Concrete steps should be taken by the Gulf countries to make the union project come true, said Bahraini Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa yesterday. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Gulf Press Association Conference in Manama. “Unity will protect our future and make us a strong entity in the international arena,” he said. “Our nations have shared historic bonds in the past and the present.” Sheikh Khalifa received yesterday editors in chief of Gulf newspapers at the conference. “The past has taught us to be united … Gulf countries are targeted because of the wealth God has blessed them with,” he said. He said Gulf leaders could invest their resources in building advanced infrastructure and awakening. “It is the responsibility of intellectuals and journalists to keep people informed about the dangers of internal conflicts. They only open the doors for the foreign interference,” he said. Sheikh Khalifa stressed the need to take lessons from what is happening in some Arab states and other places around the world. He praised King Abdullah’s call to Gulf leaders to shift the relations between them from cooperation to the union level. “The king’s vision reflects a long-term perspective about the future and the security of the region,” he said. He explained that unity is the most important weapon available to the Gulf states. “They have proven their ability to stand together on many occasions.” It is the only choice for them and this is what makes their future secure, he added. He called for increased dialogue between the leaders and their nations as this would bring them closer and open the door for fresh ideas. “The situation in the surrounding regions makes it imperative for them to translate the vision of unity into tangible reality.” Source: Arab News