Farewell to the man who shaped Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

As the Kingdom bid farewell to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, condolences and words of solace continued to pour in from all over the world.

A true friend of India

Dr S Jaishankar Prasad, India’s External Affairs Minister, signed a condolence book at Bahrain’s Embassy in India expressing his profound sadness at the demise of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, late PM of Bahrain, calling him “a true friend of India”.

He wrote: “As the longest-serving PM, he made an immense contribution to Bahrain’s development and promotion of India-Bahrain bilateral relations. Will be fondly remembered for taking such great care of the Indian community in Bahrain.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a cable offered condolences to the His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the passing of the HRH Prince Khalifa.

Modi described HRH Prince Khalifa as “a great and visionary leader who immensely contributed towards deepening of India-Bahrain partnership.”

Inspirational leader

The Imam of Ahmed Al Fateh Islamic Centre, Shaikh Adnan bin Abdullah Al Qattan offered condolences to the royal family and the Bahraini people during Friday sermon.

Shaikh Adnan Al Qattan described Prince Khalifa as an inspirational leader and a symbol of modesty saying, “HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa will remain a national symbol for his sacrifices and achievements.”

Bahrain’s embassy in Rabat received ambassadors accredited to Morocco and representatives of diplomatic bodies and international organizations who offered condolences on the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

In the book of condolences opened by the embassy on Thursday and until Saturday, the mourners expressed their sincere condolences to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the royal family and the people of Bahrain.

Brazil offers condolence

Chairman of the Foreign Relations and National Defence Committee of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro visited Bahrain embassy in Brasilia where he offered condolences on the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil’s president, paid homage to HRH Prince Khalifa and said he was “an enthusiast of bilateral relations who worked hard to strengthen them.”

Mohamed Jinah, ambassador of Maldives to Thailand visited Bahrain’s embassy in Thailand and offered condolences on behalf of the government and people of Maldives.

A true friend of the Philippines

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, in a statement, extended his condolences to the family of Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

He said Philippines joins Bahrain in mourning the demise of HRH Prince Khalifa saying, “His Royal Highness oversaw the development and rapid transformation of the Bahraini national for nearly five decades.”

Duterte said, “ His Royal Highness was a true friend of the Philippines and occupies a special place in the collective memory of the Filipino nation.”

Man of great vision

Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa offered condolences on behalf of the government and the people of SriLanka. He conveyed his deepest condolences to the Royal Family, saying,” HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was a man of great vision and will be remembered fondly as a good friend of Lanka.”

DCM Rony Yedidia Clein signed the book of condolences at the Bahrain Embassy in India on the sad demise of Prince Khalifa.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Don Pramudwinai, paid a visit to Bahrain’s embassy in  Bangkok to offer condolences over the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

In our hearts forever

US Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller said, “the powerful legacy that HRH Prince Khalifa’s five decades of leadership leaves behind, including his work to forge the strong US-Bahrain defence relationship we maintain today.”

“Bahrain’s hosting of the US Fifth Fleet for nearly a quarter-century, for which we are continually grateful, is an example of the deep ties our two nations developed during HRH Prince Khalifa’s tenure.”

“I also look forward to continuing the Department’s close relationship with HRH Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in his new role as Prime Minister.”

“We will continue to keep the family of HRH Prince Khalifa and the people of Bahrain in our thoughts during this period of mourning and beyond”.

Condolences flow in

Condolences were also sent by President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mohammed Abdul Hamid, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs HH Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Said, Pakistani President Dr. Arif Alvi, Nicaraguan President and Vice President Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, President of Bangladesh Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mishustin, Governor of Jeddah, HRH Prince Mishaal bin Majed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region, HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, HM Queen Elizabeth, Prince Amr bin Mohammed Al Faisal Al Saud,  Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HRH Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Azhar Al Sharif Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al Tayeb, Sudan’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omer Ismail, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, Jordanian Ambassador to Bahrain Rami Werikat Al Adwan, Ibrahim Muhammad Al-Maslamani, Ibrahim Mahmood Ahmed Abdulla, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, Former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Anna Tibaijuk and many others.

Enduring source of strength

The Church of Philadelphia expressed its deepest condolences to all members of the Royal Family, government and the people of Bahrain on the passing away of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Jacob Chandy, President & Senior Pastor, conveyed condolences on behalf of the Church and executive council.

Chandy described HRH Prince Khalifa as a remarkable person and an even a great Prime Minister, who dedicated his entire life to the betterment of his country and the people of Bahrain. “He tirelessly and continually in his reign sought out the wellbeing of the local and expats without discrimination as to their status, ethnicity or religious persuasion.  He forever sought to bring peace and prosperity to the people of Bahrain.  There is no doubt that HRH wisdom and devotion were an enduring source of strength and comfort to the people of Bahrain.”

Swami Brahmavihari Das, International Spokesperson, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

I join the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the world in expressing the sorrow of our Spiritual Guru His Divine Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and the global BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha at the passing away of our beloved Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. May God rest his soul in peace and may his family and country find comfort in prayers and love.

On many occasions, the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has granted our BAPS spiritual leaders and followers an audience during our visits to the Kingdom. He always welcomed His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj whenever he visited the Kingdom and supported our humanitarian work. He embodied the spirit of inclusiveness and harmony that the Al Khalifa leadership has always exuded in their engagement with the world and his words of wisdom and qualities of leadership helped to shape the history and the future of this beautiful land at a vital point in its contemporary development.

A towering leader, a true visionary and an architect of modern Bahrain, he was a wise father- figure to the thousands of citizens and residents. His guiding heart shall be deeply missed.

Your Majesty, we offer prayers that HRH the Late Prime Minister’s soul will rest in eternal peace and that the people of the Kingdom will draw strength from the leadership of Your Majesty as well as HRH the Crown Prince and First Deputy Premier, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in this time of national loss.