MANAMA: His Majesty King, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, highlighted the importance of unity by rejecting conflict and adopting the path of dialogue.
HM was speaking as he received at Al-Sakhir Palace the participants in the conference on dialogue between civilisations and cultures, led by Al-Azhar Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb and His Royal Highness Prince El-Hassan bin Talal.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier attended.
Themed “Civilisations in Service of Humanity”, the three-day conference held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from May 5th to May 7th under the patronage of HM the King.
HM the King welcomed them all the delegations in Bahrain, thanking them for their participation in the key conference which promotes dialogue between civilisations and cultures. “We gather today, with a unity of purpose and hopeful hearts for the sake of a unified humanity that transcends time and space”, he said, underscoring the importance of the fraternal meeting in promoting a civilized alliance that ensures a better future for all human beings to live in peace and security.
He stressed the importance of fostering tolerance and fraternity and standing united to maintain security and safety and ward off the scourges of fanaticism, extremism and terrorism. He described the conference as an opportunity for all to continue efforts to build balanced human relations based on mutual respect and dialogue.
Bahrain, HM the King said, will always remain at the crossroads of civilisations, a long-standing oasis of intellectual plurality, a beacon of cultural diversity, fully committed to all that unifies human beings. Al-Azhar Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb addressed the gathering, hailing strong relations of fraternity bonding Egypt, HM the King and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
He stressed Bahrain’s deep-rooted Islamic heritage which dates back to the advent of Islam. He paid tribute to strong-willed Bahraini people for their resilience, braving all adversities all along their history. “Bahrainis have every right to feel proud of their deep-rooted history which inspires them more strength and resilience”, he said, stressing their ability to overcome hardships and crises, armed with their far-sighted wisdom and Arab and Islamic identity.
Dr. Al-Tayeb said that Bahrain, endowed with as strategic location and a civilised people, has all along its history epitomized peaceful-coexistence, tolerance and amity between all people. Addressing the gathering, HRH Prince El-Hassan bin Talal welcomed HM the King and the attendees, hailing Bahrain’s long-standing Islamic roots.
He underscored the importance of the conference, being held under the theme “Civilisations in Service of Humanity”. He stressed his keenness on the success of the conference to serve its noble goals and empower efforts to explore practical solutions to human problems.
HRH Prince El-Hassan bin Talal paid tribute to HM the King and Bahrain people for hosting the key conference. His Beatitude John X Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East paid tribute to HM the King for the invitation to attend the key conference.
He underscored the importance of the conference – themed “Civilisations in Service of Humanity” stressing long-standing values bonding all human beings. HM King Hamad then hosted a lunch banquet in honour of the delegations taking part in the conference on dialogue between civilisations and cultures.