King receives THIS IS BAHRAIN participants

Manama, Mar 11 (BNA) – HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received at Sukhair Palace today the participants of the "This is Bahrain" Event which was organized by the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) in the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium. The event was taken part in by several governmental bodies, religious institutions and civil societies in the Kingdom to introduce Bahrain's society, achievements and urban and human status to the world. HM the King greeted the audience, thanking them for their tremendous efforts and noble sentiments toward Bahrain. Children's Choir of the Sacred Heart Church performed spiritual songs on human connection among the people and the meaning of brotherhood among different religions and civilizations. Then, HM the King made the following speech: In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. Grace be to God and peace be upon his messenger Prophet Mohammed, and upon his family, companions and followers. We are pleased to meet you on this blessed day in order to hear from you about the positive results of the "This is Bahrain" activities, held under the appreciated initiative of the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations, under the supervision of its Secretary-General, Betsy Mathieson, and the participation of a kind gathering of our brothers and sisters, who have been keen to convey the civilized image of Bahrain, to promote its cultural and knowledge heritage and highlight the most important of its achievements, which were a result of the policies of openness, pluralism, co-existence and tolerance, adopted by the country throughout history. We wish also to welcome our guests who have endured travel to come and share this occasion with us - We thank them for what they have done for Bahrain in their countries. In a world torn by worrisome disputes and conflicts that often push certain individuals to carry the weapons of extremism, hatred, fanaticism and unjustified violence, we would like to clarify that what Bahrain enjoys of a commodious space and an all-encompassing environment that embraces the various components of our diverse society, may not be available in abundance elsewhere. These are the very things we should stand up to with all our strength and resolve, assisted by God and then by our Bahraini citizens and the guests residing on this land, to safeguard our principles and pillars, the protection of freedoms, respect of all religions and cultures and the appreciation of all skills and expertise. Finally, we thank everybody for their kind efforts and we commend this outstanding initiative of the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations, which sensed the importance of interaction with others through the discourse of culture and economy, which are most of the time, more influential than the political discourse. We would also like to affirm anew our appreciation and support for such efforts, which convey a clear message to the world around us that Bahrain shall continue to host all those who live on its land and work for its benefit and interests, without discrimination. Secretary General of the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) Betsy Mathieson delivered the following speech: Your Majesty, Your Excellency's Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honour for the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' delegation to be received here today by Your Majesty. Your Majesty, I would like to thank, our Guests who attended and assisted us at 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' events in London, Berlin and Brussels and also to our guests from Paris, where our next 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' event will be taking place very soon. Your Majesty, also with us today are our valued Sponsors who stepped up to do their duty and demonstrate their love and loyalty to their King and country by sponsoring 'THIS IS BAHRAIN'. We truly appreciate their support and encouragement and look forward to having their support for our upcoming events. "The essence of coexistence in the Kingdom of Bahrain is mainly attributed to the fact that everyone is fully free to enshrine his religion, hold his identity and preserve his character. All this is based on trust and mutual respect among components of the society and emanates from the desire of Bahrainis to co-operate for the good of the whole humanity, deepen mutual understanding between the people of other religions and sects, promote human values and build bridges of humanitarian, civilised and cultural co-existence as stipulated in the Constitution and National Charter that was passed by an overwhelming consensus" Your Majesty, these are your words, - powerful, heart-felt words that encompass the true spirit of Bahrain her Leaders and her people. Your Majesty, Your words were our inspiration for 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' and your vision motivated us to create the 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' concept. 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' would not have happened without the sincere and determined efforts of Bahrainis and expatriates who were brought together by a common bond and that bond is our love and devotion for Your Majesty, The Leadership and the multi-faith, multicultural Kingdom of Bahrain. We offer our thanks and sincere gratitude to The Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, a rare statesman, who works tirelessly to ensure the safety, security and welfare of Bahrainis and residents alike and His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister whose 2030 Vision is a clear declaration of His Royal Highness's dedication to work towards a solid, bright future for the Kingdom of Bahrain. 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' is a clear reflection of our love, devotion and gratitude to Your Majesty and it shines brightly for all to see as we travel the world to share the beauty, the compassion, the empathy the love and that legendary Bahraini hospitality as we welcome all peoples, all faiths, all cultures, to visit our Kingdom which is unique in so many ways. That is why, Your Majesty, we have invited our esteemed guests to be with us today to come and see for themselves the true face of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' is also a reflection of the modern innovative and progressive Kingdom of Bahrain, the product of Your Majesty's multi-faceted vision, which Your Majesty has initiated, with its determined Reform Programme and proud Democratic March that continues unabated since Your Majesty's Accession. But most importantly, 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' reveals the total religious freedom that is enjoyed by all faiths, which worship without hindrance and without fear. This Freedom is unique to Bahrain in this region and we are very grateful for Your Majesty's sincere belief and commitment to this Freedom. We who are joined here today, religious leaders from around the world, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jews are clear evidence that the Bahrain Model of centuries old peaceful co-existence is the key to combatting prejudices, discrimination, fear and ignorance and at the same time offering a simple, proven solution to fighting the rise of global terrorism. For centuries Bahrainis have grown up in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society sharing values, beliefs and cultures and promoting tolerance, peace, love and unity. This amazing social diversity has proven to be a powerful educational tool and Bahrainis accept this diversity as the correct and normal way to live and this is why Bahrain and her people will always reject radicalism, extremism, sectarianism and sedition because they are totally alien to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Bahraini way of life. In the Kingdom of Bahrain we know that 'Ignorance is the enemy of Tolerance, and Education is the Nourishment for Peace' and so 'THIS IS BAHRAIN' proudly shares this beautiful, humble Bahraini philosophy as we travel from country to country with our message of peace and love. The path to peace is not always an easy one and those with nefarious intent prey on the vulnerable, especially on our children. This is a universal danger and parents from around the world share this concern and sadly some of our children do stray from the right path. However the Kingdom of Bahrain has a simple message to these children of the world, who have lost their way and strayed out of the light and into the darkness: 'Please come back home, we are waiting to welcome you with open arms, loving smiles and forgiving heart. In these days of global uncertainty, there is one thing I know for sure I know that Love is something that the Kingdom of Bahrain has in great abundance, Love for its King and Leadership, Love for each other and an immeasurable love for Peace.