Interior Minister: Our Bahrain National Plan includes 90 various programmes

London, Oct.3 (BNA): Under the patronage of His Excellency Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, the Bahrain Society in London has held a ceremony. It was attended by His Excellency Bahrain Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa and UK officials, intellectuals and representatives from research and decision-making organisations. At the beginning of the event, President of the society, Peter Sincock, delivered a welcome speech, expressing thanks and appreciation to the Interior Minister for his attendance and meeting the society’s members. At the same time, he hailed the historical and distinguished ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom. He wished for further cooperation horizons between the two friendly countries. After that, Interior Minister delivered a speech, highlighting the openness of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its democratic and political development founded by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The speech of HE Interior Minister included: I always welcome the chance to speak to the Bahrain Society, because it is such a pleasure to talk to friends who know Bahrain so well, who care for our country, who recognise what we have achieved and what we are facing, and who are standing up for the Kingdom of Bahrain and for our partnership with the UK. Since my last visit, it is fair to say that quite a lot has changed in Bahrain and the wider region, and I want to give you a brief overview of both these developments, and the emerging challenges we still confront. I think it is appropriate that I should bring up my "hat-trick" of remarks to the Society in the year when we begin celebrating the centenary of the establishment of Bahrain’s police in 1919. I know that some of you here tonight are among those who have given such valuable service to the development of our police over the course of many years. We deeply appreciate your support, and we know that you have stood by us. Indeed, I think it is fair to say that British expertise, experience and effort has been a foundation of the modern, responsive and community-focused police service that we are proud to have in Bahrain today. Ladies and Gentlemen. I’m confident to say that our crime rate is back to normal, as it was in 2008 and 2009. And we will need to remain vigilant to new and emerging threats from technology such as cybercrime and the use of drones to conduct strikes, just as we are alert to – and prepared for – well-known challenges such as ballistic missile threats. We have seen the true nature of these threats with the recent attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities, and we in Bahrain greatly appreciate the UK standing with us in condemning these outrageous acts. Ladies and Gentlemen. But I believe that one of the most urgent threats to national security is from those who seek to divide us against each other – who want us to see ourselves not as citizens of our nation but in terms of our sect, our religion or our ethnicity. But it is in the face of this ideological threat I have become convinced of the need to reassert our Bahraini identity. To remember what binds us together as citizens loyal to our country and to each other. And to reaffirm that the most enduring forms of security and prosperity are those based on cooperation, community and mutual respect. Based on this conviction, I have begun a new initiative with the title of "the National Plan to Promote a Sense of National Belonging", which I prefer to call by its shorter name, simply "Our Bahrain". This initiative aims to reinforce a sense of nationality, placing our shared Bahraini identity at our core rather than being divided by religion or sect. It takes in over 90 different programmes from fields including education, media, youth, sport and culture, and it puts into practice the aspiration of His Majesty the King for people to see themselves first and foremost as Bahrainis. I am convinced that initiatives like this are our best defence against sectarianism and division, particularly given the regional situation we face. In the long term, they will form an integral part of what we can call our national security policy in its widest sense, alongside measures such as Bahrain’s new alternative sentencing law – which, for example, allows for non-custodial sentences such as community service, training, or addiction treatment. Taken together, such developments show how we have moved decisively beyond immediate stabilisation and security issues, and how we are putting in place the best possible framework to address future challenges through focusing on our people, our community and our shared identity. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. I hope my remarks tonight have given you at least an overview – an update - of where we have been and where we are aiming to go. Allow me to conclude on a note of optimism, if I may: Bahrain and the United Kingdom have been through much over their two centuries of friendship and partnership – many ups, and a few downs. But I am in no doubt that, with the support and advocacy of our friends such as you in the Bahrain Society, our countries have an even brighter future ahead – based on our shared values and interests, and on the unbreakable personal ties which stand out so clearly here tonight. Thank you very much.