Nicosia: The only way to successfully tackle common challenges is through regional cooperation, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, during his meeting on Thursday with the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of Bahrain, Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, in view of the Conference on Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Tolerance, taking place on Friday in Nicosia.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides welcomed the Bahraini Minister and conveyed his regards to King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The President expressed his anticipation of receiving the King in Cyprus in 2027. He emphasized the importance of enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation, especially following recent visits by Cypriot officials to Bahrain after unfortunate events in the region.
President Christodoulides also praised Dr. Al Khalifa for the work being done by the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance. He highlighted the significance of the upcoming conference in Cyprus, which focuses on addressing common challenges through regional collaboration, and acknowledged Bahrain's leadership in this area.
Dr. Al Khalifa, who also serves as President of the King Hamad Centre, reflected on President Christodoulides' historic visit to Bahrain in January. He noted that this visit was significant as it marked the first by Cyprus after assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, signaling a desire for EU involvement in the region.
The Bahraini minister shared that following the President's visit, Bahrain's government has been closely collaborating with Cypriot counterparts. He emphasized shared values of coexistence and acceptance and the importance of tackling religious intolerance. The conference being held in Cyprus, he noted, provides an opportunity to advance these values through policy transformation.
Dr. Al Khalifa expressed optimism about the high calibre of participants from EU institutions attending the conference, acknowledging the importance of transforming discussions into actionable policies. He concluded by highlighting the collaborative efforts between Cyprus and Bahrain, both island nations, in building a long-term partnership in this field.