US President George W. Bush is keen to forge close personal ties with Bahrain’s emir, Sheikh Hamad Al Khalifa, Bush’s top Mideast advisor said ahead of the emir’s visit to Washington.
“President Bush values Shaikh Hamad’s wise counsel and looks forward to developing a special relationship that will mirror the very close one between our two countries,” special assistant to the President and senior director for Near East and North African Affairs Bruce Riedel told the Gulf Daily News.
“The US and Bahrain have been close friends for 50 years,” he said.
"President Bush considers this visit to be very significant, for it allows our two leaders to review the many issues, bilateral and regional, that concern both countries," Riedel told the paper.
He stressed that the US and Bahrain shared a common vision of a peaceful, stable Middle East, whose citizens enjoyed the freedom to create prosperity and opportunity for themselves and their families.
“We expect to discuss the situation between Israelis and Palestinians and what we are doing to find a just and peaceful settlement for both peoples. We expect to discuss the situation in the Gulf as well.
“President Bush especially believes that the US-Bahraini security partnership is critical to maintaining peace in the region," he told the paper.
Bahrain provides the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet with a headquarters, and the US military and Bahraini forces train and exercise together throughout the year, said the paper – Albawaba.com
