Manama, Dec. 5 (BNA): Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani held a press briefing on the sidelines of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Bahrain.
The minister welcomed the historic visit, which is the first for an Israeli president to the Kingdom.
He explained that it represents an important milestone in bilateral relations and will deepen cooperation to promote common interests and enhance security, stability and prosperity for the countries and peoples of the region.
During the press conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed the following:
“His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received President Herzog and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for talks that affirmed their sincere desire to develop cooperation in all fields.”
His Majesty the King expressed his confidence that this visit will mainly contribute to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing common aspirations for peace, regional and international security, and sustainable development.
“The visit also provides an opportunity for President Herzog to experience firsthand our religious and cultural diversity, friendship, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among Bahrainis of all religions, races and sects.”
His Majesty welcomed the developments in bilateral relations since the signing of the Abraham Accords, stressing the need to spread a culture of peace, security and stability in the region, stressing Bahrain’s belief that dialogue and a peaceful, civilized approach are vital to settling differences. In a way that guarantees lasting security, development and prosperity.”
His Majesty the King reaffirmed Bahrain’s firm support for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the two-state solution. And the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international legitimacy resolutions to ensure stability, development and prosperity not only for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, but for all the peoples of the region.
His Majesty the King and the Israeli President look forward to further developing cooperation in areas including science, health, education, youth, tourism and culture, in addition to expanding bilateral trade and implementing the numerous agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries.
“The two sides stressed the need for more efforts to promote lasting peace and coexistence based on trust and mutual respect, and reaffirmed the importance of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including non-interference in internal affairs, respect for sovereignty and refraining from the use of force.”
With regard to the conflict in Ukraine, His Majesty the King reiterated Bahrain’s call for dialogue and direct negotiations between the two parties, as indicated previously in His Majesty’s talks with His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyib, Sheikh of His Majesty. Al-Azhar, during their participation in the Bahrain Dialogue Forum last month (East and West for Human Coexistence).
The Israeli president expressed his appreciation for His Majesty the King’s efforts to consolidate peace, tolerance and coexistence between religions and peoples, noting that the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Bahrain clearly demonstrated the Kingdom’s international standing in such issues.
At the end of his speech, Minister Al-Zayani stressed the importance of the principles contained in the “Joint Warm Peace Strategy”, and the need to support the Negev Forum’s march in building multilateral cooperation towards peace, stability and prosperity for the countries and peoples of the region.
He also congratulated the new Israeli government on the success of the elections, expressing Bahrain’s aspiration to work with the new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the architects of the Abraham Accords, which were signed at the White House in September 2020 in Washington, D.C., to build on the positive results achieved within the framework of the Accords. Ibrahim, which calls for peace, stability and prosperity for all the peoples of the region.
He also stressed that these agreements represent an important and positive message for all the peoples of the region, bringing hope for a comprehensive peace that will prevail in the region and achieve prosperity for all, expressing his thanks to the previous government headed by Naftali Bennett and. Yair Lapid for the efforts made to implement the Abraham Accords and the declaration of support for peace and to achieve tangible results in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
FKN