Foreign Ministry undersecretary meets German official

Manama, June 25 (BNA): The Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa met at the Ministry’s General Court today, the Director for Near and Middle East and North Africa at the German Federal Foreign Office, Ambassador Christian Buck. During the meeting, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah commended the bilateral relations and the close partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Germany, noting that these relations are characterized with trust, mutual respect and cooperation as well as a clear desire to promote mutual benefits and establish international peace and security. He also reviewed the latest developments in the Gulf and the Kingdom’s outlook in regards to the overall regional situation. He warned that the Iranian regime aims to deteriorate the region in its malign plans and hostile behavior that has not changed after the signing of the nuclear agreement. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah called upon the international community to assert their firm positions towards all those seeking to undermine security and stability, support terrorism and threaten international navigation and energy supplies. He also noted the importance of paying attention to the issues of peace and security in the region and to avoid compromising threatening sources to the international security, pointing out that Germany plays a pivotal role in establishing regional security, due to its significant impact and it being a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The Undersecretary for International Affairs referred to the Kingdom’s efforts in combatting terrorism and the need to work with partners to eradicate this dangerous scourge. He pointed out that the Kingdom adopts a comprehensive system to combat extremism and terrorism, integrating the security dimension with its developmental, legal and cultural aspects, and fortifying the religious discourse of hatred, fanaticism and racism in line with the Royal initiatives to promote the values of tolerance and coexistence. He also highlighted existing opportunities to develop cooperation with Germany, especially in the areas of investment in the smart economy and technology sectors, renewable energy projects, innovation and knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, industry, construction, tourism and other fields as well, pointing out that the Arab-German Business Forum, which will be taking place from June 25th-27th in Berlin, is considered an economic and investment forum, that offers vital opportunities, which can be built on to expand the areas of partnership. The Undersecretary for International Affairs noted that Bahrain's economic vision 2030 and high-quality government programs have placed the Kingdom among the most diverse and growing economies in the region, adding that "we are open to continue developing these distinguished relations in light of our mutual understanding" Dr. Shaikh Abdullah expressed his pride in Bahrain's global leadership in many fields such as freedoms, women and youth empowerment, protection of expatriate workers and sustainable development, all thanks to the comprehensive reform approach and unprecedented initiatives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. He also mentioned the Kingdom’s success in enabling democracy, stressing that the Kingdom is adapting a modern vision towards a brighter future in the state of institutions and the rule of law. For his part, Ambassador Christian Buck expressed his appreciation for the Kingdom of Bahrain's position on the developments in the region and affirmed his country's pride in the friendly relations and cooperation between both countries, wishing the Kingdom further success and prosperity.