Bahrain calls for joint Islamic diplomatic effort to achieve comprehensive, sustainable peace in Europe

Agencies | Islamabad

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, participated in the 48th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, held here today, under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States, in addition to OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Ibrahim Taha. 
In the closed session of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech in which he expressed his deepest congratulations to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its people, on the occasion of Pakistan’s celebration of its 75th Independence Day, which falls on March 23, praising the progress and development it is witnessing in various fields and its prominent political and diplomatic role in supporting the issues of Islamic peoples in international forums. 
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to enhance solidarity among Islamic countries and peoples towards the various challenges and difficulties facing the Islamic nation, politically, security, economically and socially, and to achieve the aspirations of Islamic peoples for peace, stability, prosperity and development, praising the efforts exerted by the General Secretariat of the Organization in this regard. 
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s emphasis on the importance of unifying efforts, as well as strengthening cooperation and joint coordination among Islamic countries in accordance with the principles stipulated by international laws, the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, represented in respect for good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, and the strengthening of international cooperation. 
He stressed that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is required to play an active and responsible role at the global level, especially towards regional and international issues that threaten international peace and security.
He said that the Kingdom of Bahrain calls for a joint Islamic diplomatic effort to contribute to a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Europe, in coordination with all parties through dialogue and diplomatic means, in order to settle disputes through direct negotiations so as to preserve international peace and security, and create conditions for the delivery of humanitarian and relief assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilians. 
The Minister further elaborated that Islamic countries are facing major challenges today that stand in the way of achieving the security, stability and prosperity we all aspire to for the benefit of our peoples, and they require a unified position, joint efforts and continuous action in order to confront and overcome them. 
He added that the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to obtain all their legitimate rights are at the forefront of these challenges, stressing the Kingdom of Bahrain's adherence to the basic Arab and Islamic fundamentals, and the need to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East region, through a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution, international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. 
The Minister also said that Islamic countries are called to intensify and strengthen cooperation among themselves and with countries of the world to confront the repercussions of COVID-19 and work to speed up the recovery of countries from the effects of this emergency health, economic and social crisis, and return to normal life. 
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of strengthening joint cooperation among member states and unifying efforts to confront all forms of terrorism, extremism and violence, which threaten security, stability and development in our Islamic countries, and pose a serious threat to international peace and security, noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain is continuing its efforts to combat all terrorist organisations, eradicate their sources of terrorist financing and money laundering, and expose countries and forces that provide them with support and assistance in our Islamic world. 
He further expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s condemnation of the Houthi terrorist group’s continued threat to the security and stability of the region, its continuous violations of the rights of the brotherly Yemeni people, and the targeting of civilians and civilian facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates through the systematic and deliberate launching of ballistic missiles and drones, and their continuous assault on commercial ships and their threat to shipping lines and global trade, in clear violation of all international laws and charters.

The Minister explained that the Kingdom of Bahrain stresses the need for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, in cooperation with the international community, to stop the use of ballistic missiles and booby-trapped drones to threaten the security and safety of civilians and civilian facilities, and to prevent countries producing these weapons from supplying militias and terrorist organisations outside the control of the state with these deadly weapons. He stressed the need to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the approved international references.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s supportive position for the Afghan people and the choices they make without any foreign interference in their affairs, and their commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity, in addition to the need to provide assistance and support to establish peace, security, stability and development in Afghanistan, and to deliver urgent humanitarian and relief assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.