Bahrain and UK ‘solid friendship and respect’

TDT | Manama                    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

The Bahraini-British relations, since their inception 200 years ago, were based on solid friendship and mutual respect, and that the UK is an important strategic ally of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

This was emphasised by Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat).

He highlighted the significant progress of the bilateral relations under the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Dr Shaikh Abdullah was speaking as he attended the launch ceremony of the Derasat’s new publication entitled “Aspects of Bahraini-British Relations during the Era of the Ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa 1932- 1942 AD” at its headquarters in Awali on December 5.

The book, which was written by Dr Hamad Ibrahim Al Abdullah, Executive Director of the Centre, consists of 197 pages in both Arabic and English. It covers an important period in the history of the ancient Bahraini-British relations during the reign of His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, who ruled from 1932 to 1942, with the aim of celebrating several aspects of the strong Bahraini-British friendship.

UK Ambassador to Bahrain, Mr Roderick Drummond, and a number of senior officials, representatives of the press, media, among others, attended the event. Dr Shaikh Abdullah paid tribute to the late Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa who was keen to invest in the Bahraini-British friendship that benefited both countries.

Bahrain, he noted, benefited from the British institutional expertise and establishing a solid administrative system, which is chronicled in the book. Ambassador Drummond praised the steady progress in the Bahrain-UK bilateral relations in all fields.