Bahrain to impose visa on Qatari nationals

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday directed authorities to impose visa on Qatari nationals to ensure the Kingdom’s openness is not misused to harm its security and stability.

“Visas should be imposed on visitors from Qatar as Bahrain is most affected by the wrong policies of Qatar,” HM the King said while chairing the regular weekly Cabinet Session at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday.

Praising the Kingdom’s openness to tourists and visitors, HM the King called on authorities to take measures against jeopardising the security and stability of the Kingdom by exploiting its openness.

HM the King, however, said that the tight security procedures will not be applied to visitors from other GCC countries who enter the country with ID cards.

“Defeating and eliminating terrorism are a priority,” HM the King said, adding that Bahrain will remain an oasis of security and stability, and will confront every cowardly action aimed at destabilising its security and stability with firmness and force.

“Security can be maintained through tightening entry and residence procedures and imposition of visas,” HM said. Qatar is implementing policies that target the security of GCC member states, the King said.

Executive-Legislature

Turning to the Executive-Legislature relations, HM lauded cooperation between the two branches, affirming that their collaboration has yielded fruitful results in terms of gains and achievements that benefit the interests of the nation and serve the citizens.

HM urged more cooperation between the Executive and Legislature to optimise gains, boost the democratic process and support development and nation-building efforts.

HM King Hamad tackled regional and global issues, and the challenges facing the region and its stability, including interference in its affairs. In this regard, HM the King stressed keenness to ensure that the march of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remains strong and cohesive, noting that time has come to take more firm actions against those resorting to foreign sides to threaten brotherly countries and put their safety at risk.

Condemned

The session strongly condemned the terrorist act that had targeted a police bus on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman highway near Jidhafs, resulting in the death of a policeman and the injury of several others. The cabinet extended deepest condolences to the relatives of the policeman, and wished the wounded speedy recovery.

The session stressed that the government will track down the terrorists, confront their cowardly acts firmly and forcefully and bring them to justice.  The cabinet lauded the huge sacrifices made by the brave security personnel, and praised the efforts they are putting for the sake of maintaining the Kingdom’s security and stability. 

Freeze membership of Qatar in GCC: Shaikh Khalid

Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has hailed HM’s address, saying that “it dots the i’s and crosses the t’s”. The minister called for freezing the membership of Qatar in the GCC “as long as it continues its hostile policies in the region.” “Bahrain will not attend a summit and sit with Qatar, which is approaching Iran day after day and bringing foreign forces and these are dangerous steps against GCC countries’ security,” he said on Twitter.

“If Qatar believes that its delay and its current evasion will buy it time until the next summit of the GCC, it is wrong. If the situation remains as it is, it is a summit that we will not attend.”