Sectarian divide has created a schism in our society that is a major challenge. As monarch of all Bahrainis, it pains me to see many harmed by the actions of a few. And yet I am optimistic and have faith in our people. We all realize that now is the time to strike a balance between stability and gradual reform.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Iran has had a very harmful effect in a variety of ways in the region... fomenting unrest to a degree in Saudi Arabia, undoubtedly in Bahrain, and definitely in Yemen with Hamas, with Lebanese Hezbollah among other activities in locations.

David Petraeus

It is a natural goal of Iran to try and expel the Fifth Fleet from Bahrain.

Elliott Abrams

Al Qaeda's message that violence, terrorism and extremism are the only answer for Arabs seeking dignity and hope is being rejected each day in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and throughout the Arab lands.

Elliott Abrams

Look at what the Omar of Qatar is doing, for example - the King of Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain. There are reform movements taking place, efforts to broaden the political participation of the populations of the region.

Frank Carlucci

May Allah guide us to the good of the kingdom of Bahrain and its loyal people.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Bahrain 's margin of freedom is growing day after day as we head into the future with steady steps.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Bahrain is very dear to me.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

There are no 'political prisoners' as such in Bahrain. People are not arrested because they express their views, we only have criminals.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

We have evidence that a number of Bahrainis who oppose our government are being trained in Syria. I have seen the files and we have notified the Syrian authorities, but they deny any involvement.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

The Bahraini people are eager to obtain facts to enable them to shape a comprehensive national opinion without division among its people. We confirm to all journalists and media personnel in the kingdom of Bahrain that their freedom is preserved and their rights are safeguarded.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Bahrain lies at the epicenter of Gulf security and any violent upheaval in Bahrain would have enormous geopolitical consequences. Global economic stability depends on the uninterrupted export of crude oil from the Gulf to markets around the world - a job that historically has been assigned to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

In a sense there is no 'opposition' in Bahrain, as the phrase implies one unified block with the same views. Such a phrase is not in our constitution, unlike say the United Kingdom. We only have people with different views and that's ok.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

I care about Bahrain. Bahrain is very dear to me. I will not allow people to play around with our laws.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Bahrainis are better off than many other Arabs. We have a welfare state, everybody gets a salary whether they have a job or not. Electricity and food are subsidized; school and healthcare are free. And we don't differentiate between Bahrainis and foreigners. We are very proud of that.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

The decision to open up Bahrain to embrace all people indiscriminately was fostered in me ever since I was a child.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

The reform process began with the historic consensus on the Charter of National Action, in which the Bahraini people decided on a new chapter of their history.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Sectarian divide has created a schism in our society that is a major challenge. As monarch of all Bahrainis, it pains me to see many harmed by the actions of a few. And yet I am optimistic and have faith in our people. We all realize that now is the time to strike a balance between stability and gradual reform.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Along with our friends in the GCC, the first order of business is stability. Beyond the imperative of stability, the most important priority is job creation for all Bahrainis.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

We invite American companies looking to raise capital to list on the Bahrain Stock Exchange. The region has a liquidity oversupply approximating $1 trillion and this pool of capital can be tapped into by creative American companies. The next Facebook may very well get funded on the BSE.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

There is no ethnic cleansing in Bahrain, no mass genocide, no policy of killing innocent people.

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa