Assistant Foreign Minister receives EU’s Special Envoy

Manama, Mar. 28 (BNA): Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Faisal bin Jabur Al Doseri, said the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the reform approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has become an international model for tolerance, coexistence and religious freedom thanks to the royal protection of the rights of individuals in respect of the exercise of religious rites and beliefs. This came as the Assistant Minister today received in his office at the General Court of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief 0utside the European Union Jan Figel. The Assistant Foreign Minister said that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been a haven of tolerance and a model of coexistence over the centuries where pluralism is embodied and the followers of all religions, races and affiliates live in safety and practise their rites freely and peacefully. It is a place where Christians, Hindus, Jews and others coexist side by side, he said, noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain is the best international and realistic model for the consolidation of the values of tolerance and coexistence and that this has been the kingdom’s distinctive characteristic for hundreds of years and is reflective of the historical dimension that Bahrain enjoys in the region as a country of peace, love, tolerance and a multitude of faiths and cultures. His Majesty the King has always made sure that all segments of society in the country are represented and playing their role in full in manifestation of an advanced moderate approach adopted by the Kingdom of Bahrain since it was founded as a civil state where worship houses such as mosques, churches and temples are erected side by side, he explained. He said Bahrain is a multicultural and multiethnic society, inherited from forefathers and grandparents since the antiquity where respect of all religions and races is an inherent principle of the Bahraini citizens and part of their daily life, something that has made of the country a model for peaceful coexistence and respect for others. The Assistant Foreign Minister praised the initiative of His Majesty the King when he launched the Bahrain Declaration and the established the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence to be in line with Bahrain's international standing and its quest to spread peace and religious tolerance among all peoples of the world without distinction on the basis of sect, culture or faith. Bahrain, he noted, has adopted such values as a road map for sustainable development, love, brotherhood and wellness and His Majesty's call to the world to promote the values of tolerance and the royal launch of the Bahrain Declaration constitute a call for peace and an appreciation for all those who love peace in this world and seek a better future for the generations to come. Jan Figel expressed his happiness and pride in meeting the Assistant Foreign Minister and commended the important role of the Kingdom of Bahrain in spreading the values of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and religious freedoms, wishing the Kingdom continued progress and prosperity.