Bahrain Mirror: The Ambassador of Bahrain to Iraq, Salah Al-Maliki, held a press conference with the Iraqi Al-Ghad Press Agency, during which he talked about the most important matters in the relations between the two countries. He said that he was assigned by Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa to establish a joint committee between Bahrain and Iraq , pointing out that it is currently being formed with the aim of achieving cooperation in various fields of security, media, banking, trade, agriculture etc.

While the ambassador said that "the issue of non-extradition of wanted terrorists to Bahrain may affect some of the steps going forward," he implicitly denied the existence of any Iraqis wanted by the Iraqi government on Bahrain territory.

Al-Maliki said that "some of the terrorist elements wanted by Bahrain, who fled to Iraq joined the popular mobilization forces, and are proud of this as expressed in video clips posted on social media outlets," noting that the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi ordered investigating the matter, rejecting the presence of foreigners in the popular mobilization forces, who are affiliated to the state.

When asked about Bahrain's harboring of persons wanted in Iraq, including former members of the repressive apparatuses of the Iraqi Saddam regime who have taken refuge in Bahrain, and the reports about them being naturalized by the Kingdom of Bahrain and employed in security jobs, and the reason why they are not being handed over to Iraq, he said: "First of all, let me assure you that Bahrain have not and will not be a country that exports evil to its regional and international environment. As for Iraq, there are no wanted Iraqis residing in Bahrain. There is no person in Bahrain who is insulting Iraq, and there is is not even a person in Bahrain who openly expresses his animosity towards Iraq. We do not allow anyone to hold exhibitions for certain victims. That is why we hope that Iraqi officials will investigate what has been taking place in Karbala over the past years, (referring to photo galleries of martyrs). Why does this occur and whose interest does it serve?"

Arabic Version