Archbishop lauds Bahrain as exceptional model for civilized, human societies

Manama, Mar. 8 (BNA): Bahrain, thanks to its tolerant people and readiness to accept the others with their differences, represents an exceptional model for civilized and human societies, the Rt Revd Michael Augustine Owen Lewis, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, has said. He stressed that Bahrain has been known since ancient times for its unique tolerance and peaceful openness to the world. The archbishop was speaking at a reception hosted in his honor by the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence in Manama. Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the chairman of the broad of trustees of the center, said the center was looking forward to enhancing cooperation with the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. The center is also keen on discussing various aspects of coordination to help promote the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and guarantee religious freedoms in various regions, he added. "Since its foundation, Bahrain has been an international center for tolerance and religious freedom. It has boosted over the last decades its keenness to spread the noble principles of peace and coexistence among different adherents of religions and beliefs, based on the values and principles laid down by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa," Shaikh Khalid said. He stressed the role of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East in enhancing the ties that bind the peoples of the region and in working to achieve further prosperity based on promoting the civilizational coexistence of cultures and on contributing effectively to the development of humanity at various levels.