Bahrain's Speaker holds talks with IPU president

Manama, Jan. 17 (BNA): Speaker Fouzia Abdullah Zainal held talks with the International Parliamentary Union (IPU)’s President Gabriella Guevas Barron. The speaker reiterated the Council of Representatives support to the International Parliamentary Union in its efforts as a fair and unequivocal longstanding international organization seeking to contribute in building a less violent and more just new international order. The IPU president expressed her delight in meeting the first women who assumed the post of a national Parliament Speaker in the Arab region through free and direct election and who sent a strong message to the whole world about the Kingdom of Bahrain’s advanced democratic reforms initiated and led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as the Bahraini people’s awareness. The IPU president invited the Bahraini speaker to join membership of the IPU’s high-level advisory group, suggesting at the same time to sign agreements between both sides related to training on parliamentary leadership (skills) in cooperation with the relevant international university. It is worth mentioning that the Kingdom of Bahrain joined the IPU in 2003, and participated in 115 IPU-related activities. Bahrain is also a member of the IPU-affiliated Arab geopolitical group.