Category: Politics

Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary, at the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, received the credentials of Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed Abdullah, the Ambassador of Bahrain to Rwanda.

Mukeka praised the Bahraini-Rwanda ties and expressed keenness to further develop them.

The ambassador affirmed the keenness of Bahrain to enhance its ties with Rwanda in all fields.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Dr. Mohammed Ali Bahzad, the Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Consular and Administrative Affairs, met here today Sara bint Abdulrahman Al-Sayed, the Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy at the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The meeting, which is part of Dr. Bahzad’s current official visit to Saudi Arabia, took part at the premises of the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The two sides reviewed the solid long-standing relations between the two kingdoms, as well as ways to enhance them in various fields to serve common interests.

They stressed the importance of taking advantage of the two countries’ experiences in building capacities in the fields of communication and public diplomacy, through the exchange of expertise and training.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Customs President Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa received Nanette van Schelven, Director-General of Customs Administration of the Netherlands and the accompanying delegation.

Shaikh Ahmed and the Dutch delegation visited the customs directorate at the Khalifa bin Salman Seaport and the unified customs centre at the King Fahd Causeway and the air customs directorate.

The delegation were briefed about the directorates’ efforts to facilitate trade, secure Bahrain’s borders, promote travel and trade, in addition to presenting a visual presentation by the customs affairs departments about advanced customs services that rely on modern technology.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Northern Governor Ali bin Al Shaikh Abdulhussain Al Asfoor has held a meeting with the Director-General of Northern Governorate Police, Brigadier Saleh Al Dossairi, in the presence of Deputy Northern Governor Col. Abdullah Ali. Both sides discussed cooperation and topics of common interest.

The Governor also chaired the weekly meeting with officials and congratulated Colonel Abdulla Maantar on his appointment as Northern Governor Deputy Governor.

The meeting focused on the governorate’s participation in the e-Government Excellence Award. Wafaa Al-Awami, a member of the governorate’s team for the award, presented a detailed presentation about the governorate’s participation through the Biggest Winner competition.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

President Bashar al-Assad issued on Sunday a Decree No. 223 of 2023 naming Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today held a meeting during which it reviewed ongoing preparations to hold a GCC forum of human rights institutions in mid-September 2023 in Muscat.

The forum will be attended by representatives of GCC human rights bodies and institutions, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the international organization’s regional office in Beirut, the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions and the Arab League’s permanent commission for human rights.

During the meeting, Oman Human Rights Commission also looked into preparations for holding a human rights cultural event at the United Nations headquarters in September 2023. The event will include an exhibition showcasing some of the competencies of the OHRC and its role in spreading public awareness and education.

During its meeting, the OHRC discussed steps to prepare for its annual report of the year 2023, which includes statistics on the committee’s efforts and the reports it shared with international organizations, as well as programmes that the commission undertook in conjunction with government departments and civil society institutions.

Source: Oman News Agency

Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture held a meeting with Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture in the Republic of India.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the G20 Culture Ministers meeting in India.

It discussed aspects of cooperation and means of promoting cultural relations between Oman and India.

Sayyid Al Busaidi also held a meeting with Lord Parkinson, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Department for Culture.

The two sides discussed means of promoting cultural cooperation between Oman and the UK, including the participation in book fairs.

Source: Oman News Agency

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan today resumed their years-long negotiations over the controversial dam Ethiopia is building on the Nile River’s main tributary, officials said.

The resumption of talks came after President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said last month that they aim to reach within four months an agreement on the operation of the $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. The Blue Nile meets the White Nile in Sudan’s capital of Khartoum, before winding northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.

Egypt fears a devastating impact if the dam is operated without taking its needs into account. It called it an existential threat. The Arab world’s most populous country relies almost entirely on the Nile to supply water for agriculture and its more than 100 million people. About 85% of the river’s flow originates from Ethiopia.

The Egyptian Irrigation Ministry announced the new round of talks in Cairo. Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam said Egypt wants a legally binding agreement on how the giant dam is operated and filled.

Sewilam added that there are many “technical and legal solutions” for the dispute, without elaborating.

