Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al Saud on Saturday backed Bahrain in dealing with its internal affairs and mending rifts among its citizens.

The deputy minister said there could be no peace if one of the countries in the region was unstable, and "it is every country's right to defend itself and all the countries in the region are together in these efforts."

"Collective security is a necessity, not only in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), but all over the world," he said at a session at the Manama Dialogue, a three-day event organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"We reiterate our appreciation, respect and support for the efforts of the Bahraini government in promoting dialogue, mending the rift among citizens, and fulfilling the legitimate desires and aspirations of the people in a way that will not allow any interference in Bahrain's internal affairs," said the Saudi minister.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senator John McCain warned at the high-level talks of the dialogue that the Middle East and North Africa region now stands at a "crossroads" with increasing threats and regional conflicts.

"The collapse of Syria into a failed state overrun by violent extremists could destabilize the entire region, re-igniting civil conflict in Iraq and Lebanon and threatening the survival of Jordan," he said during a session on the United States and the region. Endi

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