HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Sustainable Development, BKMC sign MoU

Vienna, Mar. 20 (BNA): Shaikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Sustainable Development, and former President of Austria, Co-chair of Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKMC), Dr. Heinz Fischer, here today, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation for achieving goals of sustainable development. The two sides expressed delight in signing the MoU aimed at boosting cooperation to benefit the individual and collective efforts to achieve sustainable development. Shaikh Hussam bin Isa praised the BKMC, co-founded and co-chaired by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former President of Austria Dr. Heinz Fischer, as an international initiative aimed at establishing principles of cooperation among parties concern with the implementation of the sustainable development goals. Dr. Heinz Fischer expressed appreciation of HRH the Prime Minister’s drive to support the international community’s efforts in the field of sustainable development, which highlights his awareness of the nature of the challenges face the world and the need to build an effective international cooperation to address the causes of conflicts and wars as the greatest hurdle to hinder the international community's development efforts. He said HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Sustainable Development has proven its presence as a prestigious award that stimulates and supports countries, institutions and individuals to continue the humanitarian giving in the field of sustainable development. Dr. Heinz Fischer expressed delight in working together with HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Sustainable Development for the great successes it has made since its inception and its focus of individual and collective efforts that stimulate sustainable development efforts. He pointed out the visit of the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Bahrain and meeting HRH the Prime Minister, which reflected the extent of convergence of views in terms of strengthening cooperation to promote peace as the anchor of global efforts at the sustainable development level. He commended the concept of the establishment of the Bahrain Forum annually held in New York to coincide with the UN Assembly sessions and the participation of elite politicians to discuss prominent issues to come up with proposals and recommendations assist in supporting the sustainable development efforts, expressing keenness to participate in the next version of the forum. A documentary film was presented to highlight Bahrain's achievements in the field of sustainable development and HRH the Premier’s vision of promoting international cooperation in the same, in addition to the regional and international awards and medals conferred on HRH the Prime Minister in recognition of his contributions to development locally and internationally and the impact of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Sustainable Development on promoting global initiatives in the area of sustainable development. The BKMC gave a presentation of its goals and relations with various countries and organizations, in addition to its activities in other fields, chiefly supporting global efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. The MoU stipulates promoting partnership and cooperation between the two sides in various areas, including boosting mechanisms to support efforts of international sustainable development. It also comprises the agreement of the two sides to participate in the Bahrain Forum, which represents an opportunity to raise high-level visions by decision makers to reveal their policies and goals with regard to a sustainable development future. In addition the MoU stipulates the exchange of support and benefiting from both sides’ efforts through their participations in other forums. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former President of Austria Dr. Heinz Fischer, last year co-founded the BKMC as an international initiative that targets achieving the UN resolutions on the dissemination of peace, protection of human beings in the world countries, championing equality between men and women, defending rights of women and children and the youth by providing them with good education and upbringing.