Tensions have heightened between Cairo and Addis Ababa after the Ethiopian government began filling the dam’s reservoir before reaching an agreement.

Key questions remain about how much water Ethiopia will release downstream if a multi-year drought occurs and how the three countries will resolve any future disputes. Ethiopia has rejected binding arbitration at the final stage of the project.

Ethiopia says the dam is essential, arguing that most of its people lack electricity.

Sudan wants Ethiopia to coordinate and share data on the dam’s operation to avoid flooding and protect its own power-generating dams on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile. The dam is located just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Sudanese border.

Source: Oman News Agency

Abdullah Abdullatif Abdullah, Bahrain’s Ambassador to Estonia residing in Berlin, met with Toomas Kivimägi, Vice-President of the Estonian Parliament.

The ambassador affirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation in various sectors, and exchanging visits and meetings.

He also met with Helle-Moonika Helme, Chairman of the Bahraini-Estonian Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The ambassador highlighted the importance of exchanging expertise between the two countries through the Friendship Group.

The chairman expressed her aspiration to develop and strengthen parliamentary relations between the two countries, commending Bahrain’s openness and cultural diversity, as well as hosting the 146th General Assembly meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), wishing the Kingdom further prosperity and progress.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, has congratulated His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Royal Endurance Team Captain, on winning the 160-km race of the Monpazier Endurance Championship in France.

The speaker asserted that the successive accomplishments of the endurance sport in Bahrain are the fruitful outcome of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s constant support with the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Al Musallam commended HH Shaikh Nasser’s efforts to develop the endurance sport in Bahrain, citing HH’s keenness to encourage Bahraini riders of all ages to achieve success under the comprehensive development process.

He commended the efforts of the Royal Endurance Team for their determination and commitment to continue to win championships and wished them continued success.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Syria condemned the statements of the French Foreign Ministry and the spokesperson of the US National Security Council, which included false accusations about the use of chemical weapons in 2013 and other fabricated and forged incidents.

“What the French and American foreign ministries said in the two statements is inseparable from the previous campaign of misinformation and lies, which confirms the participation of the two countries and other countries in orchestrating this heinous crime, within the framework of their full partnership in the direct and indirect terrorist attacks on Syria.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said.

“These statements aim to disguise the real criminal and cover up the involvement of France and the US and their responsibility in the incident of terrorist groups using chemical weapons which took place in Eastern Ghouta in August 2013 and other incidents.” as the Foreign Ministry added.

The Ministry went on to say that Syria condemned the stances of France and the United States, which fall under the coverage of their responsibility with other countries in supporting terrorist groups, and their involvement in supplying these groups with materials and chemical weapons that they used in all the incidents that took place in Syria.

The Ministry affirmed that the US and Frances officials must be held accountable because they allied with terrorist organizations, participated in the Syrian bloodshed, and practiced and are still practicing the policy of starving the Syrian people via terrorism and unilateral coercive measures that violate the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

President Bashar al-Assad and President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, exchanged two congratulation cables on the 30th anniversary of Syrian-Belarusian diplomatic relations.

President al-Assad affirmed that Syria is keen on boosting relations with Belarus.

“We are confident that relations are going to witness more progress and development, and bilateral cooperation will gain more success thanks to the joint work between institutions in both countries,” President al-Assad said in the cable.

President Al-assad went on saying that the solid friendship which link both countries, and the principles and values they believe in would form a strong basis from which we set off to achieve the common interests of the two friendly peoples.

“Joint cooperation is one of the tools through which countries would boost their battle in the face of the economic war to which both states are exposed to,” the President said.

President Lukashenko, for his part, said the Syrian-Belarusian relations have dynamically developed in view of friendship and trust, and founding for good cooperation in sport, culture, education and trade fields.

Lukashenko said that Belarus has always stood by Syria during the difficult times, stressing his country’s continued support for the Syrian people.

“I am confident that our countries will successfully confront challenges of the new era, and we will continue fruitful cooperation on the bilateral and international levels,” President Lukashenko added.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency