Brussels, Feb. 9 (BNA): Head of the Division of the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq in the European Union, Anna Maria Panagiotakopoulou, expressed her appreciation for Bahrain’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
“We commend the Kingdom of Bahrain’s continued efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue, and as European Commission President von der Leyen stressed during her maiden visit to Manama last year, it is very good to see Bahrain continue to lead the way in dialogue between nations and cultures,” she added.
Panagiotakopoulo praised the historic visit paid by His Holiness Pope Francis to Bahrain.
“We closely followed the first visit of Pope Francis to Manama last November and the conference with prominent intellectuals and clerics. It is very important and contributes from our point of view to peace and stability,” he added. She told the Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
“The European Union is also impressed by the pace of social and economic reforms in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including the empowerment of women and youth, and we encourage Bahrain to continue on this path,” Panagiotakopoulou said.
“I am pleased that the EU’s relations with Bahrain are steadily growing and intensifying. Our ambition is to build a strategic and multifaceted partnership with Bahrain and other GCC countries, in line with the strategy we recently adopted for the region.”
“Only through dialogue can we enhance mutual understanding and achieve inclusive and tolerant societies coexisting peacefully,” said the head of the Division of the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq.
“Freedom of religion and belief is one of the core values of the European Union,” she said.
She added that the European Union recently appointed Frans Van Daele as a special envoy for the protection and promotion of religious freedom outside the European Union.