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GULF IN REVIEW

23-28 December 

by
Nikola Zukalová

 

Kingdom of Bahrain
 

Sunday, 23 December—Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, on his visit to the UAE, met with Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai, and Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE’s Armed Forces. During the meeting they reviewed their bilateral relations and ways to continue to develop them.

Monday, 24 December—Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a diplomat from the Iraqi Embassy in response to the participation of former Vice President of Iraq, Noori Al-Maliki, at the inauguration of the 14 February Youth Coalition office in Baghdad, which is blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Bahrain, and Maliki’s hostile statements, which  Bahrain stressed, represented unacceptable interference in the Kingdom’s internal affairs.

Thursday, 27 December—14 Bahrainis were convicted by the High Criminal Court of the establishment, joining and funding of a terrorist group. The cell, linked to the 14 February movement, blacklisted as a terrorist group, carried out terrorist assaults, illegal demonstrations, rioting, and handling of explosive devices in relation to attacking policemen and police station in Sitra. Punishments included one life sentence, several-years in jail for most of the offenders, nine revoked citizenships and some fines.

Thursday, 27 December—The Royal Bahrain Naval Force concluded joint military maritime drills with a contingent from Pakistan’s Navy.

Thursday, 27 December—Bahrain’s Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, received the Vice President of Public Affairs of Huawei Technologies, Mark Xueman, in the presence of Transportation and Telecommunication’s Minister, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed. Crown Prince Salman emphasised the importance of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Bahrain’s economic growth, pointing to Bahrain’s Vision 2030 commitment to enable private sector investment and innovation.

 

State of Kuwait

 

Sunday, 23 December—Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy, Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, arrived in Kuwait to promote enhanced economic cooperation and was received by Kuwait’s Emir, Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, Crown Prince, Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, and Prime Minister, Jabir Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, as well as Kuwait’s Minister of Finance, Dr Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf. During the meetings the officials reviewed bilateral relations and ways to boost economic and development cooperation between Kuwait and Bahrain.