‘Ambassadors’ of the Nation’ programme to include iconic diplomatic figures

TDT | Manama

The “Ambassadors of the Nation” programme, launched by the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD) to raise political awareness among overseas students, will this year feature six lectures. To be held in cooperation with the Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies, the programme will be online due to the measures being taken by the Kingdom to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

It will run from Wednesday until May 17 and interested students can register on bipd.org, the institute said. BIPD Executive Director Eman Janahi said the Ambassadors who will participate in this year’s sessions are Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa (UK on April 29), Hisham Mohamed Al Jowder (Egypt on 3 May), Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa (United States on 6 May), Dr. Bahia Jawad Al Jishi (Belgium on 10 May), Ahmed Mohamed Al Dossary (Japan on 13 May) and Dr. Youssef Abdulkarim (Geneva on 17 May).

Janahi said that the BIPD is keen to contribute to educating students in several issues by introducing them to the Bahraini political system and its relationship to foreign policy, explaining the comprehensive development process launched by His Majesty the King and the role of the Ambassadors as knowledgeable representatives of the Kingdom. Other topics include reviewing the rights of foreigners and overseas students in international human rights covenants and conventions, internal laws of host countries, and the role of Bahraini embassies abroad and their relations with scholarships. Students abroad can avail of opportunities to learn about the cultures of other countries and gain knowledge about them in various areas, she added.

The programme aims to consolidate the culture of being active members of Bahrain and to raise awareness amongst students about portraying the Kingdom’s culture in a comprehensive and positive way. Students should be capable of representing the country in the best way and highlighting its civilisational, democratic and human rights achievements to other cultures and civilisations, she added. Academy Executive Director Dr. Shaikha Muneera bint Khalifa Al Khalifa hailed the partnership with BIPD, saying that the past three sessions of the “Ambassadors of the Nation” programe had been highly valuable.

“We look forward to the next session to being at least as successful and distinguished, especially with the participation of iconic diplomatic figures who possess vast experience and deep knowledge in the areas of diplomacy, relations and international agreements,” Dr. Shaikha Muneera said. Such joint-programs directly contribute to creating generations well aware of the importance of Bahrain’s political and diplomatic history and the significance of the achievements of Bahrain’s diplomacy, she added. She paid tribute in this regard to the unlimited support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and stressed that current accomplishments are a continuation of achievements by the pioneer of Bahraini diplomacy, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister.