ARABIALINK Daily News – Bahrain – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
US Naval Facility in Bahrain to Double in Size [May 27]
“The US has launched a $580 million expansion of its naval facilities in Bahrain in a clear indication of its intention to boost its presence in the region. The military construction project will develop 70 acres on the waterfront to support US and coalition ships and personnel and will include utilities infrastructure, a consolidated port operations and harbour patrol facility, personnel barracks, administrative buildings, dining facility and a flyover bridge connecting Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain to the new port facilities, the Navy said. The massive project is scheduled to be completed in 2015. “The presence of the US Navy is important in the region because it provides the needed stability in order for the GCC countries to prosper,” Adam Ereli, the US ambassador to Bahrain, said. “It’s also important that our presence remains constant in the region in light of existing threats and if anyone suggests that we are afraid or hesitant to place our mark here, they are wrong and they can just look at this project because it symbolises our intent to expand our presence..” [Complete Report]
HRH Premier and Merkel Hold Official Talks [May 27]
“His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa today held official talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Gudaibiya Palace in the presence of the two countries’ delegations. During the talks, the Kingdom of Bahrain called for the establishment of a Joint Bahraini-German Committee for economic, trade and technical cooperation and increase of the trade balance between the two countries. The kingdom also called for promoting political dialogue and economic partnership between GCC states and the European Union through carrying on the negotiations aiming to sign a Free Trade Agreement between them. The two sides agreed to coordinate at international gatherings and consolidate diplomatic collaboration..” [Complete Report]
