Minister of Foreign Affairs bin Ahmad al-Khalifa Khalid of Bahrain

Asked about the Asian Cooperation Dialogue Forum, Sheikh Khalid said it differed from other regional unions and groups which were politically-based, citing as an example the African Union which had such unresolved issues as the Western Sahara because the union was built on a political basis.

From this standpoint, Sheikh Khalid said the Asian forum got off on a better foot, adding that he was optimistic that it would achieve its goals.

Sheikh Khalid said that previously, it was proposed that memberships would continue to be accepted until 2010 and then suspended for five years after that, but this would have hindered the work of the experts.

The proposal is on the agenda of the Arab League and I have been heavily engaged in consultations with brothers and friends since I announced it, Shaikh Khalid said in a television debate on Saturday evening.

Addressing the Manama Dialogue, a regional security conference in the Bahraini capital, Shaikh Khalid said that the creation of the forum stemmed from a firm conviction in the importance of dialogue and enhanced cooperation.

During the debate, Shaikh Khalid said moves towards the creation of the regional forum would be expanded internationally because Arabs tend to move rather slowly amid mistakes.

Western Sahara because the union was built on a political basis.

better foot, adding that he was optimistic that it would achieve its goals.

that, but this would have hindered the work of the experts.

The ministry in a statement on Wednesday evening admitted that Shaikh Khalid met Israels Tzipi Livni in New York last week on the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly, but stressed that it was not a normalisation of ties with Israel and that the talks were within the confines set by the Arab League to explore peace possibilities with all concerned parties.