Foreign Minister meets with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, met today at the headquarters of the European Union External Action Service with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, as part of the Minister’s visit to Brussels.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s pride in the distinguished friendship between Bahrain and the European Union and its development and growth, expressing the Kingdom’s aspiration to further increase areas of joint cooperation with the European Union in various fields. He also hailed the efforts made by the European Union in promoting regional and international security and stability, stressing the importance of the European Union’s effective contribution to supporting the efforts of the countries of the region to face various political and security challenges, and supporting the endeavours aimed at establishing peace, stability and prosperity for the benefit of the countries and people of the region.
For his part, High Representative Borell welcomed the visit of the Foreign Minister to the European Union, expressing his satisfaction in the development of the relations of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union in many areas, thanks to the wise policy of His Majesty the King. He also stressed the importance of expanding and increasing bilateral cooperation between the two sides through joint coordination and exchange of visits and experiences, wishing Bahrain continued progress and prosperity.
In a related context, the Foreign Minister and the High Representative signed the cooperation mechanism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union External Action Service, in a step that comes within the joint keenness to develop relations between Bahrain and the European Union in various fields, in a manner that meets their ambitions and achieves their interests by encouraging the exchange of information and consultations, and promoting mutual understanding through mechanisms and regular consultations at a high level on political issues and other issues of common interest, and holding annual meetings of senior officials between the European Union External Action Service and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, provided that the meetings are held alternately between Brussels and Manama, in addition to holding expert meetings or joint working groups, as necessary, while inviting the relevant representatives from other European Union institutions and executive ministries in areas of common interest, especially in the field of research, innovation and trade promotion, and through the activities of the Human Rights Working Group, in accordance with the terms of reference that were signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the External Action Authority of the European Union in April 4, 2016, in addition to organizing joint activities such as workshops or conferences as appropriate.
The meeting was also attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Belgium who is also accredited to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of Denmark, and Representative to the European Union and NATO, Dr. Bahia Jawad Al-Jishi.
