Foreign Minister receives Head of European Union Delegation to Bahrain

Manama, May 25 (BNA): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, received today the Head of the European Union Delegation to Bahrain, residing in Riyadh, Patrick Simonet. Al Zayani hailed the level of cooperation between Bahrain and the European Union and expressed the Kingdom’s keenness, under the directives of His Majesty the King, to develop cooperation and relations in various fields to serve common interests. The minister expressed his contentment over his recent visit to Brussels and his meetings with senior officials of the European Union, saying it was an opportunity to exchange views and consult on ways to promote cooperation at all levels. It was also an opportunity to sign cooperation mechanisms between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European External Action Service that will contribute to expanding cooperation and coordination between them, expressing his aspiration for further communication and exchange of visits between senior officials from both sides. Ambassador Simonet praised the important meetings he held with senior officials in Bahrain, which would contribute to more mutual understanding and cooperation. He also highlighted the European Union's keenness to strengthen cooperation with Bahrain in all fields, wishing the Kingdom further development. The meeting was attended by the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark, and Representative to the European Union and NATO, Dr. Bahia Jawad Al-Jishi, the German Ambassador to Bahrain, Kai Boeckmann, and the Head of the European Affairs Sector, Ahmed Ebrahim Al-Qarainees.