Bahrain, Israel launch concrete cooperation to boost peace in Middle East

Tel Aviv, Nov. 18 (BNA): Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani has conveyed to his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi Bahrain’s approval of the request by Tel Aviv to open an embassy in Manama. Al Zayani who was heading a Bahraini delegation making a historic visit to Israel said during the round of talks at the Israeli foreign ministry that official measures would be taken to open the Israeli diplomatic mission soon to serve the development of relations between the two countries. During the talks, the two sides reviewed ways to strengthen relations between the two countries and mechanisms for activating the memoranda of understanding they signed last month following the declaration to support peace and the Abraham Accords. Al Zayani affirmed Bahrain's keenness to cooperate with Israel in various fields based on the inherent values of pluralism and peaceful coexistence deeply rooted in the Bahraini community and on the Kingdom’s firm belief in the need for cooperation to promote peace in the Middle East. Bahrain also believes in the significance of working to build common interests in a way that serves regional security and stability, in line with the advanced vision of His Majesty the King and his people. Al Zayani also extended an invitation to the Israeli foreign minister to visit Bahrain and to participate in the Manama Dialogue, the high-profile international conference hosted by the Bahraini capital, next month. Al Zayani said the bilateral talks addressed issues of shared interest to achieve stability in the region, especially in light of the escalating challenges of terrorism and extremism and the growing need to enhance the culture of dialogue and mutual understanding. He expressed his appreciation of the US role in achieving peace and advancing relations between the two countries and the participation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the trilateral talks during the Bahraini delegation visit. Ashkenazi welcomed his Bahraini counterpart and the accompanying delegation, stressing his country's interest in joint action with the Kingdom to strengthen relations and exchange expertise. He said the visit marked the start of serious cooperation on many joint projects to concretize the implementation of the memoranda of understanding signed by the two countries.