Day: May 19, 2023

Shura Council Chairman, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, has asserted that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s keynoted speech at the 32nd Arab Summit, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, consolidates the royal noble visions to enhance joint Arab action and achieve the aspirations of Arab countries and peoples.

He expressed pride in all-inclusive topics included in HM the King’s address, aimed at broadening intra-Arab cooperation and coordination in order to achieve the best for Arab peoples.

Al-Saleh added that HM the King’s call for adopting the comprehensive and just peace approach in addressing various issues reflects the kingdom’s long-standing approach in building strategic international relations based on mutual respect, coexistence and peace among all.

He pointed out that HM King Hamad’s participation in Jeddah Summit proves the kingdom’s ongoing support for all efforts exerted by Arab countries to build on the previous achievements of the Arab action process.

He expressed pride in the kingdom’s hosting of the 33rd Arab Summit, noting that the 2024 summit will enrich joint Arab action.

He commended the noble endeavours made by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saudi, and the support of Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saudi, to cement Arab unity, host Arab and Islamic summits and adopt effective humanitarian initiatives.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister, Nawaf bin Mohammed Al-Maawda, has affirmed that the Kazan Economic Forum opens new horizons for bolstering cooperation between the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Russia, especially in the Islamic financing and banking sector.

The minister made the statements while addressing the XIV International Economic Forum “Russia – the Islamic World”, hosted by the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, in the presence of 15,000 participants from 85 countries. The forum aims to strengthen trade, economic, scientific, technical, social and cultural ties between Russia and OIC member states.

Minister Al-Maawda stressed Bahrain’s global leadership position as providers of advanced Islamic financing services, as it ranks second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and fourth globally in the development of Islamic financing.

He highlighted Bahrain’s advanced legal and financial technology infrastructure, which is witnessing continuous development in order to be more responsive to the needs of the financial and business community and the requirements of sustainable development, in accordance with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, which includes the justice and judicial services system.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Bahrain’s Ambassador to Germany, Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla, met here today the State Secretary at the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and International Development, Niels Annen.

The two sides discussed the solid Bahraini-German friendship relations, as well as their steady progress at all levels.

They also discussed ways to broaden joint cooperation and coordination to achieve common interests.

They also reviewed issues of mutual concern.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Information Minister, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al-Noaimi, has affirmed that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s announcement of the kingdom’s hosting of the 2024 Arab Summit embodies HM’s great interest in supporting joint Arab action.

It also reflects the royal keenness to unify Arab ranks, especially in the midst of the challenges facing the Arab Nation at all levels, including security and economy, he said, adding that it confirms the comprehensive and just peace approach adopted by Bahrain, under HM the King’s leadership.

The minister asserted that the decision to convene the upcoming Arab Summit in the Kingdom confirms the belief of the Arab League Council in the pioneering diplomatic role of Bahrain, under HM the King’s leadership, in strengthening Arab cohesion and adopting initiatives that achieve Arab interests, security, stability and development, in line with the Kingdom’s constant keenness to back everything that would contribute to promoting Arab action.

The Information Minister indicated that the keynote speech delivered by HM the King during the 32nd Arab Summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia today, was comprehensive, as it reflected Bahrain’s balanced diplomacy and visions vis-à-vis all issues, based on a deep belief in the importance of peace, stability and security in achieving more development and prosperity for all peoples.

Dr. Al-Noaimi pointed out that while addressing the Jeddah Summit, HM King Hamad commended the pivotal role played by Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and supported by Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, citing Saudi Arabia’s landmark diplomatic efforts, humanitarian initiatives and keenness to safeguard security and stability.

The minister highlighted the utmost interest attention attached by HM the King to environmental issues, as they are closely related to sustainable development, stability and efforts to ensure a better future, noting that during the speech, HM referred to the 2023 UN Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 28), and wished hosts, the UAE, every success.

He stressed that holding the major global event, COP 28, in the UAE confirms the contributions of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to international efforts to address climate change issues.

He affirmed that the positive atmosphere that prevailed during the Jeddah Summit is encouraging, highlighting HM the King’s great optimism in the serious Arab endeavours, including the resumption of the Saudi-Iranian diplomatic relations, the continuity of the truce in Yemen and Syria’s resumption of its participation in Arab League meetings. He noted that Syria’s return to the Arab League will contribute to safeguarding its stability and achieving the aspirations of its brotherly people for more security.

