BAHRAIN GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Bahrain Names Al Zayani as Next GCC Chief [May 28]
“Bahrain has named Abdul Lateef Bin Rashid Al Zayani as the next secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The nomination announced late on Thursday evening is expected to put an end to a long and mostly silent dispute between Bahrain and Qatar over the issue which had threatened to mar their relations and undermine the six-member GCC alliance. “The decision to nominate Al Zayani came in response to a letter His Majesty King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa received from King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said. “The letter was handed over by Prince Mitab Bin Abdullah Al Saud, Saudi National Guard deputy commander for executive affairs. Bahrain highly values King Abdullah’s mediation and efforts to further enhance relations and strengthen mutual co-operation among GCC countries,” the news agency said..” [Complete Report]
Bahrain Keen to Bolster Co-operation [May 28]
“His Majesty King Hamad yesterday asserted Bahrain’s keenness to strengthen joint co-operation with Germany, hailing solid historical Bahraini-German relations. His Majesty was speaking as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and the Economic Development Board (EDB) Chairman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is on a regional tour. During the meeting, the King welcomed the German Chancellor and her accompanying delegation, expressing his delight over the visit which, he said, reflected the solid and developed relations binding the two friendly countries and their peoples. He also expressed hope that the visit will lay the foundation for stronger bilateral political, economic, commercial and investment co-operation between Bahrain and Germany..” [Complete Report]
Sojitz Faces U.S. Criminal Probe Over Alba Payments [May 28]
“U.S. prosecutors are investigating whether Sojitz Group, a Japanese trading company, paid bribes to employees of Bahrain’s state-owned aluminum producer, according to a court filing in a civil lawsuit. The Justice Department disclosed the criminal probe yesterday in asking a judge to halt a lawsuit by Aluminum Bahrain BSC, known as Alba, against Sojitz. Alba claims Sojitz, which has offices in New York and Houston, paid more than $14.8 million in kickbacks to Alba managers from 1993 to 2006 to secure discounts on aluminum prices. “The United States has a direct and substantial interest in this case, as the subject matter giving rise to this case is also the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation,” Adam Safwat, assistant chief of the Justice Department’s fraud section, wrote in a memo filed in federal court in Houston..” [Complete Report]
Bahraini Minister Says Oil Line Figures Into Refining Plans [May 28]
“An improved global financial climate means that the designs and planning for a new oil pipeline to Bahrain from Saudi Arabia will appear later this year after an earlier delay, according to a senior Bahraini official. “We are today placed in a very inflationary environment but we have taken the challenges head-on and reacted proactively to retain our competitive edge and stay on course for continued growth and earnings in line with market expectations,” said Bahrain’s Oil and Gas Affairs Minister Abdul Hussein Mirza. Mirza also told delegates at Middle East Petrotech 2010 in Bahrain that the projected pipeline, which is expected to help Bahrain expand its refining operations, will use a safer route than the existing pipeline between the two countries. Delegates also heard from Mirza that Bahrain is looking at its refining capacity beyond 2012 to help give the country a competitive advantage and make it better positioned to capture future market opportunities..” [Complete Report]
