BAHRAINI CROWN PRINCE AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF BAHRAINI DEFENSE FORCE SHEIKH SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA MET IN WASHINGTON ON FRIDAY WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT GATES. DURING THE MEETING, THEY EXCHANGED VIEWS ON CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, NOTABLY ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE PEACE PROCESS AND THE SITUATION IN IRAQ. THEY ALSO REVIEWED ISSUES PERTAINING TO BILATERAL RELATIONS. -- SPA