Bahrain and Maldives open new chapter of ties and cooperation

TDT | Manama      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A joint statement was issued yesterday following the visit of the President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Saleh to Bahrain.

1. Within the framework of long-standing relations and friendship which tie Bahrain and the Republic of Maldives, and in line with the aspiration to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, official discussions were held between His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives, at Gudaibiya Palace.

2. The two sides discussed the value of close bilateral relations, new areas of cooperation, and ways to develop and enhance existing ties that serve mutual interests. The two sides stressed a common desire to strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as the importance of supporting the private sector to contribute to economic growth for the benefit of both countries and their peoples.

3. The talks provided a welcome opportunity to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in mutually beneficial fields and to further strengthen political and economic relations, and particularly within the fields of trade, food security, the environment, communications, culture, tourism, youth development, and sport.

4. The parties agreed to increase tourist travel between the two countries. In this context, the two sides stressed the importance of the Air Services Agreement signed in 2019 to increase tourism.

5. Both sides stressed the importance of an early and successful conclusion to on-going discussions on a Visa Waiver Agreement designed to facilitate ease of entry, enable travel, encourage commerce and people-to-people contacts.

6. Both sides acknowledged the importance of cooperating to address the challenges posed by climate change and a rise in sea levels for the environment, the economy, and global stability. Both parties agreed to strengthen coordination on these issues and in policy formulation on their respective response measures.

7. In this context, several Memorandums of Understanding were signed during the visit, encompassing cooperation in political consultations and diplomatic training, youth development and sport, climate change, and advisory and consultancy services between telecommunications operators.

8. Both sides welcomed the designation of the Republic of Maldives as a Global-Sea-to-Air Logistics Partner of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This will faciltate the provision of logistics support services between the two countries. They also welcomed the decision to grant the Maldives jurisdiction over its entities’ data hosted in cloud centres based in Bahrain.

9. Regional and international developments of common interest were discussed, including the challenges facing the countries of the region. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of dialogue, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and those enshrined in the UN Charter, foremost among which is the principle of good-neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

10. Both sides denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reaffirming their desire to strengthen cooperation, at the bilateral and multilateral levels in the fight against terrorism and its financing, combating transnational organised crime, and enhancing cyber security cooperation, in the interest of maintaining international security and stability.

11. Both sides reiterated the importance of ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean, to maintain security and stability in the region, and to protect international trade.

12. Regarding the rights of Palestinians, the two sides stressed the need to intensify efforts to reach a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principle of a two-state solution and in line with international resolutions.

13. On the crisis in Yemen, the two sides expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its continuous support aimed at bringing peace and stability to the Republic of Yemen, and expressed their condemnation of the Houthi terrorist group’s refusal to extend the truce in Yemen proposed by the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, which was approved by the Yemeni government. Both sides reaffirmed their support for all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and UN Security Council Resolution No. 2216, in a manner that achieves peace, security and stability for the Yemeni people.

14. On Iran, both sides reiterated the importance of compliance with the United Nations Charter and international law, the principles of good neighbourliness, and non-interference in the affairs of other nations, of respecting the sovereignty of states and their religious and cultural values, and refraining from the use or threat of force, and called upon Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to work to make the Middle East, including the Arabian Gulf, free from weapons of mass destruction.

15. The two sides reviewed the latest developments in Ukraine and stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict by peaceful means. They also affirmed support for international efforts to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, enable the export of grain to ensure food security, and all efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict, to maintain security and peace in Europe and the world.

16. His Excellency Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives, thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation.

The President of the Republic of Maldives extended invitations to His Majesty the King and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to visit the Republic of Maldives at their earliest convenience, which were gladly accepted.