Foreign Minister addresses fifth CICA Summit

Dushanbe, June 15 (BNA): Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, has conveyed greetings from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to President Emomali Rahmon of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as his wishes of good health to his excellency and every success to CICA activities in Dushanbe for the good benefit of Asia. Teh minister also conveyed the greetings and good wishes of His Royal Highness Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to the Tajikistan President. This came as the minister took part, on behalf of His Majesty the King, in the Fifth Summit of the Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (SICA), held today in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan. In his speech, Shaikh Khalid expressed Bahrain's appreciation of SICA efforts and the varied plans and proposals put forward by CICA member- states to build confidence and face all challenges and threats. The Kingdom of Bahrain recognises SICA's important role in promoting exchanges among the individuals and welcomes its efforts to establish the business and youth councils to involve all sectors of society in the process of cooperation for full achievement of the United Nations 2030 sustainable Development Plan, he said. The Minister stressed that providing a secure and stable environment in light of the challenges and dangers facing the region and achieving peace and prosperity is a collective responsibility. This, he continued, requires common visions and mutual understandings, based on principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. In this regard, he spoke of the attempts to destabilise brotherly countries such as the Republic of Yemen, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Lebanese Republic and the Republic of Iraq and the occupation of land and islands in the region. He cited in particular the occupation of the Palestinian territories and the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa islands of the United Arab Emirates, calling for effective cooperation and coordination to address issues and acts that undermine peaceful coexistence and well-being of the peoples through extremism and terrorism. In the light of the recurrent terrorist attacks against oil tankers and serious threat to international maritime traffic, the minister stressed the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to ensure the safety, protection and freedom of maritime navigation and the flow of energy supplies in this vital water corridors in this important region for the global economy and international peace and security. He reiterated Bahrain's unflinching position vis-a-vis the Palestinian issue that supports the brotherly Palestinians’ legitimate rights to establish their independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as capital within the two-state solution and according to the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant resolutions of the international legitimacy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that as part of the Kingdom's keenness to develop the Middle East and to empower the Palestinian people in particular; it will host an economic workshop entitled "Peace to Prosperity" in partnership with the United States of America. The workshop, he explained, will support the development efforts in the region and empower the Palestinian people in order to strengthen their capabilities and resources and achieve prosperity and wellness, through investments to benefit the region as a whole.