By IRNA
Tehran : President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who paid a short visit to Manama, Bahrain on Saturday, said regional countries do not need foreigners to provide security in the Middle East.
In a meeting with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Ahmadinejad said, “Regional security can be provided by independent and advanced countries.”
He continued, “Regional countries have the ability and potentials to provide security in the region by cooperating with each other, without any need to the alien forces.”
The president added, “We can expand economic, political and security cooperation among ourselves and strengthen the ties.” President Ahmadinejad expressed Tehran’s readiness to develop bilateral cooperation with Bahrain government and nation adding “Tehran-Manama ties are historical relations and our commonalities are: Islam, culture and neighborhood.”
The president said, “We welcome progress and development in all countries, especially Bahrain and other Islamic countries.” Ahmadinejad told King of Bahrain, “There would be no limitation to expansion of ties with Bahrain and we are interested in promoting relations.”
President Ahmadinejad heading a high ranking delegation arrived in Manama, Bahrain, Saturday for a short visit before leaving for Saudi Arabia.