Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ghanim bin Fadhl Al-Bouainain, who led Bahrain’s delegation to the 5th session of the Arab-Turkish Forum, being held in Istanbul, reaffirmed Bahrain’s firm backing for the Palestinian cause deploring the Palestinian’s untenable situation under the repressive Israeli occupation which denies them the right to self-determination as stipulated in the international covenants.
He urged a just, permanent and comprehensive solution conducive to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital, in conformity with the UN Resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the International Quartet decisions.
He also slammed the Brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip, urging the international community, particularly the UN Security Council permanent members to assume their responsibilities and take strong action to deter such assaults on the Palestinian people.
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Addressing the meeting, he hailed the centuries-old Arab-Turkish relations, stressing the importance of promoting political and economic cooperation.
The minister commended the 2012-2015 Arab-Turkish strategic cooperation plan, which was endorsed at the previous edition held in Rabat, Morocco in November2011.
The roadmap aims at laying the foundations for a comprehensive and sustained partnership between the Arab countries and Turkey in the political, economic, social, cultural fields as well as security cooperation.
Al-Bouainain voiced concerns over the dangerous and tragic developments in Syria, deploring the Syrian people’s agony due to the muzzled liberties and interference in its affairs amid mounting violence.
He urged the international community to step up efforts to end the Syrian people’s misery and promote a viable peaceful solution to end the spiraling crisis, halt the violence stop the carnage and preserve Syria’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.
He also reiterated Bahrain’s stance welcoming the formation of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the sole and legitimate representative of the Syrian people.