FM Babacan visits Bahrain

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday traveled to Bahrain to hold separate meetings with its Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa. Afterwards, Babacan said that they had discussed regional and international developments such as Gaza, and how to promote peace between Hamas and Israel. Calling the situation in Palestine "delicate," he added that failing to discuss problems in a broad framework is the main problem plaguing the current cease-fire between the two sides. Decrying the blockade on Gaza, Babacan branded it a "punishment" which should be ended as soon as possible. "We must have a permanent solution," he added.