Information Minister lauds French support to Bahrain

Paris, Sept. 8 (BNA): Information Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi lauded France's support to Bahrain's security and stability and renunciation of violence and terrorism. Speaking at a meeting with French Foreign Ministry official Spokesman Romain Nadal, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in Paris, he commended France's unwavering support to Bahrain's democratic practices, respect of human rights and promotion of the state of constitution and institutions within the framework of the reforms launched by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The minister stressed the importance of HM the King's visit to France and its positive outcome in further bolstering historic relations between the two friendly countries and reviewing regional and international issues of common interest. He pointed out the consistency of both countries' diplomatic stances regarding the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East, which was highlighted during HM the King's visit to Paris in August 2014 and the GCC-French Summit in Riyadh last May regarding the independence of the countries in the region, their territorial integrity, national sovereignty, counter-terrorism and fighting extremist organisations as well as the boosting of cooperation in the security and defence fields. The minister underscored Bahrain's keenness to bolster economic partnership with France by wooing investments and availing of the technological, technical and professional expertise of major companies in the media, human resources development as well as the educational, cultural and environmental fields. He said Bahrain and France are similar in many respects, adding that the kingdom has set a regional and international model in tolerance, co-existence, openness, inter-cultural dialogue, moderation and renunciation of divisions, fanaticism and hatred. Those noble values, he said, were emphasised during the participation by the Wife of His Majesty the King Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa in the opening ceremony of the Freedom Palm Day in Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral square in 2012, in tribute to Bahrain's support to religious freedoms. The celebration, he noted, was attended by the Personal Representative of HM the King Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa who also took part this year on January 11 in a historic anti-terrorism rally in Paris in solidarity with France and to assert Bahrain's unwavering stance against all forms of terrorism, extremism and violence. The minister also highlighted the participation of a Bahraini delegation representing all components of the Bahraini society in "This is Bahrain" event in Paris in June. The French Foreign Ministry official Spokesman hailed HM the King's visit to France and thanked the minister for his visit to the French Foreign Ministry and keenness to bolster bilateral relations. He underscored the significance of the summit between HM the King and President Hollande and its positive outcome in bolstering bilateral relations and supporting the international counter-terrorism coalition aimed at achieving regional and global peace and stability.