Foreign Minister holds phone call with US Secretary of State

Manama, Apr. 2 (BNA): Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, held a phone call with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. During the call, the Foreign Minister congratulated Antony Blinken on his appointment as Secretary of State, expressing his aspiration to work together with him to deepen the relations between both countries and serve their common interests, stressing the Kingdom of Bahrain's pride in the historical relationship between both countries and peoples for more than 120 years. The Minister praised the strength of the Bahraini-American relations, praising the development they are witnessing in various fields, appreciating the good efforts made by the American community residing in the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance the bilateral cooperation in various fields. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani praised the strategic role played by the United States to protect the security of the region, expressing his wishes to the Minister for success in leading US diplomacy and achieving its goals. Secretary Antony Blinken expressed the United States' appreciation for the firm bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressing the American administration's keenness to consolidate these relations and push them to more comprehensive levels in a way that achieves common interests and maintaining regional security. The US Secretary of State affirmed his appreciation for the policy pursued by the Kingdom, which is based on achieving peace, protecting human rights and sustainable development to achieve prosperity among peoples, praising the continuous success of Bahrain in the field of combating trafficking in persons, and noting the Kingdom's efforts to prepare the National Human Rights Plan and invite the US Embassy and the United Nations offices in Bahrain to contribute to these efforts. He said that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been an important partner to the United States for many decades, expressing appreciation for the Kingdom of Bahrain's hosting of the Central Naval Forces Command, and its prominent role in supporting American efforts to combat terrorism, noting the importance of holding the first strategic dialogue between both countries in December 2020, as an important opportunity to achieve more bilateral cooperation in various fields. He added that both countries have many opportunities to deepen their joint cooperation, expressing the United States' support for the declaration supporting peace and the principles of the Abraham Accords, stressing the US keenness to continue supporting these efforts, expressing appreciation for the support of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the American efforts to reach a political solution to the war in Yemen. During the call, a number of important issues were also discussed, including strengthening bilateral cooperation between both countries in various fields, developments in the political and security situations in the region, international efforts being made to address the dangers of the Iranian nuclear file, and combating terrorist organisations.