Foreign Minister meets with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
London, Aug. 2 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met the Rt Hon Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Dr. Al Zayani congratulated Miliband on his appointment in the new UK Government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He praised the longstanding friendship between Bahrain and the United Kingdom and expressed his best wishes for Miliband’s success and for the continued prosperity of the United Kingdom.
Miliband welcomed Dr. Al Zayani as the first international foreign minister to visit him at the Foreign Office since assuming office. He reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to strengthening cooperation and coordination with Bahrain across all sectors and expressed the UK's solidarity with Bahrain and its measures to address the Iranian attacks targeting its territory.
The two ministers reviewed the Bahrain–UK strategic partnership and discussed ways to further expand bilateral cooperation under the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), the outcomes of the Bahrain–UK Strategic Dialogue, and existing bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, in support of shared interests and regional security.
They also exchanged views on regional developments, including the impact of the Iranian attacks on Bahrain and other regional states, the consequences of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz for maritime navigation, international trade, and the global economy, as well as prospects for closer coordination during Bahrain's membership of the United Nations Security Council.
The two sides emphasized the importance of regional and international efforts to reduce tensions and resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. They also underscored the United Kingdom's role in safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and welcomed the strength of the UK–France-led maritime mine countermeasures coalition operating in the Strait. Furthermore, they affirmed the need to protect the security, safety, and freedom of navigation through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab, to ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade and energy and food supplies.
The meeting was attended by Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom and Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps, along with the accompanying delegation.
