Crown Prince highlights IISS role in providing productive security debate

Manama, Nov.2 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, today met the Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institution for Strategic Studies (IISS), Dr John Chipman, and the ISS Middle East Executive Director, Sir John Jenkins, at Gudaibiya Palace. His Royal Highness stressed that the 11th Manama Dialogue security conference provided an important opportunity for serious and productive discussions on critical issues that are challenging regional security and development. His Royal Highness added that Bahrain’s hosting of the conference underscores the Kingdom’s firm commitment to the advancement of multilateral engagement and private diplomacy in resolving regional conflict, and that the conference has set the standard of productive and informed discussions that must continue throughout the region. His Royal Highness went on to highlight that this year’s edition of the Manama Dialogue took place at a critical time as regional conflicts have led to the displacement of millions of innocent people. His Royal Highness also stressed that international efforts to achieve a viable and sustainable political solution to resolve conflict must be agreed without delay. For their part, the IISS Director-General and Chief Executive, and Middle East Executive Director welcomed the successful partnership between the Institution and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and highlighted that this long-standing relationship has been underpinned by a shared commitment to inspire open and transparent debate. Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Interior Minister, and Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting.