Third Bahraini-Swiss political consultation meeting held

Bern, Feb. 27 (BNA): The Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, headed the Bahraini delegation to the third political consultation meeting between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Swiss Confederation in Bern in the presence of Ambassador of Bahrain to France and Switzerland, Dr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, and Director of European Affairs and European Union, Shaikha Aysha bint Ahmed Al Khalifa. The Swiss side was chaired by the Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Directorate, Mr. Thomas Stahel, and the Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates, Maya Tissafi. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla reviewed the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and ways to promote them at all levels. The Undersecretary of International Affairs stressed the importance of activating the memorandums of cooperation and agreements signed during the visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Switzerland in May 2016. The visit helped promote the bilateral relations and common interests of the two countries, a key point in these growing relations, during two Memorandums of Cooperation, one protection of prisoners and detainees’ Rights and the other on women advancement and enhancement of women’s rights were signed between both countries.  Dr. Shaikh Abdulla also touched upon the diverse attractive investment opportunities in the Kingdom which is a regional centre for finance and entrepreneurship and a main gate for trade in the region. He highlighted the wise government efforts to implement the sustainable development programmes according to the highest standards and in consonance with the success of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 in diversifying the sources of income and attracting qualitative investments, as the national economy is currently the most developed in the Gulf region, with availability of many investment opportunities that could stimulate economic cooperation between the two friendly countries. In this context, they discussed the proposed agreement on the exemption from visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports and continued the negotiations on the investment protection agreement. The Undersecretary for International Affairs pointed out the steps and initiatives taken by Bahrain with determination to promote and protect Human Rights in accordance with the efforts aimed to reinforce the bases of a modern civil state, based on the rule of law, the Constitution and universal human rights standards. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla said that Bahrain is at the top of the successful countries in fighting terrorism while protecting human rights and has established itself as a state of Law and institutions, thanks to the comprehensive reforms of His Majesty King Hamad. He stressed that the Kingdom does not accept the guardianship of any side or any interference in its domestic affairs and that any violation of law will have to be faced within the framework of law. The Undersecretary for International Affairs warned against being misled by the malicious attempts of certain parties to distort the Kingdom’s Human Rights record, considering them as support for terrorist groups. He pointed out that the human rights process in Bahrain is witnessing qualitative and continuous progress both in legal, institutional and practical development terms, topped by the state and citizens’ rights to enjoy security. He said that the Iranian threat did not end with signing the nuclear agreement which gave the Iranian regime new concessions, means and opportunities to continue its hostile practices against its people and the countries of the region as well as to support terrorism and undermine and threaten international peace and security. The Swiss side praised the remarkable reform progress in the Kingdom, namely empowering women and ensuring equality as well as the current reforms in the labor market, protection of migrant workers’ rights and their free movement within the labour market. Bruelhart said his country was looking forward to developing its relations with Bahrain for further joint work and consolidation of cooperation between the two friendly countries, praising the positive investment climate in the Kingdom and the facilities available in the economic field. The two sides exchanged views on regional and international developments of shared interest, including the situation in the Middle East, the Iranian interference in the affairs of the countries of the region and the fight against terrorism and extremism.