Statement of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi at the demise of His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Amir of the State of Bahrain

March 7, 1999

Upon learning the sudden passing of His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Amir of the State of Bahrain, I should like to extend to the members of the Khalifa Family and the people of the State my most sincere sympathy and condolences, on behalf of the Government and people of Japan.

We highly appreciate the late Amir's great contribution to the State's current prosperity and to the stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region for a long period of thirty seven years since he succeeded the throne in 1961. It is our good memory that His Highness visited Japan in 1991 and deepened the friendly relationship between both countries.

We sincerely wish that the soul of the Amir will rest in peace and that the people of Bahrain will overcome this sorrow. It is also our hope that the people of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the new Amir of the State of Bahrain, will continue to uphold the late Amir's will in pursuing further developments of the State and in making further efforts for the stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region and for the peace in the world.

I firmly believe that the existing friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries will further flourish under the competent guidance of the new Amir.

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