His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has stressed Bahrain’s steadfast support for all efforts to achieve security, stability, development and peace in Yemen.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted the strength of the relationship between the kingdom and Yemen, affirming Bahrain’s commitment to deepening co-operation across various fields in support of mutual aspirations when he received Yemen’s Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Dr Afrah A Al Zouba at Riffa Palace.
During the meeting, a letter addressed to His Majesty King Hamad, written by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council President Dr Rashad Mohammed Al Alimi, was delivered to HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister by Dr Al Zouba.
The meeting also reviewed issues of common interest and the latest regional and international developments.
HRH Prince Salman stressed Bahrain’s steadfast support for all efforts to achieve security, stability, development, and peace in Yemen.
He concluded by extending his congratulations to the minister on her appointment, wishing her every success in her new role.
Dr Al Zouba condemned the unjustified Iranian hostile aggression towards Bahrain and other GCC countries, describing it as a flagrant violation of their sovereignty and a threat to regional security and stability.
She affirmed Yemen’s solidarity with the GCC countries and its support for the measures taken by the member states to safeguard their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Dr Al Zouba expressed her appreciation for HRH Prince Salman’s commitment to strengthening the Bahrain-Yemen relations, wishing the kingdom continued progress and prosperity.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani, Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and senior officials attended the meeting.
Dr Al Zouba, in an exclusive interview with our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej, said Bahrain has played an important role in the coalition supporting Yemen’s legitimate government.
She also praised Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting Yemen economically and humanitarianly, saying the kingdom has helped enable the Yemeni government to run the country’s affairs and protect its borders and territorial waters.
Dr Al Zouba warned of the continuing threat posed by the Houthi group to international shipping in the Red Sea, Bab Al Mandab and the Gulf of Aden.
She said attacks targeting these vital waterways pose a threat to regional and global security and disrupt energy supplies and international trade routes.
She said Iranian support for the Houthis had strengthened their military capabilities and prolonged the Yemeni crisis.
The support, she said, included equipment, technology, military expertise, logistical and financial assistance, as well as political backing.
While stressing that ending Iranian support for the Houthis was important, she said it would not by itself be enough to achieve peace.
She called for the militias to be disarmed and transformed into a political movement, like other Yemeni political and social components, while state authority should be restored throughout the country and the state should retain the sole authority and control over weapons.
Dr Al Zouba reaffirmed the Yemeni government’s commitment to a peace process based on international resolutions, foremost among them UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and the Gulf Initiative.
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