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Albright, Bahrain

prince discuss

ME, Gulf security

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Wednesday held talks with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, conferring on the Middle East peace process and regional issues including Gulf security.

Albright hosted a lunch for the prince where Iraq, Iran, Gulf security and economic development were discussed as well as attempts to advance the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian peace tracks, State Department spokesman James Rubin told reporters.

He did not elaborate but lavished praise on Bahrain, which is home to the US Fifth Fleet and provided bases to the United States and Britain during the 1991 Gulf War.

"Bahrain is a close friend of the United States with whom we want to consult on a regular basis," Rubin said, noting that Washington had been especially appreciative of the country's recently completed rotation on the UN Security Council.

"It is a key friend and partner in the Gulf," he said, adding that Bahrain's term on the council had been marked by an excellent job of "balancing its Arab responsibilities with its global concerns."ÑAFP