Nuke weapon threat stressed at key global co-operation summit

Delegated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, participated in the opening of the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held on 25-26 October 2019, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan. The summit is being chaired by President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the participation of more than 125 countries and regional and international organisations.

The Minister conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to President Ilham Aliyev, as well as HM’s wishes of success to the summit to fulfil the peoples’ aspirations for security, stability and development. Shaikh Khalid delivered a speech in which he stressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s continued support for the objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement, which seek to maintain international peace and security.

He noted that the Kingdom is committed to the approach of cooperation and collective action to strengthen the security and stability in the world, maintaining relations and peaceful coexistence among nations and peoples, adhering to the principles of good-neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and refraining from threatening policies that destabilise international and regional security.

The minister stated that the Kingdom of Bahrain has recently hosted the Warsaw Process Working Group on Maritime and Aviation Security in partnership with the United States of America and the Republic of Poland, as part of its efforts to address the threats to security and stability, both in the Gulf region and the world. He added that the working group was held following the terrorist attacks on sea lanes in the Arabian Gulf and the region and the attacks on oil facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He noted that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is an important measure to promote peace, security and stability throughout the world, calling upon the international community to work towards this vital goal of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. He asserted the Kingdom’s commitment to its policy of working with allies and international partners, adding that it will continue its efforts to provide all means of security and peace and face all challenges targeting the region.

The minister praised the NonAligned Movement for upholding its principles and values since its establishment in Bandung Conference in Indonesia in 1955. He affirmed the Kingdom’s support to various issues alongside the Movement, including the Palestinian cause, fighting terrorism and confronting its sponsors and financiers and stopping interference in the internal affairs of states, which obstructs the settlement of crises and hinders the establishment of positive relations among states based on respect for independence, sovereignty, mutual trust and good-neighbourliness.

He also stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain will remain committed to working with its brothers in the Arab Coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen to achieve the security and stability in the Republic of Yemen, and reach a peaceful solution based on the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism and the outcomes of the national dialogue and Security Council Resolution 2216 of the year 2015, in a way that would ensure the unity of Yemen and the safety of its territories. 

He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to unite all the national parties and the legitimate government in Yemen, to enable them to face the Houthi coup militia and others who pose a threat to the security and stability of Yemen and the region as a whole. Regarding the Syrian Arab Republic, the Minister stressed the importance of preserving its independence and unity, and categorically rejecting occupation of any of its territory by any foreign forces.

He stressed the need to reach a political solution in accordance with the Geneva Declaration 1 and the relevant United Nations resolutions. He also affirmed that the Golan Heights is an occupied Arab Syrian territory in accordance with international resolutions issued in this regard.