Erdogan: Turkey, Bahrain to work for regional stability

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Sunday that his country would work in cooperation with Bahrain for the “stability, peace, and future of the region.”

His remarks came in Bahrain’s capital Manama — the first leg of his four-day, three-nation Gulf tour.

Erdogan was honored by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with the medal of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Read: Turkey to extend anti-piracy naval mission in Gulf of Aden for additional year

“I receive this medal as a sign of the brotherhood between Turkey and Bahrain peoples,” Erdogan said conveying his thanks to the King.

President Erdogan and Bahrain’s King held a tete-a-tete meeting in addition to committee meetings in which the two countries signed memoranda of understanding in the fields of education, economy, energy, and defense.

Erdogan’s official visit to Bahrain is part of Turkey’s drive to forge economic ties across the Gulf countries including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Chief of General Staff of Turkey, Hulusi Akar (R) and Turkey’s Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan (L) are seen as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not seen) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (not seen) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Chief of General Staff of Turkey, Hulusi Akar (R) and Turkey’s Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan (2nd R) are seen as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not seen) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (not seen) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik (L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak (L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak (L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkey’s Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci (L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (2nd L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (3rd L) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (2nd L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (3rd L) and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (not seen) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Halil Sağırkaya – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Chief of General Staff of Turkey, Hulusi Akar (3rd L) and Turkey’s Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan (2nd L) is seen as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (6th R) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (4th R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik (2nd R) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak (2nd R) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkey’s Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci (R) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik (L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak (L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak (2nd L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (3rd L) and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (3rd R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkey’s Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci (2nd L) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (3rd R) signs bilateral agreements during meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) meets King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – FEBRUARY 12: King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) presents “Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa Medal” to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) during their meeting in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017. ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )

King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (R) presents “Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa Medal” to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) during their meeting in Manama, Bahrain on February 12, 2017 [Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency]