Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned that "the emergence of sectarian and ethnic conflicts" is threatening the internal stability of several countries in the region. He also denounced the "exploitation of social transformation" by groups that call for "extremism". The statements came during a summit in Bahrain on Saturday, where Shoukry met Bahraini Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and discussed common challenges facing both countries. A Foreign Ministry statement said the two sides specifically addressed "the threat of terrorism, which threatens the security, stability and development of the region, and even the whole world". Shoukry arrived in Bahrain on Friday evening for a two day visit to attend the Manama Dialogue summit, which runs from Friday to Sunday. He said that despite the utmost importance of confronting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the response must come from a comprehensive strategy to confront all similar organisations in the region. He added that the target should be to eliminate ISIS "militarily and ideologically" and deprive it of "sympathy and funding". Otherwise, Shoukry said, it may disappear from Iraq and appear elsewhere. The regional security summit is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a UK-based think tank. Shoukry also held talks with Bahraini King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifah. The king was cited in a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry as saying that "the security and stability of Egypt is part of the security and stability of the Arab countries". Bahrain has been supportive of the power shift that took place in Egypt in July 2013, in which the armed forces overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Upon arrival to the Gulf country, Shoukry congratulated Bahrain for the "success" of its parliamentary elections. Bahraini voters cast their ballots on 22 November and then again one week later in the runoff elections. The vote was boycotted by major Bahraini opposition groups, including the largest party, the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
