucial for the sensitive region of the Persian Gulf is security and it will be available through close cooperation among the regional states for progress and development on the basis of mutual respect."

Iran and Bahrain have cultural and historical affinity and therefore they should foster closer cooperation in the Gulf, Khatami said.

Terming Iran-Bahrain affinity as "very strong," Khatami said Hamad's visit will help bolster the Tehran-Manama ties to serve bilateral and regional interests.

For his part, Hamad said it is the time for solidarity and consultation between the "brotherly nations" of Iran and Bahrain.

Noting that his visit is aimed at exploring ways of safeguarding regional stability, he said security and stability are of prime importance to the region.

This is the first visit by a Bahraini head of state to Iran since the kingdom gained independence in 1970 when former Iranian King Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi agreed to give up Iran's long-standing claim to Bahrain.

The two Gulf states started to normalize their diplomatic relations following 1997 presidential elections in Iran, which brought reformist President Khatami to power.

Tehran and Manama exchanged ambassadors in January 1999.

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