Category: Politics

A delegation from the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) visited the People’s Republic of China 18-19 September 2023, where they met officials from several Chinese research centers to discuss enhancing further research partnerships with the Kingdom of Bahrain in various areas.

Dr. Hamad Ebrahim Al-Abdulla, Derasat, Executive Director led the delegation, alongside Shaikha Nayla bint Ali Al-Khalifa, Director of Communications and Sabeeka Khalid Ismaeel Knowledge Management, Analyst in the Directorate of Studies and Research.

The Bahraini delegation visited the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, where they were received by His Excellency Mr. Tang Jichao, Director of the Institute’s Political Research Office, and several officials.

Both parties discussed means for advancing mutual academic and research relations and the potential of holding jointly organized future events.

The delegation also met with officials from the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), led by Her Excellency Ambassador Chen Bo, CIIS President, to discuss cooperation, exchanging expertise, and organizing joint events.

During their tour, the delegation also met with officials from the China Arab Research Center on Reform and Development in Shanghai, led by H.E. Professor Cho Wei Lei, Director of the center’s Experts Committee. Derasat officials gave a brief on the center’s main activities, research contributions, and various multi-specialism areas of work, besides striving to expand its international partnerships in various research areas.

Notably, the China Arab Research Center on Reform and Development is considered a global intellectual platform for exchanging ideas, combining training courses and nurturing competencies with conducting research and enhancing human and cultural interaction. It is managed by the Shanghai International Studies University, and sponsored by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education alongside the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

This visit reflects Derasat Center’s keen interest in openness towards and interaction with various international research centers, and its perseverance to exchange diverse knowledge aspects and research perspectives, besides triggering cooperation mechanisms, mutual work, joint activities and events, and taking part in global research projects that showcase international challenges and how to overcome them.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) participated in the annual meeting and biennial conference of the Asia-Pacific Forum (APF), which is organised in cooperation with the National Human Rights Commission of India under the patronage of Droupadi Murmu, President of India.

Ali Ahmed Al-Derazi, NIHR Chairman, and Chancellor Yasser Ghanim Shaheen, Secretary-General of the NIHR led the Bahraini delegation.

The NIHR delegation participated in the 28th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forum, where the forum’s performance report was reviewed during the period from June 2022 to June 2023, and the report on gender objectives in national institutions.

The financial report was approved, and the accreditation classification of the members of the Forum was also approved during this period.

At the meeting, a member was elected to the APF Governance Committee.

The NIHR delegation also participated in the APF dialogue with civil society institutions, which was held on the sidelines of the annual conference, and aimed to discuss ways to activate cooperation, the mechanism of future work, the challenges facing human rights work, and the proposed solutions.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, met today with the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of the Republic of the Sudan, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Al Burhan, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The meeting went over the latest developments in the Republic of Sudan [with] Prince Faisal underlying the importance of the Sudanese parties’ commitment to the resumption of humanitarian work, protection of civilians and relief workers to ensure the delivery of assistance.

He also renewed the Kingdom’s call on Sudanese parties to end hostilities and engage in political dialogue to resolve the crisis and restore security and stability to Sudan.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday renewed his condemnation of the attack on the US embassy in Lebanon, stressing that “the security services are intensifying their investigations to uncover the circumstances of the attack and those involved in it.” Caretaker Premier Mikati said during his meeting with US Ambassador to Lebanon,Dorothy Shea, this afternoon at the Grand Serail: ‘We express our absolute rejection of attacks on diplomatic missions and we consider the attack on the American embassy an attack on Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.’ Following the meeting, Ambassador Shea said: “Good afternoon. I would just like to say a quick word having just met with His Excellency Najib Mikati. I want to acknowledge and welcome the statements of solidarity that have come from the country’s political leaders, including His Excellency himself, Mr. Mikati, but also from political leaders across the spectrum, and political parties, and other key security partners. This means a lot to us at the U.S. embassy, and we know that the authorities are investigating this incident, whereby a gunman fired shots toward the U.S. embassy the other night. We appreciate the commitment that our security partners have told us — and the political leaders of this country — that they will spare no effort in investigating this incident, so that they can track down the perpetrator and hold him to account. And please know that we at the U.S. embassy are not intimidated by this incident, and our security protocols are very strong and our partnerships are ironclad. We are continuing normal business operations at the embassy, and it was in that spirit, too, that I just had a very robust exchange of views with the Prime Minister. We discussed his meetings at the United Nations General Assembly, including with leaders from my own country, but also in the General Assembly itself. We discussed the political impasse here in Lebanon, as well as the economic situation. I always welcome the chance to have this kind of exchange of views, and we both believe that the time is now, the situation is urgent, and we need to take action to get the decisions made and the people in the offices that need to be there, so that these long-overdue reforms can finally be enacted and implemented, and we can get the Lebanese economy back on track. Thank you.”

Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

Under the patronage of Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s 93rd National Day in New York City, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The minister delivered a speech in which he welcomed the guests, recalling the history of the kingdom and its establishment by the founder King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and all of the following kings, inheriting a glory that tells the story of this country and the achievements it has made today in terms of development, prosperity, unprecedented renaissance, and economic power led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The national ceremony was attended by a group of foreign ministers of brotherly and friendly countries, several secretaries of international organizations, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Bahraini Minister of Information Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al-Noaimi said that the relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have formed and will remain a unique model in relations of brotherhood between countries, in respect of mutual concern to achieve the best for both countries and their two brotherly peoples, shared history, kinship ties, a convergence of visions and goals for a world where security, peace, stability, and prosperity prevail.

The minister told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), on the occasion of the Kingdom’s 93rd National Day, that relations between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia enjoy constant growth and are becoming more cohesive, thanks to the support and care provided by King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to push forward the pace of cooperation in a way that meets the aspirations of the two countries at all levels.

Al-Noaimi congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HRH the Crown Prince, and the brotherly Saudi people on this occasion, wishing Saudi Arabia and its people continued progress and prosperity.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s support of Bahrain in various circumstances reflects the strong cooperation bonds and warm ties between the two brotherly countries, confirming that these situations of support will remain a witness to the unique relations, joint coordination, and mutual respect between both countries and the firm ambition of the two brotherly countries to spread peace and security, for a more stable and prosperous world.

The Bahraini minister said that Saudi Arabia, with its wise positions and balanced policies, represents a source of support for its brotherly countries and an influential figure in maintaining unity, with its many initiatives aiming to bolster joint Gulf and Arab action, preserve the security and stability of the region, and confront all attempts to undermine regional stability.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, is currently meeting at the Grand Serail, with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea.

Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, met with the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director, Cindy Hensley McCain, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening cooperation and joint coordination in humanitarian and relief efforts in needy countries. They also discussed the latest developments in humanitarian projects implemented between them.

McCain expressed her deep gratitude for the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the KSrelief, to the WFP’s international operations, highlighting the KSrelief’s relentless efforts to ensure food security in affected countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Al-Halbousi, and the delegation of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, headed by Representative Sheikh Fahd Falah bin Jamea, stressed the importance of cooperation and communication between the Iraqi House of Representatives and the Kuwaiti nation.

The Office of the Speaker of Parliament stated in a statement: “During his meeting with the Kuwaiti delegation, Al-Halbousi discussed relations between the two brotherly countries, exchanged views on a number of files of common interest, and stressed the importance of respecting and implementing bilateral agreements that are in the interest of the two brotherly peoples, and respecting the implementation of the decisions of the House of Representatives Relevant security.

The meeting stressed the importance of cooperation and communication between the Iraqi House of Representatives and the Kuwaiti national Assembly, activating friendship committees, and continuing to coordinate positions in international forums regarding regional issues.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Kuwaiti National Assembly member Osama Al-Shaheen called today, Thursday, for governance, rationalization, good management and direction of foreign grants, loans and deposits, demanding the return of his country’s deposits and dues to other countries.

The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai quoted Al-Shaheen as saying that he asked the Minister of Finance, Fahd Al-Jarallah, about the reasons for not recovering deposits due for payment from other countries.

Al-Shaheen added that he received an answer from the Minister of Finance to a previous question, which revealed that the value of Kuwaiti deposits in Arab countries amounts to more than two billion and 257 million dinars, distributed among 9 Arab countries, including 5 faltering countries.

He explained, according to the minister’s answer, that the total current Kuwaiti government deposits in Iraq alone, despite the precedent of the Iraqi invasion, the continued infringements and threats, and the violation of the recent agreement, amount to $815 million, due for payment in the month of December of this year 2023.

He stated that the total current Kuwaiti government deposits in the Republic of Egypt amount to $4 billion, half of which are due for payment this September. He was surprised by the Minister of Finance’s request not to disclose this data, stressing that the general principle is transparency and publicity to achieve oversight by public opinion and the nation’s elected representatives over the matter of government procedures and decisions and everything related to the state’s public treasury.

He indicated that he would ask a parliamentary question in light of this answer, from which it appears that the state has not succeeded in recovering any of the returns from those billion government deposits in Arab countries.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today issued a circular regarding the public holiday commemorating Prophet Mohammed’s date of birth.

Under the circular, the Kingdom’s ministries, state departments and public institutions will be closed on Wednesday, 27 September 2023.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the reception ceremony hosted by Joe Biden, President of the United States, on the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The minister conveyed to the president the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and those of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, and Prime Minister.

The US president extended his greetings and best wishes to His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, commending the long standing Bahrain-US relations.

Source: Bahrain News Agency