Clinton, Bahrain prince discuss Middle East
AFP
WASHINGTON- The tense post-election climate in Iran and the Middle East peace process topped talks Friday between US diplomacy chief Hillary Clinton and Bahrain's crown prince, the State Department said.
But State Department spokesman PJ Crowley did not indicate whether Clinton had formally requested that Bahrain normalize its relations with Israel as part of a bid for comprehensive peace between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors to boost stalled Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
Clinton's conversation with Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, he said, is "certainly" a part of such efforts by President Barack Obama's administration.
"I think that we have a recognition that the Israelis, the Palestinians -- all parties in this process -- have a significant role to play," said Crowley.
The Obama administration announced earlier this week it was sending an ambassador to Damascus after a four-year absence "because we recognize that there are a variety of countries here that will have roles to play," Crowley said.
"And we want to make sure that we have the right conditions in the region so that this negotiation can be restarted."
Sheikh Salman and Clinton also discussed Iraq, among a "variety of regional issues," the spokesman said.
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