HRH Premier hails UN role in maintaining global peace

Manama, Oct.22 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa hailed the pivotal role of the United Nations since its inception more than seven decades ago in spearheading and managing international concerted work to maintain global peace, security and stability. “The United Nations has exerted decades-long efforts and contributed to supporting development, delivering humanitarian relief aid and confronting crises, disasters and all challenges that pose a threat to the present and future of the world”, he said in a statement marking the UN Day, which falls annually on October 24. “The celebration of the UN 75th anniversary is a celebration of decades of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation for a world in which everyone enjoys stability and prosperity”, he said. He said that Bahrain, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, is keen on strengthening cooperation with the UN and supporting efforts to promote global peace and stability. He said that current conditions which the world is going through, are no less dangerous than those that prevailed seventy-five years ago, when the United Nations was established. He added that the current global health crisis has now replaced the devastating military threat that the world war represented before the establishment of the United Nations. He urged stronger international cooperation to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), adding that the pandemic has placed the whole world in front of a fateful challenge which humankind cannot tackle alone. He commended the efforts exerted by the UN and its different agencies over the past decades, hailing its active role in ending conflicts, mitigating global crises and supports countries’ efforts to achieve the Millenium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030). “The pandemic has reaffirmed the importance of strengthening global cooperation, solidarity and coordination in anticipating the future and to confront emergencies and non-conventional crises from a humanitarian standpoint that transcends any political or social considerations”, he said. He said that life turmoil and detrimental impact on the whole world represent a reminder of the entangled interests and common destiny that binds human beings, stressing the importance of building a promising future that best fullfils the noble meanings of human fraternity. He described the pandemic as a difficult test for mankind and its ability to preserve the achievements made, adding that moral responsibility necessitates that everyone, urging collective action to confront this challenge in accordance with the values of the international conscience as a basis that promotes peace and stability. He took pride in the efforts and successes of the Team Bahrain, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to combat the pandemic through a set of initiatives and measures that have contributed to containing the repercussions coronavirus. He underlined Kingdom’s efforts to provide care and treatment for all citizens and residents without exception or discrimination, in a way that embodies the authentic Bahraini values and the bright civilized mettle of its people. He said that the cooperation spanning 50 years between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations has yielded landmark economic, health, educational, cultural and development successes, expressing pride in hosting several UN regional offices. The Premier said that the world should not be distracted by the current fight against COVID-19, stressing the importance of continuing collective efforts to confront other challenges, mainly armed conflicts and disputes, attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, terrorism, violence, extremism and climate changes. He stressed the importance of crystallizing comprehensive future visions to achieve security, peace and cooperation in areas of development that contribute to promoting the common interests of states and peoples and building a more stable and prosperous future for the coming generations. He stressed the need to preserve the UN goals of the United Nations and work to develop its mechanisms in accordance with current developments, adding that the international organization has proven over decades its ability to withstand challenges that threaten global security and stability.