The Information Minister lauded Saudi Arabia’s outstanding organisation of the 32nd Arab Summit and ability to put in place all success requirements for it, enabling it to come up with important resolutions aimed at boosting joint Arab action and confirming Arab unified stances vis-à-vis various issues.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoomi, has expressed his full confidence in the success of the 33rd Arab Summit in Bahrain, stressing that it will strengthen the mechanisms of joint Arab action.

He added that the kingdom’s hosting of the pan-Arab summit is in line with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s unwavering approach regarding the support for Arab cooperation and solidarity at all levels, citing HM’s honourable stances in defence of Arab causes, and pioneering role in consolidating Arab integration in all fields.

Al-Asoomi affirmed that the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, will prepare well for the 2024 Arab Summit, citing HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s remarkable supportive stances towards all efforts aimed at strengthening joint Arab action.

He stressed that HM King Hamad spares no efforts to back all initiatives aimed at developing the mechanisms of Arab action so as to be more effective in addressing all challenges the Arab Nation is going through.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan arrived in Jeddah today to participate in the Arab League Council Meeting at the 32nd Arab Summit.

Upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, he was received by Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region; Saleh bin Ali Al-Turki, Mayor of Jeddah Governorate; Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairy, Saudi Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and several senior civil and military officials.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Bahrain’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ali bin Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Khalifa, said the Saudi Kingdom works with solid determination to enhance the Arab ranks.

In remarks to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Bahraini ambassador stressed the importance of the 32nd Arab League summit in light of the current regional developments.

The summit “is being held this year in the city of Jeddah, and there is a lot of hope in the regional climate to achieve the aspirations of the Arab peoples for security, stability, and prosperity,” the ambassador said.

The Jeddah summit is being held after the Saudi-Iranian diplomatic agreement last March under Chinese sponsorship, the ambassador said, adding that the summit “constitutes a positive step on the path to resolving differences and ending all regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means.”

The summit also comes to consolidate international relations on the basis of understanding, mutual respect, good neighborliness, and non-interference, the ambassador said.

According to the ambassador, the convening of the summit in Jeddah, with the participation of the Syrian Arab Republic, will reflect positively on the Syrian crisis and help achieve progress in resolving the issue of Syrian refugees in the region with their return to their country under the current favorable circumstances.

The Arab summit’s agenda comprises many regional and international issues in the political, social, cultural, and economic fields, the ambassador said.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has chaired the 118th Session of the Executive Council of the U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), held in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic.

The Kingdom was elected as chair of the 34-member Executive Council of the UNWTO for 2023 during the 117th session of the council. It is the first Gulf country to hold such a position.

The Minister of Tourism and chairman of the current council, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, explained that the Kingdom, through its strategic partnership with the UNWTO, is working on coordinating international efforts to strengthen the tourism sector based on sustainability and equal opportunity for all member states.

Al-Khateeb also noted that the significance of the council lies in unifying visions and efforts of the organization and member states to achieve positive outcomes for the global tourism sector, citing its contributions to the global economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili explained the Kingdom’s role in the recovery of the tourism sector, underlying the organization’s keenness on working with member states to improve the industry according to the strategies put forward.

The council discussed several topics related to the tourism sector which represent the priorities of the member states, including creating a working group to “redesign the tourism of the future,” which was proposed by the Kingdom during the 24th meeting in 2021.

The council also discussed World Tourism Day, which the Kingdom hosts in September this year, and the preparations for the 25th meeting of the organization’s General Assembly.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Tunisian President Kais Saied left Jeddah today after participating in the Arab League Council meeting at the 32nd Arab Summit.

At King Abdulaziz International Airport, he was seen off by Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqer.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, said that “we must invest our presence here to express our welcome to the agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the service of stability and prosperity in the region, welcoming the return of Syria to its normal place.

In his speech before the 32nd Arab Summit, he stressed its importance of the Saudi-Iranian agreement on the path to restoring stability in the region, affirming the importance of joint Arab action to contain disagreements.

The Iraqi Prime Minister also called for protection of young Arabs from scourge of drugs and attempts to influence culture, values.

He called on the presidents to holding the Arab summit for the year 2025 in Baghdad, the house of Peace, which aspires to embrace the Arab brothers, renewing his thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the warm reception and good hospitality. He wished the Summit success for the interest of the Arab peoples.

Source: Saudi Press Agency