King's efforts to promote peace stressed

Manama, Sept. 21 (BNA): Secretary General of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence Sumaya Al Meer has affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain still represents an exceptional phenomenon at the regional and international level in its unrelenting efforts to promote tolerance, peaceful coexistence and respect of religious freedom. She underscored the kingdom’s steadfast stance in renouncing all forms of extremism, violence, hatred and discrimination on the basis of race, doctrine or religion. Marking the International Day of Peace, which is observed on September 21 and celebrated this year under the theme “Shaping Peace Together”, Al Meer noted that the occasion is different this year from the previous ones as it coincides with the signing of the Declaration for Supporting Peace between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel. She noted that the move was a historic and courageous step for new prospects of diplomatic, commercial and cultural relations that will serve the region and its prosperity. Al Meer asserted that the historic peace accord paves the way for just and comprehensive peace for the peoples in the region while preserving the legitimate rights and demands of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state and live in peace side by side with the Israelis. Al Meer noted that His Majesty the King has laid the pillars of coexistence and tolerance by launching the Declaration of Bahrain, the Bahrain Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, the King Hamad Chair in Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, at Sapienza University in Italy, and the declaration of the peace accord with Israel. She added the initiatives paved the way for sustainable development and more welfare for the people in the region by giving ascendency to dialogue over wars.