MEP: Bahrain proceeding in accordance with international frameworks in human rights

By Rasha Al Ebrahim Manama, Jan. 6 (BNA): Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament David McAllister has affirmed the European Union's determination to strengthen relations with Bahrain. He pointed out that the time has come to start a new chapter of relations based on achieving the interests of all parties. McAllister expressed his pleasure to visit the Kingdom and highlighted the important steps taken by the Kingdom to develop foreign relations and policies, including the "Abraham Accords". He described the move as important steps that will consolidate Bahrain's role as a leading center for foreign policies in the region. In an exclusive statement to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), McAllister stressed the need to emphasize that the Kingdom is one of the most important cooperating partners with the European Union, especially after the visit of the delegation of the Committee on the Arabian Peninsula last November. This visit is the second visit of a high-level delegation from Parliament and there is aspiration to open a new chapter in the history of relations with Bahrain, he said. McAllister said that Bahrain is an important partner for the European Union, as the Kingdom plays a pivotal and constructive role in the region and the EU seeks to strengthen its relations and partnerships with all member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The cooperation agreement signed with Bahrain last year is the basis for launching further advanced stages, he said. The frameworks of cooperation cover many fields, including trade, business, energy, human rights, foreign relations and many other possible areas of cooperation. McAllister expressed his satisfaction with the positive outcomes that followed the signing of the cooperation agreement and its contribution to strengthening collaboration between Bahrain and the European Union. He thanked the European Union Ambassador for his cooperation in this field and stressed that working together was the best way to advance relations. McAllister hailed the “important steps” taken by Bahrain and the signing of the "Abraham Accords", saying they will undoubtedly establish an important stage of foreign policy through which Bahrain will play an important role as a strategic center for the region. McAllister said the European Union seeks to strengthen relations with all across the world, not only for the purpose of defending its affairs and interests, but also to achieve common interests and to build constructive relations based on pluralism and cooperation in a way that contributes to making the European Union more effective in its foreign policies. The European Union has always been keen to strengthen relations with the Pacific region, which follows its own strategy in foreign affairs, he added. The EU has been for months looking at ways to reinforce its strategic focus, presence and actions in the Indo-Pacific “to contribute to the stability and development of the region.” However, McAllister stresses that when the European Union looks towards the Pacific region, they find that the Gulf region is located in the middle of the road between Europe and the Pacific. From such stance, the EU is keen, through constructive communication, to strengthen and develop relations with for the sake of a bright future, he added. For McAllister, it will be important to organize meetings between the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union to coordinate between them on matters of shared interest. On the role of the European Parliament in obtaining genuine facts about other countries and discussing them in Parliament, he indicated that a special committee was formed to investigate and analyze correct information, pointing out that Bahrain is proceeding in accordance with international frameworks in the field of human rights.